Let's Play Rate the Best War Criminal President

Submitted by Big Al on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 7:42am

I saw this poll on CNN this morning. It asked people to select the best president out of the last four:

-Bill Clinton
-George W. Bush
-Barack Obama
-Donald Trump

Can I get a WTF from the choir?

Sometimes when I see polls like that on the internet I'll go ahead and select one just to see the results of the poll. I'm sure plenty of other people do that also so the poll results, as with about everything nowadays, should be taken with a large grain of salt.

But I couldn't, would not, choose any of those humans as the "best" president over the last quarter century. It would be a hit to my soul, an affront to my humanity, a slap in the face to my moral fiber, whatever that is. Whatever good is inside me would be slowly eaten away by acceding to such a inane question.

All four of those presidents are war criminals. Sure, Trump is new at it and barely registers so far compared to his predecessors, but he's got the blood of innocent children on his hands already. Clinton, among other crimes against humanity, has the half million children killed in Iraq legacy ("we think it was worth it"). Bush, among other things, has the million killed in his illegal war on Iraq. Obama, among other things, has the Libya and Syria wars and resulting deaths of hundreds of thousands and displacement of millions.

So ya, which one is best? Answer that, American people.

[video:https://youtu.be/V-pUlN0bc58]

Tags:

Presidents

War Criminals

Vote

Comments

Submitted by Azazello on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 7:54am

Given those choices I'd have to go with Obama.

Trump shouldn't even be in there since he is just getting started. I rate George W. and Bill Clinton as the worst and second worst, respectively, presidents in my lifetime.

—

We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Submitted by mimi on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:55am

i get confused with the best of worst and negatives

@Azazello
so you say Obama was the best of the worst war criminal Presidents?

Who was then the worst of the best war criminal Presidents?

Who has the best of the worst constitutional democracies? Another game not to play?

I'll take a break and get in the kitchen where I belong and bake cookies. All the cookies I can buy are produced by the worst corporate criminal war supporting corporations and sold to those only, who can pay with credit cards from major banks online.

Submitted by Bisbonian on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 4:12pm

At war every single day of his two term presidency,

@mimi , it's hard to get any better than that!

—

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Submitted by GreyWolf on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 6:13pm

yeah, the double negatives are confusing

@Bisbonian but i agree, O has slaughtered the most people, so that's really good, for a "war president," right?

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 8:04am

best of the wurst

Brains blended with bleach could maybe come up with the right answer on this one. Guess who!

Submitted by mimi on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 10:19am

the best Wurst is still the Wiener (not Weiner) Wurst

@QMS @QMS
but "mir ist alles Wurscht" by now, which google translate to "Me is all sausage". heh, that's AI not AL, artificial something.
*

Submitted by QMS on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 10:43am

artificial choices

@mimi @mimi Thanks for the chuckle mimi. Artificial sausage, hot dogs or wurst...

edited to change subjected text

Submitted by CB on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 12:47pm

Never buy Stippgrütze or Braunschweiger from John Rebeck

@mimi

Submitted by mimi on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 1:14pm

I am sure the BDN has prevented me from being able

@CB
to see this video. Wurschtige conspiracy theory, here. Or may be Eric Schmidt has googled and bamboozled the BDN and messed up all my video watching pleasures. Tired.

Submitted by CB on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 1:25pm

If you love sausages (like I do) here's the link (enjoy)

@mimi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2RTaUd7u6o

Submitted by mimi on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 3:48pm

:-) nice lady singers

@CB
I think they ate a few too many sausages though, but who wouldn't fall in love with a dutchman of that kind of engineering caliber that he could make tasty sausages out of cats and dogs that you can enjoy.

I understand that the German Wurst Song isn't up to standard. Hard to enjoy, but you can give it a try.:
[video:https://youtu.be/xAWzDeeXvoE]
With apologies to this site's owners. I won't do it again.

Submitted by ghotiphaze on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 1:28pm

I vote Fake Resident Trump

@mimi as bratworst champion. Worst brat to reside at the WH. He definitely kicked the P out of the office of President.

—

There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.

