[Buyingtime]

41 was the best president of my lifetime.

ummm... yeah, probably.

That's ****ing sad.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

I was about 9 when he left office. I remember the Persian Gulf War and...that's about it. What'd he do? I assume he was pretty good if Guy likes him better than Clinton. Then again, I didn't pay much attention to Clinton either, since that was the most self-absorbed period in my life.

[naturaherbal]

Yup. Actually seemed more interesting in governing than in getting elected, which puts him in front of roughly 536 elected officials currently serving in D.C.

EDIT: I should also say that he was inspiringly mediocre, which is indeed the best we have had recently. Clinton would be on par with that; Obama aspires to such mediocrity; and W aspires to such aspirations.

[TRASIAOREXOLA]

If he was running against Dukakis or Kerry it would have. Or if he didn't have Perot to contend with.

[Skete]

If Perot hadn't been in the race, it's totally possible that Bush would have beaten Clinton.

Yeah. Bush totally would have won if he didn't lose.

[derinasderun]

Let's get this straight. You think Bush and Obama had/have a bold, inspiring vision for the future?

In any event, do you think he doesn't shift with the wind?

Obama is a fire fighter president, not a architect president. W couldn't think about the impact of his policy beyond 12 months.

[Dastyh]

Obama is a fire fighter president, not a architect president.

No, Obama has been forced by events to be a firefighter president. He'd like nothing more (and be far more suited) to being a architect for social change.

[MortgFinsJohnQ]

I dunno - it seems like Abraham Lincoln was forced quite a bit.

[StevenS]

He had choices and he led.
Obama would have probably just blamed the south for not compromising and not done anything.

Agreed. Leaders make the tough decisions when they need to be made. They don't punt.

Obama has a strong kicking leg.

[Guaranano]

It's a handicapped field all round.

The Special Olympics Election.

[VottCetaVeivE]

Leaders lead, those forced are not true leaders.

Overly simplistic. When congress pay the bills and congress refuse to work with you on literally anything, then your hands are tied. Obama's mistake was trying to be bipartisan immediately after the election when he could have forced things through, but it's rather sad that trying to work with the Republicans turned out to be his biggest mistake.

[MIBgirlsXXL]

Ron Paul is the only serious alternative to a status quo which is leading the US directly and quickly toward financial ruin and military catastrophe. History will show this out.

This notion that he "can't win" is strange considering it doesn't seem to be applied to other candidates with far less popular support and nowhere near the political organization standing behind Ron Paul.

That guys like Romney, Gingrich, and Perry are even allowed to run as serious candidates for a purportedly "conservative" party shows just how far true conservatism has fallen in the U.S. Traditional U.S. conservatism and liberty-minded philosophy is essentially nonexistent outside of the Ron Paul campaign.

Stand with Ron Paul, or start digging your graves.

[vforvandetta]

Yes, poor leadership and decision making.

I'm trying to imagine how this opinion of yours doesn't make George W Bush the greatest leader of our time. He made terrible decisions but man, he could lead people into supporting those terrible decisions.

[ANCETPYNCTEXT]

I'm trying to imagine how this opinion of yours doesn't make George W Bush the greatest leader of our time. He made terrible decisions but man, he could lead people into supporting those terrible decisions.

Your claim not mine. I didn't even vote for Bush the second time around. (and that's saying something)

[Immampdah]

Ken, quit mincing words and tell us how you really feel.

[SeelaypeKet]

Your claim not mine. I didn't even vote for Bush the second time around. (and that's saying something)

How do you define leadership?