Gallup Poll: Honest Abe, JFK Among Greatest U.S. Presidents

Gallup News Service ^ | 5/16/03 | Joseph Carroll

[AAABEST]

I'm becoming convinced that I live in a country full of morons. I can't believe what a see in polls at times.

[Jean S]

I think the answers are a result of the respondent’s educations. Kennedy and Lincoln are the most mentioned in public school history classes. I would guess that if they had included Martin Luther King in this presidential poll he would have received many votes too, for the same reason, although he was never president.

[Jeff Chandler]

I can't believe G. Washington scored so low.

[demkicker]

My husband's favorite saying has become "six out of ten".
Translation: Six out of every ten people are morons.

Sad to agree, but I'm convinced he's right.

[nopardons]

America has been dumbed down; almost beyond repair.

Clinton is one member of the Axis of Crentonous/destructive presidents...right up there with FDR, Wilson, and Carter. JFK was a terrible president,m who probably would NOT have been re-elected; even with his father's money/Mafia connections, which got him elected in the first place.

[A CA Guy]

The top two were shot and the third should have been...LOL

Just joking, I don't want anybody shout that are not terrorist anti-American types.

[Jeff Chandler]

JFK was the first true "television president". That speaks for itself.

[nopardons]

Yes, you are correct about that. He was also inept as a president and probably the ONLY president to be given the amount of hype, after death, as he has been. The truth ( FACTS ) concerning his presidency have been oblitterated/hidden.

[dts32041]

The top three one was a manic depressive, on was a druggie and the other was a sociopath.

WE have in this country about the dumbest bunch of people, thank god more people don't vote.

Two of the top three almost got us into wars and didn't because they didn't have the guts to drop the hammer, and instead left their people stranded and hung out to dry.

BTW does this mean we are going to have to suffer thru the 40th anniversary of the magic bullet?

Old Walter cronkite will be in his glory with teddy k bringing out the good stuff.

[JNB]

I wonder what the racial breakdown of the 18-29 group is that said Clinton was the greatest president. My guess, is a large chunk of them were blacks, who sadly and honestly believe Climton was the greatest president ever. Also I wonder what the complete sample size of the 18-29 year olds were as well, so many polls have failed to get a accurate sample of 18-29 year olds.

[ladyinred]

Reagan, with 18%, actually had the most mentions in 2001, probably due in part to the fact that the poll was conducted around celebrations of his 90th birthday.

No disclaimers are mentioned about the polling results of anyone else, interesting, and also telling. How can I trust a poll that is taken by someone with an obvious bias? They seem quite surprised Reagan topped the list in 2001!

[Drew68]

I'm becoming convinced that I live in a country full of morons. I can't believe what a see in polls at times.

Oh I believe it! Have you ever seen "Jaywalking" on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno? The segment where he goes out on the street, or often, to college campuses, and asks the most basic questions like, "What country did we drop an atomic bomb on in World War Two?" and respondents are dumbfouded?

I honestly think that most Americans under forty could probably name only five or six presidents including President King Jr. and President Benjamin Franklin --the dead "President" on the $100 bill!

[Drew68]

I'm becoming convinced that I live in a country full of morons.

Fortunately most of them don't bother registering to vote.

[Jean S]

I find it interesting that they did this poll during the release of the Kennedy biography. That must have skewed the results.

I know some complain about these polls being posted but I do see a use for them, not for an accurate measurements of current opinion, but for what the opinion-makers want us to think.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Boy, the Father of our Country can't seem to catch a break in any of these polls, consistently scoring under 10%. And half of these people vote! America is doomed.

[zarf]

Of course 60pcent of the Amurikin pimples don't know who the hell the Vice President is.

The only thing to make of these polls is that Bill Clinton's blow job was a greater accomplishment than George Washington leading the nation to independence.

OK , I'm convinced!!

[x]

one was a manic depressive

Depressed to be sure, and with much to be depressed about. But I don't see the manic side. In the nineteenth century, depression went undiagnosed and largely unnoticed. Maybe it was regarded as more or less normal in a world where amusements were few and death a constant presence. True manic states, though, would surely have attracted more attention. Maybe they were less common in those days.

But it's certainly true that people today are stupid. Some of them will excuse the Kennedys anything. Tonight, Eleanor Clift used the word "sweet" to describe JFK's recently discovered affair. I almost choked. Some people really believe that Kennedy was being of more than human stature who can't be held to normal human standards.

[america-rules]

Look at the numbers. Bill Blowjob Clinton is always shown above GW Bush but the numbers show him below each time except for the tiny bopers.

[Jean S]

I hadn't noticed that. You would think they would ask the question and post the results in a logical order. I don't see that. Good catch.