Submitted by ggersh on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 8:26am

The older I get the worse our presidents get

I don't reckon there is a correlation but these golden years
ain't all they were cracked up to be.

Maybe the question should be, which president shouldn't be
behind iron bars? enablers like the one below should be included.

and just when you thought it was safe to venture out, Frankenstein returns..

http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/02/21/firestarter-the-unwelcome-return-...

—

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

Submitted by Big Al on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 8:57am

If ever there was a chance to start a parade of

@ggersh government criminals to prison, Blair and Bush were/are it. At least Bush only shows up to baseball games.

Submitted by ggersh on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:08am

The chain gang would be quite long for sure

@Big Al

—

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

Submitted by riverlover on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 8:24am

I would not touch that one.

Who was best: Chester V Arthur or Millard Fillmore? How's that?

—

Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by doh1304 on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:22am

I pick Calligula

He gave good parties. Though Carricalla and Nero had a hostile press. (lots of fake news like that fiddle thing)

—

On to Biden since 1973

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:35am

Which face of the Corporatacracy did you like best?

I'd rate Clinton at the absolute bottom, because he made corruption cool.
Bush 2nd because he showed that the MSM will defend you as long as you push for war.
Obama 3rd worst, because he didn't start any of it, just discovered that you can do everything exactly the same, as long you claim you can't do anything.
And Trump Best just because he hasn't done that much damage personally in one month.

Not that the MSM would let you ever accept stating that you don't hate Trump as much as other people. Apparently you have to think of him as SATAN. Course, I think of satan a little differently.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkQrOugHOo8]

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:35am

Er...not sure what to say to that question...

Maybe Trump by default, because he hasn't had time to do as many horrible things yet? I dunno. It's hard for me to separate Clinton 1, Bush, and Obama, because in retrospect it's so clear that they're all taking us farther and farther on the same path. Clinton was a set-up man. He put the economy and the financial sector and the press in the right condition, then George came behind him to destroy what civil liberties and rule of law we had and to institute a permanent state of endless war and low taxes for the wealthy. Then Obama came behind him to lend the moral credibility of the first Black president to this state of affairs. He was essentially a propaganda man, and it was his job to make sure the American tradition of questioning authority died. That's why his Admins were so obsessed with messaging and throwing people in jail for asking the wrong questions, publishing the wrong articles, etc.

I think Trump is something the establishment didn't expect, but they've got a trap door in the person of Mike Pence. Trump's a bastard, but not the right kind of bastard, exactly, and they're very exacting.

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by The Wizard on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:45am

They are all low-life scumbags

When and where has the US been under imminent threat of military force from another country? We have had no ethical justification for the use military force since WWII. Yet we continue to kill people around the world, with enormous blow-back. Congratulations Donald, you have now joined the club. Perhaps now the establishment will accept you.

The answer to the question is President Jimmy Carter, the only one to not use military force. On Presidents' day I tell people that on this day I celebrate Jimmy Carter day.

I wonder about the concept of conscientious objection to paying taxes that finance wars. We have that concept for serving in the military but we can't escape paying taxes to finance those same wars. I would separate out those funds that pay for war. I would then allow that an individual tax payer may opt to have that portion of his taxes go to a recognized charity. Your tax dollars are going to kill people just as sure as you point a rifle at someone and pull the trigger. After all who is more guilty, the thug that carries out the hit or the mobster who pays for it?

—

Capitalism has always been the rule of the people by the oligarchs. You only have two choices, eliminate them or restrict their power.

Submitted by Linda Wood on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 11:35am

I think your proposal

@The Wizard about

the concept of conscientious objection to paying taxes that finance wars

is where most of our focus should be, especially about illegal wars. That, and filing criminal complaints against our government, or individuals in our government, for committing crimes.

Submitted by earthling1 on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 3:38pm

Not paying your taxes is prosecutable.

@Linda Wood Filing grievances against those that are above the law is useless. Complaining to your congresscritter laughable. The courts, the congress, and the White House are allied against us.
As a people, we have to do this without them.
Credexit. Deal in cash only. Stop borrowing money from them. Save save save.
Not for Christs sake, but for the sake of all humankind, STOP CONSUMING!

