If ranked separately, is POTUS #47 worse than POTUS #45?

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grubar

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I am an American historian by trade. Because of that, periodically various entities have invited me to participate in "ranking" the presidents, I have never done that and I think it is a pretty silly (albeit interesting) exercise. Then along came POTUS45. In my view it was pretty obvious that he was the worst president in US History, using any yardstick you care to apply (except perhaps military adventures).

But now, only half-way through his 2nd term's first year, I am leaning towards concluding that Trump 47 is worse than Trump 45.

What do you think?
 
grubar said:
I am an American historian by trade. Because of that, periodically various entities have invited me to participate in "ranking" the presidents, I have never done that and I think it is a pretty silly (albeit interesting) exercise. Then along came POTUS45. In my view it was pretty obvious that he was the worst president in US History, using any yardstick you care to apply (except perhaps military adventures).

But now, only half-way through his 2nd term's first year, I am leaning towards concluding that Trump 47 is worse than Trump 45.

What do you think?
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Definitely worse.
 
45 was basically a clown show. I don't think Trump or his team honestly believed he would win and there was no real plan once they took over power. Hence there was a lot of bumbling and stumbling; the revolving door in the cabinet; no coherent philosophy of power. We basically lurched around from one crisis to the next with no real direction.

47 so far is much less of a clown show but far more malicious. There is a philosophy of power, and a plan, and both are vengeful, authoritarian, and corrupt to the core. If it continues like this for 4 years I have little doubt that 47 will do far more immediate and lasting damage to our country than 45 did. But fit is also undoubtedly a more competent and coherent administration, at least in terms of executing the (mostly ghoulish and counterproductive, IMO) goals they have.
 
grubar said:
I am an American historian by trade. Because of that, periodically various entities have invited me to participate in "ranking" the presidents, I have never done that and I think it is a pretty silly (albeit interesting) exercise. Then along came POTUS45. In my view it was pretty obvious that he was the worst president in US History, using any yardstick you care to apply (except perhaps military adventures).

But now, only half-way through his 2nd term's first year, I am leaning towards concluding that Trump 47 is worse than Trump 45.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
Dumb And Dumber GIF
 
grubar said:
I am an American historian by trade. Because of that, periodically various entities have invited me to participate in "ranking" the presidents, I have never done that and I think it is a pretty silly (albeit interesting) exercise. Then along came POTUS45. In my view it was pretty obvious that he was the worst president in US History, using any yardstick you care to apply (except perhaps military adventures).

But now, only half-way through his 2nd term's first year, I am leaning towards concluding that Trump 47 is worse than Trump 45.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
Yes. 47 is Absolutely worse.
 
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grubar said:
I am an American historian by trade. Because of that, periodically various entities have invited me to participate in "ranking" the presidents, I have never done that and I think it is a pretty silly (albeit interesting) exercise. Then along came POTUS45. In my view it was pretty obvious that he was the worst president in US History, using any yardstick you care to apply (except perhaps military adventures).

But now, only half-way through his 2nd term's first year, I am leaning towards concluding that Trump 47 is worse than Trump 45.

What do you think?
Click to expand...
Agree on all counts. His first term was awful, but he at least did have some sane people around him like Kelly who were still willing to stand up to him and some of Trump's worst orders or actions were diverted or mitigated to some extent. This time he deliberately appointed only total flunkies, Fox talking heads, and other incompetents and minions who are willing to do whatever he desires or wants with no hesitation or qualms whatsoever. And he's clearly been more into revenge and retribution and enacting a radical agenda this time around, and gutting government agencies is going to have terrible consequences. So yeah, his second term so far is definitely worse by several degrees.

And what's also interesting is that his GOP predecessor, George W. Bush, had a historically bad presidency as well, but thanks to Trump he doesn't look quite as bad as he did at the time. Trump is the best thing that ever happened to Dubya's reputation. One thing for sure is that the GOP has had nothing to brag about in their 21st Century Presidents. Say what you will about Obama and Biden, but both of them look superb next to the shitshows the GOP has put up this century so far.
 
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He is far worse this time. First, he hasn’t surrounded himself with anyone who will check his basest impulses. To the contrary, his inner circle simply fans his worst flames. Second, he is much more vindictive this time around. He sees the world through a lens of grievance and retaliation, and he acts on that.
 
47 is undoubtedly worse to this point, and the trajectory is that of the worst western democracy administration since Hitler.

That said, the trajectory is an important point. 45 is still responsible for several hundred thousand excess American deaths. Now, I’ve said numerous times that this admin will result in millions of excess deaths worldwide and likely millions here as well, over many years (murder, concentration camps, incompetent pandemic response, killing FEMA, but most importantly, gutting healthcare and cancer research), but 45 already has the actual “blood on his hands”.
 
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