Who was the best President of your lifetime?

2018-04-05T07:58:10-04:00

I was asked this question in my class yesterday and it made me think, my first memories of a President is Bush Sr. I think it's been downhill since then. I grew up a Republican but at this point I don't know if I can make a connection between Republican era Bush and Republican era Trump. So I ask everyone in your opinion who is the best President in your lifetime. To include world leaders if you don't think any President has lived up to the ideals and respect of the American people.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Apr 5 at 2018 8:01 AM

2018-04-05T08:01:13-04:00

Regan

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Apr 5 at 2018 8:06 AM

2018-04-05T08:06:29-04:00

R. Regan!

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Apr 5 at 2018 8:13 AM

2018-04-05T08:13:56-04:00

Regan

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 8:17 AM

2018-04-05T08:17:36-04:00

President Eisenhower and President Obama

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Apr 5 at 2018 8:50 AM

2018-04-05T08:50:18-04:00

Reagan...hands down.

Response by SPC David Willis made Apr 5 at 2018 9:06 AM

2018-04-05T09:06:45-04:00

Well Reagan had the war on drugs which has been an epic failure unfairly targeting minorities and furthering the militarization of the police, Bush 1 had gulf war, Clinton had a stained dress, Bush 2 had two wars and a constitution stomping patriot act, Obama had Obama care, and Trump failed to make Mexico pay for the wall and as evidenced by his appointment of John Bolton doesn't care at all about actually draining the swamp.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Apr 5 at 2018 9:10 AM

2018-04-05T09:10:22-04:00

Reagan, Ike, Kennedy and IF he continues to perform, Trump might even make that list for me.

Response by SSgt Gary Andrews made Apr 5 at 2018 9:12 AM

2018-04-05T09:12:09-04:00

Not an easy question to answer. They have all had their strengths and their weaknesses. Best communicators were Reagan, Clinton, and Obama. They were able to give speeches that held everyone's attention, and that made their positions clear. But for shear competence, and courage in office......even though I didn't vote for him......I have to go with Bush Sr. as he was most prepared for the office and made the decision to go against his no new taxes pledge when he saw it was necessary for the good of the country. That took guts because he knew it could cost him reelection, but he did it because it was the right thing to do. It got the economy back on track and really teed things up for the Clinton years. Sacrificed his political career to do the right thing...I don't think the others ever did that. So he's my choice.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Apr 5 at 2018 9:18 AM

2018-04-05T09:18:05-04:00

Truman

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Apr 5 at 2018 9:23 AM

2018-04-05T09:23:07-04:00

I served under Reagan so I saw a lot of improvements, I saw a draw down under Bush the Elder, I saw budgets become super bloated, waste under both parties, and Generals allowed to run amok. Someone tell me how many weapons systems in the last 30 years that got cancelled, and wasted billions if not trillions of dollars. Both parties use us to what ever string is pulling them, don't think otherwise.

Response by Sgt John Earley made Apr 5 at 2018 10:09 AM

2018-04-05T10:09:49-04:00

Harry S Truman was my first president but I'm thinking John F Kennedy was my best president I was 13 years old when he was killed.... he was the one officially stopped the Vietnam War... the politicians are the one who lost that war US military personnel we are the one who won it....

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Apr 5 at 2018 10:24 AM

2018-04-05T10:24:05-04:00

Former President Pranab Mukerjee of India was the best leader with charisma. He is a well-known economist who worked for the World Bank and IMF. He served as Union Finance Minister of India prior to getting elected President. President Mukerjee also served as Union Defense Minister of India. A career political leader was initially from the Congress Party, but before taking Oath as President of India he relinquished party politics and stood neutral till the end of his term in office. President Mukerjee gave the Indian economy a great shape and left it on the upswing. Both him and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh brought in another IMF Principal Economist Ragu Rajan to head the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). During this period, India was led by three superior world economists that gave Indian economy a superb shape.

The reason I didn't chose an American President is because since Desert Storm in 1991 the White House has been crippled and riddled with controversy; from Oil Gate to Travel Gate and then the Arab Spring. The U.S. pumped money and ammunition into Al Qaeda thru Pakistan enough that Al Qaeda became a Global Terror Organization and attacked the U.S. itself. Pakistan has become the home of most dangerous global terror outfits. This has forced the U.S. to launch a Global War against Terror, but terrorism is still a global nuisance. Trump or Bush are not worthy of the title "Best". Clinton and any other Democrat doesn't have the gut or the glory to face dirty politics because each conceals skeletons in their closets.

Sorry if I am too straightforward family, friends and colleagues. I apologize if I hurt any feelings. COL Mikel J. Burroughs,Col Private RallyPoint Member,SSgt Gary Andrews SFC Pete Kain,Maj Marty Hogan,MAJ Private RallyPoint Member,COL Sam Russell,CW5 Sam R. Baker,SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 10:45 AM

2018-04-05T10:45:18-04:00

Reagan.