—

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Submitted by Linda Wood on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 5:38pm

I hear you, of course.

@earthling1 I do understand that not paying taxes is prosecutable. But why is it NOT prosecutable to invade and bomb a country that hasn't attacked us, where there is no declaration of war, and where misleading statements were used to panic the country into war?

I agree with your description of the situation, but I believe the American people should be actively, legally challenging this state of affairs. If I pay taxes to support war crimes, I am guilty of war crimes. I must have the right to refuse to support illegal war.

Submitted by gulfgal98 on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:51am

Ugh!

Overall, Bill Clinton could be rated the best or the worst, depending upon the criteria. Clinton got a lot of things done, which could possibly rate him the best of the bunch. But to me, he was the worst because the things he got done in his eight years were the wrong things that we the people are still trying to undo. IMHO, Obama was the worst war criminal. His legacy has left the Middle East in ruins with now seven countries in which we are illegally bombing.

—

Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Submitted by dkmich on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 10:04am

WTF

At this point, I'd pick W.

—

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 10:22am

@dkmich It would take some

@dkmich It would take some months of Trumpy for me to rank him as worse than W. But the whole question is absurd. The only response that doesn't play the establishment's stupid game would go something like this:

"Well, go on," Wolfe murmured. "I never answer a question containing two or more unsupported assumptions."

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by dkmich on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 11:06am

My rank for worst...

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

My rank for worst to best and why....

Obama - he knew better
Trump - he knows nothing, but that's no excuse
Clinton - he didn't give a shit
W. - he had little control

—

"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 5:37pm

How about only one baseless assumption?

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal Answer me that--and I'll tell you where the wild goose goes.

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 8:44pm

@Alligator Ed Apparently, Wolfe

@Alligator Ed Apparently, Wolfe will answer a question containing only one unsupported assumption--probably because if he didn't, he'd rarely answer questions.

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by pro left on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 10:23am

I think its a trick question

There is no right answer, kinda like the ones some employers use to rate you on their job apps. but I always keep in mind whatever you say can and will be used against you.

Submitted by eyo on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 11:48am

Trump, soon enough. Death merchant supreme

Maybe the defensenews site is a bunch of crap propaganda, but I don't think so.
The warrior-thinker Trump picked for national security adviser

...
McMaster has also proved over time that he’s not scared to criticize the Army. He’s often said the service moves too slowly to replace aging capabilities -- such as armored combat vehicles -- and has offered up creative strategies to get around the sluggish pace of acquisition and tight budgets that have plagued the Army for many years.

The general has recently advocated strongly to prioritize close-combat capability, to find new ways to increase armor and protection for vehicles, and to develop capability to counter the rising drone threat.

Close combat means body bags, and thanks Bloody Obama for the drone war escalation. It never ends.

McMaster has also said the current fight against the Islamic State and other conflicts in the region cannot be won simply by throwing ground troops at the problem but will require local governments and coalition partners to stabilize these countries and eradicate terrorist activity.

Ding ding ding! ~doink!~

Thanks for the space to voice anti-war, anti-violence, pro-peace opinions. Thanks a lot.

Submitted by riverlover on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:06pm

Sounds like a money funnel out

@eyo and body bags home. You are correct.

—

Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by CB on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 12:12pm

Here's my list

From worst to least worst (take note there is no best)

Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama was the absolute worst by far.
Here's Mr. Hopey Changy's legacy:

