Who was worst US president in the 20th and 21st centuries?

[The Black Forrest]

Well he set in motion many of the plans to get Osama Bin Laden, War in Iraq was bad, i didn't agree with that, but I was with him on Afghanistan. Socially not a fan, foreign policy i agreed with mostly, he didn't take shit from anyone.

He basically forgot about Afghanistan for most of his term while concentrating on Iraq for shits and giggles.

He wanted to "one up" poppy......

[Fintanland]

He created new words.

He worked tirelessly towards the relaxation of English's restrictive rules of grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Few people appreciate the works of this staunch fighter for total linguistic freedom.

[Gaveo]

30,000? If anything 2,000 people died. Please get your facts right.

Further information:
“He shut down parliament, suffocated political life, banned trade unions, and made Chile his sultanate. His government disappeared 3,200 opponents, arrested 30,000 (torturing thousands of them) ... Pinochet’s name will forever be linked to the Desaparecidos, the Caravan of Death, and the institutionalized torture that took place in the Villa Grimaldi complex.”
— Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, National Review
-
The military rule was characterized by systematic suppression of all political dissidence. Scholars later described this as a "politicide" (or "political genocide"). Steve J. Stern spoke of a politicide to describe "a systematic project to destroy an entire way of doing and understanding politics and governance."
The worst violence occurred in the first three months of the coup's aftermath, with the number of suspected leftists killed or "disappeared" (desaparecidos) soon reaching into the thousands. In the days immediately following the coup, the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs informed Henry Kissinger, that the National Stadium was being used to hold 5,000 prisoners, and as late as 1975, the CIA was still reporting that up to 3,811 prisoners were still being held in the Stadium. Between the day of the military coup and November 1973, as many as 40,000 political prisoners were detained in the Stadium. 1,850 of them were killed, another 1,300 are missing since then. Some of the most famous cases of "desaparecidos" are Charles Horman, a U.S. citizen who was killed during the coup itself, Chilean songwriter Víctor Jara, and the October 1973 Caravan of Death (Caravana de la Muerte) where at least 70 persons were killed. Other operations include Operation Colombo during which hundreds of left-wing activists were murdered and Operation Condor, carried out with the security services of other Latin American dictatorships.

Some funeral urns of political activists executed by the Chilean military dictatorship, from 1973 to 1990, in the cemetery of Santiago
Following Pinochet's defeat in the 1988 plebiscite, the 1991 Rettig Commission, a multipartisan effort from the Aylwin administration to discover the truth about the human-rights violations, listed a number of torture and detention centers (such as Colonia Dignidad, the ship Esmeralda or Víctor Jara Stadium), and found that at least 3,200 people were killed or disappeared by the regime.
A later report, the Valech Report (published in November 2004), confirmed the figure of 3,200 deaths but reduced the estimated number of disappearances. It tells of some 28,000 arrests in which the majority of those detained were incarcerated and in a great many cases tortured. Some 30,000 Chileans were exiled and received abroad, in particular in Argentina, as political refugees; however, they were followed in their exile by the DINA secret police, in the frame of Operation Condor which linked South-American dictatorships together against political opponents. Some 20,000–40,000 Chilean exiles were holders of passports stamped with the letter "L" (which stood for lista nacional), identifyng them as persona non grata and had to seek permission before entering the country. According to a study in Latin American Perspectives, at least 200,000 Chileans (about 2% of Chile's 1973 population) were forced to go into exile. Additionally, hundreds of thousands left the country in the wake of the economic crises that followed the military coup during the 1970s and 1980s.

So... 40,000 exiles and 3,200 killed or disappeared. I think that this qualifies Pinochet as destructive and genocidal.

CIVIL WAR. Why can't you listen to me?

[The Black Forrest]

Well he set in motion many of the plans to get Osama Bin Laden

No. When he had Osama cornered, he inexplicably let him go, and then started saying it was not important to get him.

War in Iraq was bad, i didn't agree with that, but I was with him on Afghanistan.

If he hadn't pulled troops out of Afghanistan to Iraq, we wouldn't be in the mess we are now. He botched both wars very badly, in the process killing more thousands of Americans than Osama could ever have dreamed of.

Whhhhattt? Are you suggesting that extra-division was needed instead of letting the locals "burn of steam" letting the loot the capitol?

[Ruridova]

So... 40,000 exiles and 3,200 killed or disappeared. I think that this qualifies Pinochet as destructive and genocidal.

CIVIL WAR. Why can't you listen to me?

I can. I'm pretty sure some of this occurred after the civil war, unless it lasted the entirety of Pinochet's genocidal reign.

[The Black Forrest]

Well? You have to understand. The Right Wing of the US has felt very lonely since the Soviets stopped wanting to play with them.

Well if they want Cuba would LOVE to play.

Nahhh. That might damage the properties corporate America want's back.

[Wolny Kraj]

Meh just typical day with Nationstates 15 socialists, I know because ive been there.

I've grown used to it. It's rare you find someone on here without a political compass between -5 and -10 to the left.

It's all a matter of perspective. To me it seems like there's a huge amount of right wing libertarians on here. There are a lot of mid to left wingers too, but you have to accept that that's how the demographics of the internet work.

[Gaveo]

CIVIL WAR. Why can't you listen to me?

I can. I'm pretty sure some of this occurred after the civil war, unless it lasted the entirety of Pinochet's genocidal reign.

After? Uh no. It happened during it.