Response by Cpl Tom Surdi made Apr 5 at 2018 10:49 AM

2018-04-05T10:49:49-04:00

Anyone here picking Reagan or Trump are out of the damn minds. Trump's Presidency and Administration has been one giant clusterfuck, his tax cuts are a joke for anyone making less than 125K a year, "middle class miracle" my ass. And he isn't so much as draining the swamp as filling it with manure and mixing it together.

Reagan, holy hanna Reagan. Yes, he had some big wins I will give him that, but his blunders far outweigh any of his wins. Lets get started.......

1. Reagan Supplied Weapons to America's Enemies
He armed Saddam Hussein's Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war despite the fact that it was widely known Iraq was using chemical weapons against civilian populations in violation of international law.

2. Reagan Ignored the Atrocities Committed by Saddam Hussein
Even after the whole world condemned Saddam Hussein for using chemical weapons to kill over 5,000 Kurdish civilians in Iraq, the Reagan administration continued to provide weapons and tactical information to Iraq. Iraq used this information to target its enemies with chemical weapons. Reagan even vetoed a UN resolution condemning Iraq.

3. Reagan Illegally Supplied Arms to Both Sides of the Iran-Iraq War
While he was supplying Iraq with weapons, Reagan also armed Iran during the Iran-Iraq War in direct violation of a U.S. law that he had signed.

4. Reagan Caved in to the Demands of Terrorists
After several Americans were taken hostage by terrorists in Lebanon, Reagan provided weapons to Iran in exchange for their release. Despite this concession, ultimately more hostages were taken.

5. Reagan Caved in to the Demands of Terrorists Again
After Reagan sent Marines to Beirut for a peacekeeping mission, a terrorist’s truck bomb killed 241 U.S. Marines. Reagan responded by immediately doing exactly what the terrorists wanted, pulling all the troops out of Beirut.

6. Reagan Was Weak in the War on Terrorism
After the bombing of the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Reagan promised to track down and punish the terrorists who committed that horrible act. He never followed up on that promise.

7. Reagan Didn't Obey His Own Laws
He illegally supplied weapons to Nicaraguan rebels in violation of a law that he himself had signed.

8. Reagan Supported the Violent Overthrow of a Democratically Elected Government
He illegally supported the Nicaraguan Contras, whom he called “Freedom Fighters,” despite the fact that they killed civilians and wanted to overthrow the democratically elected government to restore the dictatorship that previously existed in Nicaragua.

9. Reagan Started an Unnecessary War to Divert Attention From His Failure in Beirut
Just days after the bombing that killed 241 Marines in Beirut, Reagan launched an attack on the island of Grenada to remove Cuban soldiers there. This successfully took attention away from the devastating loss of those Marines in Beirut.

10. Reagan Failed to Defend US From Saddam Hussein
When an Iraqi fighter jet fired a missile into a U.S. Navy ship in 1987, killing 37 men, Reagan did nothing in response to the attack. Iraq is still the only non-allied country to attack a U.S. warship without retaliation.

11. Reagan Helped Create Al Qaeda
The Reagan administration armed and supported the Mujahideen rebels in Afghanistan. Many members of the Mujahideen, like Osama bin Laden, used their experience in Afghanistan to help them form the terrorist organization Al Qaeda.

12. Reagan Supported the Racist Apartheid Government in South Africa
When the white minority in South Africa (just 10% of the population) brutally repressed the black majority, even denying them the right to vote, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 to apply pressure to South Africa to end Apartheid. But President Reagan opposed any sanctions on South Africa and vetoed that bill. Congress was forced to override his veto.

13. Reagan Supported the Most Brutal Dictators in the World as Long as He Didn't Consider Them “Communists”
He supported Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. Later, when Noriega became too close with Fidel Castro, we suddenly considered him an enemy and removed him from power.
He supported Saddam Hussein when he committed the most brutal atrocities on Earth, killing thousands of his own people. Years later, when Saddam threatened our oil supply, we used these same atrocities as reasons to go to war with him.
He supported Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos even after Marcos killed his political rival and rigged his own reelection.
He supported the brutal regime in El Salvador when it was widely known that they were killing civilians, including Americans. After four American nuns were murdered by Salvadorian soldiers, Reagan’s Secretary of State defended the Salvadorians, suggesting that the nuns might have been shot while trying to run a military roadblock—but this wouldn't explain why they were also raped before they were killed.