Sent 3,500 U.S. troops and tanks to Russia's doorstep in one of his final decisions as president.
Obama ordered ten times more drone strikes than Bush.
In 2016 alone Obama dropped 26,171 bombs (an average of 72 bombs every day).
Put boots on the ground in Syria , despite 16 times saying "no boots on the ground".
Despite campaign pledges, planned a $1 trillion progam to add more nuclear weapons to the US arsenal in the next 30 years.
Dropped bombs in 7 Muslim countries; and then bragged about it .
Said, “I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being.”
Bragged about his use of drones - I'm "really good at killing people".
Deported a modern-record 2 million immigrants.
Signed the Monsanto Protection Act into law.
Started a new war in Iraq .
Initiated, and personally oversees a 'Secret Kill List'.
Pushed for war on Syria while siding with al-Qaeda .
Backed neo-Nazis in Ukraine.
Supported Israel's wars and occupation of Palestine.
Deployed Special Ops to 134 countries - compared to 60 under Bush.
Did a TV commercial promoting "clean coal".
Drastically escalated the NSA spying program .
Signed the NDAA into law - making it legal to assassinate Americans w/o charge or trial.
Given Bush absolute immunity for everything.
Pushed for a TPP Trade Pact .
Started a new war on terror - this one on ISIS .
Signed more executive memoranda than any other president in history.
Transferred more than $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, more than any other administration in history.
Signed an agreement for 7 military bases in Colombia .
Opened a military base in Chile.
Touted nuclear power, even after the disaster in Japan.
Opened up deep water oil drilling, even after the BP disaster.
Mandated the Insider Threat Program which orders federal employees to report suspicious actions of their colleagues.
Defended body scans and pat-downs at airports.
Signed the Patriot Act extension into law.
Launched 20,000 Airstrikes in his first term.
Continued Bush's rendition program.
Said the U.S. is the "one indispensable nation" in the world.
Waged war on Libya without congressional approval.
Started a covert, drone war in Yemen.
Escalated the proxy war in Somalia.
Escalated the CIA drone warin Pakistan.
Sharply escalated the war in Afghanistan.
Repealed the Propaganda ban, making it legal to spread government propaganda via news outlets.
Assassinated 4 US citizens with drone strikes.

We've been abused and screwed six ways till Sunday by Obama. But only because we have yet to see his legacy for Sunday.

Excuse me. I feel dirty. I'll be back after an enema and hot shower.

OK, I'm back. Who's next?

I put Clinton as second worst. He designed and set up the stage for the Kabuki performances by the following two presidents.

Prison-loving president
Punitive welfare reform
Wall Street’s Deregulator-in-Chief
Gutted manufacturing via trade agreements
No LGBT equality: Defense of Marriage Act
Expanded the war on drugs
Expanded the death penalty
Returned to Cold War priorities
Joycelyn Elders and the culture war
Turning Lincoln Bedroom into fundraising condo
Bombed Sudanese pharmaceutical plant
Doubled down on Iraq sanctions
Political smears: Sistah Souljah
Knew about coming Rwandan genocide
Escalated America's foreign drug wars

Bush third worst - mainly because you knew what you were buying. He was upfront with his lies. If you didn't know this, then it was because your eyes were wide shut.

Trump fourth worst, mainly because he has not 'accomplished'. anything yet. But it is apparent he is attempting to reverse some of the abuses set up by his three predecessors by kicking the gigantic shit pot located in DC. It remains to be seen if he will be successful or if Obama's shit is too sticky.

Trump’s Foreign Policy: Retreat or Rout?
With President Trump’s foreign-policy team sounding a lot like President Obama’s, the new question is whether Trump has caved in to Official Washington’s powers-that-be or is biding his time for a big move, asks Gilbert Doctorow.

Damn. I feel dirty again. Going for another hot shower.

Submitted by mimi on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 1:02pm

So, now that you have showered four times

@CB
and don't feel dirty anymore. What's next? What does it help? Venting your frustrations (for which I have a lot of sympathy and I do value all the info in your list as well) can't be the end of all, no? Those Presidents are gone. The current one will have to be "evaluated" for his future "accomplishments".

Is there a way to try to find a method to prevent future "accomplisments" from being military activities on foreign territories? I just wonder where to direct my "activism" activities to. Tired.

