Jimmy Carter the Worst President in American History!

[readwriteblue.livejournal.com]

There maybe some disagreement over which of our past leaders was the worst.
I nominate James Earl Carter. And if his drubbing in the media this past week is any indecation, I am not alone is this opinion. The New York Sun

Comments

[sunpony.livejournal.com]

So this is the real kernel of your obstinance; this survey undergirds your assertion that Bush is "OK." This certainly explains your need to present it as definitive and unassailable.

As far as this being "the facts," I think John Dean said it best in his 2001 article about presidential rankings: "I would be the first to admit that these presidential rankings are great fun, and good entertainment. That is about it, however."

He also makes some other good points about this type of survey. In particular:

"Not only is ranking the presidents a game, it is one without any real rules. Each scholar uses his own criteria to rank. While a few ranking efforts have sought to establish criteria, the measurements have nevertheless remained vague and totally subjective. Moreover, the fact that few — if any — scholars have true expertise outside a few presidencies means that even scholars individual assessments may be suspect.

In short, viewed objectively, these rankings tell us almost nothing."

It is worth reading.

I would say more about the survey in question itself, if it was actually published somewhere. So far, I have only found the 2000 edition. Interestingly enough, Lindgren himself said that "Ranking U.S. presidents is much more than a parlor game for academics and much less than a full assessment of the successes and failures of the men who have held our highest office."