14. Reagan’s Administration Had More Documented Corruption Than Any President in U.S. History
At least 138 Reagan administration officials, including several cabinet members, were investigated for, indicted for, or convicted of crimes. This is the largest number of any U.S. President. Many of them were pardoned by Reagan or President Bush before they could even stand trial.
Secretary of the Interior James Watt —Indicted on 21 felonies
Attorney General Edwin Meese —Resigned after investigations of corruption
Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger—Charged with Iran-Contra crimes and pardoned before going to trial
Assistant Secretary of State Elliot Abrams—Plea bargained for Iran-Contra crimes and pardoned by President Bush
Two National Security Advisors Robert MacFarlane and John Poindexter—Pleaded guilty to Iran-Contra crimes and were pardoned
Three high ranking CIA officials, Alan Fiers, Clair George, and Joseph Fernandez —Convicted and pardoned for Iran-Contra crimes
At least nine Reagan appointees were convicted of perjury, lying to Congress, obstruction of Congress, or contempt of Congress

15. Reagan Frequently Repeated Bald-Faced Lies Even After They Were Publicly Revealed to Be Untrue
He told stories about having been a U.S. Army photographer assigned to film Nazi death camps. Reagan never visited or filmed any such camps.
He often told a story about a “Chicago Welfare Queen” who had 80 aliases and gotten $150,000 in welfare. She never existed but investigators did find one woman who had two aliases and received $8,000. Still, Reagan continued to tell the false version of the story.
He claimed that trees create more pollution than automobiles, an absurdly untrue statement that he literally pulled out of thin air.

16. Reagan Set Records for Budget Deficits
After criticizing President Carter for having a $50 billion deficit, Reagan’s own deficits exceeded $200 billion. He tripled the national debt in only eight years. Although Republicans blamed Congress for the deficits, all eight of the budgets Congress passed had less spending and smaller deficits than the budgets proposed by Reagan.

17. Reagan's Economic Policies Put Millions of Americans out of Work
When he took office in 1981, unemployment was at 7.5% and dropping. A few months after his economic policies took effect, unemployment began to rise again. Millions of people continued to lose their jobs for the next two years until unemployment exceeded 10%. It stayed above 10% for nearly a year, peaking at 10.8%. Three years after he was elected, unemployment was still higher than when he was sworn in.

18. Reagan’s Policies Allowed Hundreds of Thousands of Family Farms to Go out of Business or Declare Bankruptcy
By some accounts, nearly one third of all farms were at risk of being foreclosed during the 1980s. Reagan vetoed a farm credit bill that would have given farmers some relief. His popularity among farmers dropped so low that at one point when discussing the exportation of grain to other countries, Reagan joked that he would like to “keep the grain and export the farmers."

19. Reagan’s Financial Policies Caused the Savings and Loan Industry to Collapse
The financial deregulation and changes to the tax code that President Reagan enacted ultimately caused nearly 750 different financial institutions to fail. This cost taxpayers about $150 billion.

20. Reagan Robbed the Social Security Trust Fund to Pay for His Budget Shortfalls
After Reagan cut taxes for the rich, the tax revenue to fund the government was so small that the budget deficit grew to four times what it had been under Jimmy Carter. So Reagan “borrowed” hundreds of billions of dollars from the Social Security trust fund to pay the country’s bills. That money has never been paid back.

21. Reagan Largely Ignored the AIDS Epidemic while Tens of Thousands of People Were Dying of the Disease
Many conservatives in the 1980s believed that AIDS was God’s punishment for being gay. Ronald Reagan did not publicly talk about AIDS until the 6th year of his presidency. In 1986, when AIDS fatalities were doubling every year, Reagan proposed cuts in funding for AIDS research.

In conclusion, both Trump and Reagan are morons, and I don't have a favorite President in my life time, just a list of my least favorite in ascending order. So my favorite-least favorite President is Obama. He did some things I liked, but did other things I hated. So here is the list.......

Obama
Bush Sr.
Clinton
Bush Jr.
Reagan
Trump

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Apr 5 at 2018 11:05 AM

2018-04-05T11:05:32-04:00

I would have to say Reagan. Each has had their issues, but to be honest I do not see the President as more than a figure head. He is the face of a Nation while he sits in the office. I think some are more charismatic than others- some have business sense- some seem to be punishing the country for past sins. The better question would be how many times have you voted for someone that has stagnated progress and growth in the House and Senate. President can promise a lot, but if the deadheads in the halls are allowed to continue pork at its finest....well we will never really move forward and merely change dates on the calendar.

Response by Maj William W. 'Bill' Price made Apr 5 at 2018 11:17 AM

2018-04-05T11:17:50-04:00

Sgt Adrian Jones I'm at #MeToo with Maj Marty Hogan. Ronald Reagan.