From worst to least worst (take note there is no best) Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama was the absolute worst by far. Here's Mr. Hopey Changy's legacy: Sent 3,500 U.S. troops and tanks to Russia's doorstep in one of his final decisions as president. Obama ordered ten times more drone strikes than Bush. In 2016 alone Obama dropped 26,171 bombs (an average of 72 bombs every day). Put boots on the ground in Syria , despite 16 times saying "no boots on the ground". Despite campaign pledges, planned a $1 trillion progam to add more nuclear weapons to the US arsenal in the next 30 years. Dropped bombs in 7 Muslim countries; and then bragged about it . Said, “I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being.” Bragged about his use of drones - I'm "really good at killing people". Deported a modern-record 2 million immigrants. Signed the Monsanto Protection Act into law. Started a new war in Iraq . Initiated, and personally oversees a 'Secret Kill List'. Pushed for war on Syria while siding with al-Qaeda . Backed neo-Nazis in Ukraine. Supported Israel's wars and occupation of Palestine. Deployed Special Ops to 134 countries - compared to 60 under Bush. Did a TV commercial promoting "clean coal". Drastically escalated the NSA spying program . Signed the NDAA into law - making it legal to assassinate Americans w/o charge or trial. Given Bush absolute immunity for everything. Pushed for a TPP Trade Pact . Started a new war on terror - this one on ISIS . Signed more executive memoranda than any other president in history. Transferred more than $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, more than any other administration in history. Signed an agreement for 7 military bases in Colombia . Opened a military base in Chile. Touted nuclear power, even after the disaster in Japan. Opened up deep water oil drilling, even after the BP disaster. Mandated the Insider Threat Program which orders federal employees to report suspicious actions of their colleagues. Defended body scans and pat-downs at airports. Signed the Patriot Act extension into law. Launched 20,000 Airstrikes in his first term. Continued Bush's rendition program. Said the U.S. is the "one indispensable nation" in the world. Waged war on Libya without congressional approval. Started a covert, drone war in Yemen. Escalated the proxy war in Somalia. Escalated the CIA drone warin Pakistan. Sharply escalated the war in Afghanistan. Repealed the Propaganda ban, making it legal to spread government propaganda via news outlets. Assassinated 4 US citizens with drone strikes. We've been abused and screwed six ways till Sunday by Obama. But only because we have yet to see his legacy for Sunday. Excuse me. I feel dirty. I'll be back after an enema and hot shower. OK, I'm back. Who's next? I put Clinton as second worst. He designed and set up the stage for the Kabuki performances by the following two presidents. Prison-loving president Punitive welfare reform Wall Street’s Deregulator-in-Chief Gutted manufacturing via trade agreements No LGBT equality: Defense of Marriage Act Expanded the war on drugs Expanded the death penalty Returned to Cold War priorities Joycelyn Elders and the culture war Turning Lincoln Bedroom into fundraising condo Bombed Sudanese pharmaceutical plant Doubled down on Iraq sanctions Political smears: Sistah Souljah Knew about coming Rwandan genocide Escalated America's foreign drug wars Bush third worst - mainly because you knew what you were buying. He was upfront with his lies. If you didn't know this, then it was because your eyes were wide shut. Trump fourth worst, mainly because he has not 'accomplished'. anything yet. But it is apparent he is attempting to reverse some of the abuses set up by his three predecessors by kicking the gigantic shit pot located in DC. It remains to be seen if he will be successful or if Obama's shit is too sticky. Trump’s Foreign Policy: Retreat or Rout? With President Trump’s foreign-policy team sounding a lot like President Obama’s, the new question is whether Trump has caved in to Official Washington’s powers-that-be or is biding his time for a big move, asks Gilbert Doctorow. Damn. I feel dirty again. Going for another hot shower.

Submitted by CB on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 4:23pm

I don't know. The Democratic party is not the answer

@mimi
It has turned into the disease. It wants to destroy the world to 'save' the country. It's added neo-McCarthyism to its neoliberal and neocon bonifides.

Maybe we can go back in time. Here's some music to take you there.

Submitted by mimi on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 2:54pm

thx., how sad that the channel

@CB
"eins plus" (EinsPlus was a digital television channel from the German broadcaster ARD and managed by ARD regional broadcaster SWR.) closed down due to financial troubles. I just learned of their existence through your post. Like the music a lot.

Submitted by Linda Wood on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 6:02pm

A great list.

@CB
But about President Obama, don't forget the continued bailout of banks:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikecollins/2015/07/14/the-big-bank-bailout/...

