Poll 2 of 5: Greatest U. S. President (1841-1869)?

[elperromagico]

Poll question: Poll 2 of 5: Greatest U. S. President (1841-1869)?

This is one of a series of polls designed to determine which President of the United States was the greatest of all time in the opinion of DUers. The Presidents are placed chronologically in groups of eight or nine.

Here are the links to each poll:
Poll 1 of 5: Greatest U. S. President (1789-1841)?
Poll 2 of 5: Greatest U. S. President (1841-1869)?
Poll 3 of 5: Greatest U. S. President (1869-1909)?
Poll 4 of 5: Greatest U. S. President (1909-1961)?
Poll 5 of 5: Greatest U. S. President (1961-Present)?

Tomorrow, I will post a "runoff" poll listing the winners from each of these five polls. Any President who receives over 50% in his poll will be included. In instances where no President receives over 50%, the top two votegetters will advance to the runoff. This runoff poll will be used to determine which President was the greatest of all time.

As always, Happy Voting! :hi:

[WI_DEM]

1. with the exception of Lincoln

this is a pretty dismal list.

[playahata1]

2. Honest Abe, hands down.

Why go anywhere else on this list?

[tom_paine]

3. Polls like these reveal how damned few great presidents we had

Interesting. Naturally, not all who aren't great are as bad as the Bush. Hell, Herr Fuhrer* isn't EVEN a pResident anyway, and should NOT be included in that poll.

he is the Second Emperor of Amerika, Poppy Bush being the first (though it's confusing because, ike Julius Caeser, he was Emperor during the Last Days of the Old Republic).

[elperromagico]

5. I only included Bush*

for shits and giggles. I doubt very seriously he'll advance to the runoff, unless the Supreme Court intervenes...

[tom_paine]

7. My point was as Emperor he doesn't even belong there

(to the tune of Seasme Street)

"Which one of these things is not like the others? which one of these things doesn't belong?"

[library_max]

4. Who the hell voted for Polk?

Some big fan of the Mexican War?

[Yupster]

9. I voted for Polk

Settled the Oregon dispute, annexed Texas, did what he said and then retired.

I'm not a Lincoln fan. I think he's by far our most overrated president.

[library_max]

10. Did what he said.

Conquered about half of a neighboring country by force of arms. Aren't we as Americans opposed to wars of conquest?

[leyton]

6. Lincoln, of course. Polk has one thing going for him, in my mind...

He didn't feel the need to run for reelection. He ran on two issues: making a decision on the Oregon territory, and gaining Mexican lands. He forced the first issue on Tyler, IIRC, though his methods of gaining the Mexican lands are hardly noble. That said, I still like that he didn't feel the need to run for another term. At least he's not too egotistical.

I chose Lincoln for obvious reasons.

[trotsky]

8. Austere, severe, he held few people dear...

Made sure the tariffs fell,
And made the English sell
the Oregon territory.
He built an independent treasury.
Having done all this, he sought no second term!!!

I had to vote for Polk just because of that song.

[elperromagico]

11. Kick

[maveric]

12. Franklin Pierce. NH's only prez is best known for his alcoholism.

I do believe that he was a war hero during the Mexican-American War.

[Darranar]

13. Lincoln. n/t

[JohnLocke]

14. Lincoln (nt).