Response by SSG Donald H "Don" Bates made Apr 5 at 2018 11:30 AM

2018-04-05T11:30:14-04:00

I have two favorites, Harry S Truman and Ronald Reagan

Response by MSG Frederick Otero made Apr 5 at 2018 11:38 AM

2018-04-05T11:38:25-04:00

IKE!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 12:13 PM

2018-04-05T12:13:45-04:00

Hmmm...kinda like asking which fast food joint is best; there's always room for taste, but all make you pay eventually.

I guess the only honest answer is Reagan. I wasn't old enough to remember Carter, though Clinton had his good/bad points in fair measure, think I'd enjoy talking with Bush Sr. and hunting with Bush Jr., but don't think either ranks as "great". Would love to have had a two hour discussion with Obama over a good Scotch...but guess we'd disagree on most things.

Reagan was an actor...and I think that's the main reason he mastered "acting Presidential". Policy wise, he was leading an all-star cast that included some of the greatest statesmen and women of our age, domestic and internationally. Like any Chief Executive, it's as much about the team as the captain.

Since you included world leaders, I'll throw in my wild card...Her Majesty Queen 'Liz II. She doesn't "run" Great Britain, but the old girl has class, dignity and this is one "Rebel" who will doff his cap when she passes on.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Apr 5 at 2018 1:39 PM

2018-04-05T13:39:12-04:00

Reagan would have been my pick Sgt Adrian Jones - I think the judge is out on who No. 2 is and No. 3. Mine would be Bush Senior as No. 2, and then Trump as No. 3 because of what he's doing for the military and his stance on the North Koreans. Again the judge is out on No. 3 Trump. We'll see what happens over the next three years and maybe the next seven.

Response by CPL Dave Hoover made Apr 5 at 2018 2:33 PM

2018-04-05T14:33:48-04:00

Ronald Reagan. Even with him passing on, I'd vote for him over all but George Washington.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 2:36 PM

2018-04-05T14:36:15-04:00

Modern republican politicians don't hold a candle to Reagan, but we can fix it by ensuring these RINO's are primaried out of office.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Apr 5 at 2018 3:12 PM

2018-04-05T15:12:21-04:00

"Best" is such a relative term. They've all had their ups and downs.

Reagan - Brought the US to be essentially, the only Superpower in the world.
Bush I - Successfully defended an ally against an aggressor.
Clinton - Gave us a budget surplus instead of deficit.
Bush II - Navigated some very turbulent times.
Obama - Brought the nation out a large recession.
Trump - Increased the stock market and shook up political establishment - woke up a lot of people who were essentially asleep at the wheel politically.

See? I didn't say anything bad about anyone.

I will say that I felt the most optimistic about the future of the world (not just the US) under Obama.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Apr 5 at 2018 3:36 PM

2018-04-05T15:36:42-04:00

Please, define "best." That is subjective.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 5:25 PM

2018-04-05T17:25:21-04:00

Too young to remember directly, but in terms of a fiscal conservative it would be Ike.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 6:43 PM

2018-04-05T18:43:28-04:00

Reagan.

Response by Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. made Apr 6 at 2018 1:02 AM

2018-04-06T01:02:16-04:00

https://www.rallypoint.com/profiles/342387-sgt-adrian-jones Adrian, I have to agree. I liked both Reagan and Bush Sr. However, my wife and I had the opportunity of meeting VP Bush Sr. and Barbara in Belgium. We corresponded afterwards for a while. After I retired, I became professor but he never mentioned it. Then after he was sworn in as President, he wrote a letter saying he wanted to be President when he congratualme in my new career. He was a class act.

Adrian Jones - Sgt, Job Seeker, Marine Corps | RallyPoint

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 28 at 2018 5:25 AM

2018-04-28T05:25:01-04:00

President Ronald Reagan.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2018 8:31 AM

2018-06-27T08:31:20-04:00

I'd like to say Ronald Reagan, but honestly, I think the times he served in (the Greatest Generation still being firmly in charge at that point) had as much to do with his reputation as the man himself. To be blunt, the older I get, the less I feel any one CIC has any lasting impact on the nation...some cater to liberal opinion to get elected, other cater to conservative opinion to get elected. All "buy" the office at some level, since it's never going to be realistic for someone under a certain level of wealth to achieve it.

When you think about it, that's probably for the best too.

Our system "works" because we don't have one person who is the "be all and end all" for government. The President certainly isn't a figure head, and their actions strongly influence appointments to the Supreme Court, domestic and foreign policy, etc. Still, the REAL currents of power flow through Congress and the individuals who can end up sitting there for decades.

What frightens me is that it seems with each younger generation, we're becoming increasingly enamored with the idea of "cult of personality". It used to be perfectly OK for most Americans that our leaders were largely ineffective and disconnected...so long as they kept their mitts off certain rights. Now, it seems people on all sides desperately want-no, NEED someone to serve as the guidepost for their collective identity. That's how you end up with tyrants.