Forbes JUL 14, 2015
The Big Bank Bailout
Mike Collins

Most people think that the big bank bailout was the $700 billion that the treasury department used to save the banks during the financial crash in September of 2008. But this is a long way from the truth because the bailout is still ongoing. The Special Inspector General for TARP summary of the bailout says that the total commitment of government is $16.8 trillion dollars with the $4.6 trillion already paid out. Yes, it was trillions not billions and the banks are now larger and still too big to fail. But it isn’t just the government bailout money that tells the story of the bailout. This is a story about lies, cheating, and a multi-faceted corruption which was often criminal...

From worst to least worst (take note there is no best) Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama was the absolute worst by far. Here's Mr. Hopey Changy's legacy: Sent 3,500 U.S. troops and tanks to Russia's doorstep in one of his final decisions as president. Obama ordered ten times more drone strikes than Bush. In 2016 alone Obama dropped 26,171 bombs (an average of 72 bombs every day). Put boots on the ground in Syria , despite 16 times saying "no boots on the ground". Despite campaign pledges, planned a $1 trillion progam to add more nuclear weapons to the US arsenal in the next 30 years. Dropped bombs in 7 Muslim countries; and then bragged about it . Said, “I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being.” Bragged about his use of drones - I'm "really good at killing people". Deported a modern-record 2 million immigrants. Signed the Monsanto Protection Act into law. Started a new war in Iraq . Initiated, and personally oversees a 'Secret Kill List'. Pushed for war on Syria while siding with al-Qaeda . Backed neo-Nazis in Ukraine. Supported Israel's wars and occupation of Palestine. Deployed Special Ops to 134 countries - compared to 60 under Bush. Did a TV commercial promoting "clean coal". Drastically escalated the NSA spying program . Signed the NDAA into law - making it legal to assassinate Americans w/o charge or trial. Given Bush absolute immunity for everything. Pushed for a TPP Trade Pact . Started a new war on terror - this one on ISIS . Signed more executive memoranda than any other president in history. Transferred more than $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, more than any other administration in history. Signed an agreement for 7 military bases in Colombia . Opened a military base in Chile. Touted nuclear power, even after the disaster in Japan. Opened up deep water oil drilling, even after the BP disaster. Mandated the Insider Threat Program which orders federal employees to report suspicious actions of their colleagues. Defended body scans and pat-downs at airports. Signed the Patriot Act extension into law. Launched 20,000 Airstrikes in his first term. Continued Bush's rendition program. Said the U.S. is the "one indispensable nation" in the world. Waged war on Libya without congressional approval. Started a covert, drone war in Yemen. Escalated the proxy war in Somalia. Escalated the CIA drone warin Pakistan. Sharply escalated the war in Afghanistan. Repealed the Propaganda ban, making it legal to spread government propaganda via news outlets. Assassinated 4 US citizens with drone strikes. We've been abused and screwed six ways till Sunday by Obama. But only because we have yet to see his legacy for Sunday. Excuse me. I feel dirty. I'll be back after an enema and hot shower. OK, I'm back. Who's next? I put Clinton as second worst. He designed and set up the stage for the Kabuki performances by the following two presidents. Prison-loving president Punitive welfare reform Wall Street’s Deregulator-in-Chief Gutted manufacturing via trade agreements No LGBT equality: Defense of Marriage Act Expanded the war on drugs Expanded the death penalty Returned to Cold War priorities Joycelyn Elders and the culture war Turning Lincoln Bedroom into fundraising condo Bombed Sudanese pharmaceutical plant Doubled down on Iraq sanctions Political smears: Sistah Souljah Knew about coming Rwandan genocide Escalated America's foreign drug wars Bush third worst - mainly because you knew what you were buying. He was upfront with his lies. If you didn't know this, then it was because your eyes were wide shut. Trump fourth worst, mainly because he has not 'accomplished'. anything yet. But it is apparent he is attempting to reverse some of the abuses set up by his three predecessors by kicking the gigantic shit pot located in DC. It remains to be seen if he will be successful or if Obama's shit is too sticky. Trump’s Foreign Policy: Retreat or Rout? With President Trump’s foreign-policy team sounding a lot like President Obama’s, the new question is whether Trump has caved in to Official Washington’s powers-that-be or is biding his time for a big move, asks Gilbert Doctorow. Damn. I feel dirty again. Going for another hot shower.

