Worst president ever: a historic competition

[struggle4progress]

THIS WEEK’S CONTEST: Ulysses S. Grant (Republican, 1869-1877) vs. George W. Bush (Republican, 2001-present)

MILITARY SERVICE
GRANT: From unremarkable beginnings—finished middle of his class at West Point—Grant rose to command the Union army during the Civil War and is generally credited with winning the war. Military historian J.F.C. Fuller called Grant “the greatest general of his age and one of the greatest strategists of any age.”
BUSH: Information not available.
WORST: Bush.

FIRST IN PEACE
GRANT: When accepting Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, effectively ending the war, Grant offered generous terms that are credited with preserving some semblance of Southern pride, which was crucial in beginning the process of reconciliation.
BUSH: Presently threatening to veto a defense spending bill because it contains a provision prohibiting American soldiers from torturing prisoners.
WORST: Bush <snip>

RESULT: BUSH FINISHES STRONG TO WIN! The breadth of Bush’s cronyism —Supreme Court appointment is for life; RIP New Orleans — trumps Grant’s, though both showed an exceptional ability for killing Americans (Grant—Vicksburg, Shiloh; Bush—Fallujah, New Orleans).

<edit:> http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/06/06/worst-lowery.php

[rurallib]

1. I don't think any of the previous 42

including Daddy, can even come close to giving this guy a contest. He's not just bad in one area, he's pretty much got all the bases covered - foreign, domestic, labor, the stock market, elderly, cronyism etc., etc., etc. W - he does it all.

[iamjoy]

2. Cold Harbor...Tikrit

Funny story about Grant's drinking.

During the Civil War, some one complained to President Lincoln that General Grant drank whiskey. And Lincoln asked what brand so he could send some to all of his generals!

[David Dunham]

3. Bush by far. Grant was able to write his own autobiography.

Grant also led the North to win the Civil War. Imagine Bush trying to do that. No way.