Reply #48: I'd use a specific scale for ranking:

[road2000]

Which would be least likely to be admitted to what passes for today's Republican party?

Eisenhower and Nixon would never get into the elephant tent -- probably, neither would want to. Based sheerly on their ideology and accomplishments (remember the tax rates under Ike), I'd give them a tie for first.

Taft, Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, Ford and Bush1 would hold little appeal for today's regressives (although Harding might get a small boost for his closet trysts, which fit today's Republican values).

Bush2 and Reagan... I can't decide which is worse. Reagan was an evil bastard even before his kickoff speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi. His eight years in office led us straight to where we are today. Bush2 just carried out the delayed Reagan agenda, albeit with more megalomania than perhaps even we Dems expected at the time.

Reagan was the setup man; Bush2 the closer.