Submitted by Ellen North on Fri, 02/24/2017 - 12:27am

@Linda Wood

@Linda Wood

Thanks for yet another essential must-read!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikecollins/2015/07/14/the-big-bank-bailout...

Forbes JUL 14, 2015
The Big Bank Bailout
Mike Collins

... In an article Secrets and Lies of the Bailout, Matt Taibbi says “It was all a lie – one of the biggest and most elaborate falsehoods ever sold to the American people. We were told that the taxpayer was stepping in – only temporarily, mind you – to prop up the economy and save the world from financial catastrophe. What we actually ended up doing was the exact opposite: committing American taxpayers to permanent, blind support of an ungovernable, unregulatable, hyper concentrated new financial system that exacerbates the greed and inequality that caused the crash, and forces Wall Street banks like Goldman Sachs and Citigroup to increase risk rather than reduce it.

After the original $700 billion bailout, the ongoing bailout was kept very secret because Chairman Ben Bernanke, argued that revealing borrower details would create a stigma — investors and counterparties would shun firms that used the central bank as lender of last resort. In fact, $7.7 trillion of the secret emergency lending was only disclosed to the public after Congress forced a one-time audit of the Federal Reserve in November of 2011. After the audit the public found out the bailout was in trillions not billions; and that there were no requirements attached to the bailout money - the banks could use it for any purpose. ...

Even if you knew at least some of this before, it kinda makes you want to spit nails and criminal charges at all concerned, doesn't it?

Bernie was, if I recall correctly, the one who got that one-time audit of the Fed through. Guessing that'll never happen again...

—

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by Creosote. on Wed, 02/22/2017 - 8:29am

Obama: Yes, we tortured folks.

@CB
Then there's that election video where he talks about disagreement, then says, "I'll crush them."
Everyone laughed.

From worst to least worst (take note there is no best) Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama was the absolute worst by far. Here's Mr. Hopey Changy's legacy: Sent 3,500 U.S. troops and tanks to Russia's doorstep in one of his final decisions as president. Obama ordered ten times more drone strikes than Bush. In 2016 alone Obama dropped 26,171 bombs (an average of 72 bombs every day). Put boots on the ground in Syria , despite 16 times saying "no boots on the ground". Despite campaign pledges, planned a $1 trillion progam to add more nuclear weapons to the US arsenal in the next 30 years. Dropped bombs in 7 Muslim countries; and then bragged about it . Said, “I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being.” Bragged about his use of drones - I'm "really good at killing people". Deported a modern-record 2 million immigrants. Signed the Monsanto Protection Act into law. Started a new war in Iraq . Initiated, and personally oversees a 'Secret Kill List'. Pushed for war on Syria while siding with al-Qaeda . Backed neo-Nazis in Ukraine. Supported Israel's wars and occupation of Palestine. Deployed Special Ops to 134 countries - compared to 60 under Bush. Did a TV commercial promoting "clean coal". Drastically escalated the NSA spying program . Signed the NDAA into law - making it legal to assassinate Americans w/o charge or trial. Given Bush absolute immunity for everything. Pushed for a TPP Trade Pact . Started a new war on terror - this one on ISIS . Signed more executive memoranda than any other president in history. Transferred more than $100 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, more than any other administration in history. Signed an agreement for 7 military bases in Colombia . Opened a military base in Chile. Touted nuclear power, even after the disaster in Japan. Opened up deep water oil drilling, even after the BP disaster. Mandated the Insider Threat Program which orders federal employees to report suspicious actions of their colleagues. Defended body scans and pat-downs at airports. Signed the Patriot Act extension into law. Launched 20,000 Airstrikes in his first term. Continued Bush's rendition program. Said the U.S. is the "one indispensable nation" in the world. Waged war on Libya without congressional approval. Started a covert, drone war in Yemen. Escalated the proxy war in Somalia. Escalated the CIA drone warin Pakistan. Sharply escalated the war in Afghanistan. Repealed the Propaganda ban, making it legal to spread government propaganda via news outlets. Assassinated 4 US citizens with drone strikes. We've been abused and screwed six ways till Sunday by Obama. But only because we have yet to see his legacy for Sunday. Excuse me. I feel dirty. I'll be back after an enema and hot shower. OK, I'm back. Who's next? I put Clinton as second worst. He designed and set up the stage for the Kabuki performances by the following two presidents. Prison-loving president Punitive welfare reform Wall Street’s Deregulator-in-Chief Gutted manufacturing via trade agreements No LGBT equality: Defense of Marriage Act Expanded the war on drugs Expanded the death penalty Returned to Cold War priorities Joycelyn Elders and the culture war Turning Lincoln Bedroom into fundraising condo Bombed Sudanese pharmaceutical plant Doubled down on Iraq sanctions Political smears: Sistah Souljah Knew about coming Rwandan genocide Escalated America's foreign drug wars Bush third worst - mainly because you knew what you were buying. He was upfront with his lies. If you didn't know this, then it was because your eyes were wide shut. Trump fourth worst, mainly because he has not 'accomplished'. anything yet. But it is apparent he is attempting to reverse some of the abuses set up by his three predecessors by kicking the gigantic shit pot located in DC. It remains to be seen if he will be successful or if Obama's shit is too sticky. Trump’s Foreign Policy: Retreat or Rout? With President Trump’s foreign-policy team sounding a lot like President Obama’s, the new question is whether Trump has caved in to Official Washington’s powers-that-be or is biding his time for a big move, asks Gilbert Doctorow. Damn. I feel dirty again. Going for another hot shower.

