Survey of 154 scholars places 45th president behind even ‘historically calamitous chief executives’ linked to civil war

Donald Trump finished 45th and rock bottom of a list ranking US presidents by greatness, trailing even “historically calamitous chief executives” who failed to stop the civil war or botched its aftermath.

Worse for the likely Republican nominee this year, his probable opponent, Joe Biden, debuted at No 14.

“Biden’s most important achievements may be that he rescued the presidency from Trump, resumed a more traditional style of presidential leadership and is gearing up to keep the office out of his predecessor’s hands this fall,” Justin Vaughn and Brandon Rottinghaus, the political scientists behind the survey, wrote in the Los Angeles Times.

  • @iopq
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    -311 months ago

    He was tough on the USSR, at least. Obama and Biden not arming Ukraine enough before the conflicts caused Russia to be more successful than it has any right to be

    • AbsentBird
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      311 months ago

      Obama tried, they passed multiple aid packages. Trump withheld the aid, which was the cause of his first impeachment.

      • @iopq
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        111 months ago

        Obama could have directly slapped Russia down in 2014, but didn’t do shit. Russia was not punished enough and got more bold in 2022

    • @FontMasterFlex
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      111 months ago

      Why is it Obama or Biden’s responsibility to arm a foreign country?

      • @[email protected]
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        411 months ago

        Because for once, America is helping against an imperialist aggressor rather than encouraging it. It also happens to be in our best interest to show to other dictators how bad an idea it is.

        • @FontMasterFlex
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          -611 months ago

          Fight your own battles instead of proxy wars?

          • @[email protected]
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            511 months ago

            OK. Now we get directly involved and Russia goes nuclear, or we don’t get involved at all and Russia takes over Ukraine.

            • @FontMasterFlex
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              -311 months ago

              so it’s ok if Ukrainians die in the process. as long as it’s not americans right?

                • @FontMasterFlex
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                  -211 months ago

                  FIght your own fight. This war by proxy shit is bunk. If he’s bad enough to stop, then let’s go fucking stop him. If he’s not then why waste our money and their lives? It could be over tomorrow if we really wanted it to be, but we’ll just string it along, drag it out. Fuel the war machine.

      • @iopq
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        011 months ago

        Because the US disarmed Ukraine in exchange for security promises. Time to actually live up to your promises

        • AbsentBird
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          111 months ago

          Russia guaranteed Ukraine security for disarmament, the UK and US made assurances.

          • @iopq
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            111 months ago

            Well, it’s still shitty since everyone bullied Ukraine to disarm and then Russia invaded and the arm shipments are not enough to stop Russia from continuing to take land

            Iran and North Korea are better allies than the US and that sucks for global diplomacy

        • @FontMasterFlex
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          011 months ago

          oh so why don’t we ACTUALLY DEFEND instead of just sending fuck tons of money are arms? like i said, this shit could be over tomorrow if anyone really wanted it to be. to many people are making too much money off of it. war is good for business incase you haven’t noticed.

          • @iopq
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            111 months ago

            I’m not saying we shouldn’t, I’m saying it’s better to send arms than not to send them