Submitted by Lookout on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 12:35pm

All I can do is give you a WTF...

cause they all are horrid. I'll not rank one turd over the other.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by MrWebster on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 2:00pm

Which one put on the best Coliseum matches?

The invasion of Iraq probably had the highest ratings, especially after the tax cuts.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 2:37pm

I won't vote for the lesser evil

There is no best in the group listed. They are/were all bad for the American people.

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I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise.
But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.

Submitted by divineorder on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 2:44pm

Argghhhhhh. Big Al. That's all they have to do? LMR...

Losing my religion!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ2yXWi0ppw

We cannot continue down this path in #Yemen: 'Donald Trump’s Shift On Yemen Risks Plunging The Country Into Famine' https://t.co/ogkeDa3cnY

— Win Without War (@WinWithoutWar) February 21, 2017

Over there. Yah. That's me in the corner...

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Submitted by riverlover on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:14pm

A classic breakup or Tough Love song.

@divineorder It always makes me sigh. ...just a dream.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 6:24pm

Here's my picks--listen up!

First: Big Al, why did you pick the Guess Who singing American Woman? Medusa didn't win.

First of the worst: Slick Willie who started us on the slide into pay for play, making all the wrongs so much easier for those who followed. I think he knew exactly what he was doing.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkXIYgsvO0c]

My next vote goes to W, whom I usually call President Stupid (but who knew damn well what he was doing):

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMmsoxoDC1E]

In third place, chronologically at least, comes Barry the Bomber Obama:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk7V70W0F-I]

In fourth place, only because he's been in office only two months and there is still a glimmer of hope, the Hairball:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZhnG7-WWF8]

Submitted by HenryAWallace on Tue, 02/21/2017 - 9:37pm

It's an insoluble riddle.

Obama did much more drone killing than Bush the Lesser and they both had people tortured outside the US, but Obama was more hypocritical and vague about his role in torture. Clinton (and Poppy) offshored torture, too. Trump has done the least, but only because he has barely begun his term. I give him no props for that. He may be the worst before he's done.

The correct answer is "All of the above" plus others.

Submitted by neoconned on Fri, 02/24/2017 - 9:04am

Dubya

Bill Clinton set a high bar with the Balkan Intervention and the Iraq sanctions, but Darth Cheney easily surpassed that with the wars in Afghanistan (for the over $3 TRILLION in recoverable mineral wealth) and Iraq (need I say more than oil?). Obama is a mere poser in comparison, and Trump so far is all talk.

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Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.

Submitted by Timmethy2.0 on Fri, 02/24/2017 - 9:21am

I agree, Dubya wins hands down

If the field were expanded to include Nixon and Johnson, W. would have some serious competition.

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Beware the bullshit factories.