[The Republic Of North Carolina]

Jimmy Carter had a record of incompetence and failed leadership.

A "record" which has been greatly exaggerated by conservative media.

Worst probably has to go to GWB, who has the title of most fiscally irresponsible president in US history, with a terrible handling of foreign policy.

The only other person who could compete with his title are Ronald Reagan and Herbert Hoover.

GWB is the most fiscally irresponsible president in US History???

Don't get me wrong, he was definitely one of the worst fiscally, but Obama has him beat. Under Obama we have trillion dollar deficits. Bush's last year in office only saw a little over a 400 billion dollar deficit in comparison. And don't go pulling the crap that because Republicans control the house, Obama wasn't able to anything cause the Democrats could have done plenty about the deficit during the first 2 years of his term when they had control of the House and a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate.

GWB was bad, but when compared to Obama, he seems mild in comparison.

[Gaveo]

A "record" which has been greatly exaggerated by conservative media.

Worst probably has to go to GWB, who has the title of most fiscally irresponsible president in US history, with a terrible handling of foreign policy.

The only other person who could compete with his title are Ronald Reagan and Herbert Hoover.

GWB is the most fiscally irresponsible president in US History???

Don't get me wrong, he was definitely one of the worst fiscally, but Obama has him beat. Under Obama we have trillion dollar deficits. Bush's last year in office only saw a little over a 400 billion dollar deficit in comparison. And don't go pulling the crap that because Republicans control the house, Obama wasn't able to anything cause the Democrats could have done plenty about the deficit during the first 2 years of his term when they had control of the House and a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate.

GWB was bad, but when compared to Obama, he seems mild in comparison.

^this^

[Bojikami]

Well if they want Cuba would LOVE to play.

Nahhh. That might damage the properties corporate America want's back.

Haha probably.

[Desperate Measures]

A "record" which has been greatly exaggerated by conservative media.

Worst probably has to go to GWB, who has the title of most fiscally irresponsible president in US history, with a terrible handling of foreign policy.

The only other person who could compete with his title are Ronald Reagan and Herbert Hoover.

GWB is the most fiscally irresponsible president in US History???

Don't get me wrong, he was definitely one of the worst fiscally, but Obama has him beat. Under Obama we have trillion dollar deficits. Bush's last year in office only saw a little over a 400 billion dollar deficit in comparison. And don't go pulling the crap that because Republicans control the house, Obama wasn't able to anything cause the Democrats could have done plenty about the deficit during the first 2 years of his term when they had control of the House and a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate.

GWB was bad, but when compared to Obama, he seems mild in comparison.

[Chefdevergia]

Warren G. Harding.

Can you name 1 good thing about his time in office???

Charlie Hughes was a good Secretary of State, and the Washington Naval Conference was far from the worst thing we have seen in US foreign policy...although the resulting Japanese naval buildup was unfortunate.

[Farnhamia]

GWB is the most fiscally irresponsible president in US History???

Don't get me wrong, he was definitely one of the worst fiscally, but Obama has him beat. Under Obama we have trillion dollar deficits. Bush's last year in office only saw a little over a 400 billion dollar deficit in comparison. And don't go pulling the crap that because Republicans control the house, Obama wasn't able to anything cause the Democrats could have done plenty about the deficit during the first 2 years of his term when they had control of the House and a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate.

GWB was bad, but when compared to Obama, he seems mild in comparison.

^this^

Piffle. If GWB had put his two wars on the budget instead of financing them with emergency appropriations - basically charging them - he'd look as bad as he was. Creative accounting can do wonders.

[The Black Forrest]

^this^

Piffle. If GWB had put his two wars on the budget instead of financing them with emergency appropriations - basically charging them - he'd look as bad as he was. Creative accounting can do wonders.

Oh you!

We don't like details here. Sound bites are all that matter.

You have to admit it's fascinating to see who well people are programmed to believe his failings are in really Obama's......

[Farnhamia]

Piffle. If GWB had put his two wars on the budget instead of financing them with emergency appropriations - basically charging them - he'd look as bad as he was. Creative accounting can do wonders.

Oh you!

We don't like details here. Sound bites are all that matter.

You have to admit it's fascinating to see who well people are programmed to believe his failings are in really Obama's......

Isn't it, though? Not that anyone will admit to having supported President Bush through the eight years he was in office. Talk about election fraud, 100 million fake votes in two elections.

[Desperate Measures]

Oh you!

We don't like details here. Sound bites are all that matter.

You have to admit it's fascinating to see who well people are programmed to believe his failings are in really Obama's......

Isn't it, though? Not that anyone will admit to having supported President Bush through the eight years he was in office. Talk about election fraud, 100 million fake votes in two elections.

I guess that is what Bush meant when he said history would judge him.

[Minnysota]

GWB is the most fiscally irresponsible president in US History???

Don't get me wrong, he was definitely one of the worst fiscally, but Obama has him beat. Under Obama we have trillion dollar deficits. Bush's last year in office only saw a little over a 400 billion dollar deficit in comparison. And don't go pulling the crap that because Republicans control the house, Obama wasn't able to anything cause the Democrats could have done plenty about the deficit during the first 2 years of his term when they had control of the House and a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate.

GWB was bad, but when compared to Obama, he seems mild in comparison.

lrn2filibuster

[Lesbia]

Oh you!

We don't like details here. Sound bites are all that matter.

You have to admit it's fascinating to see who well people are programmed to believe his failings are in really Obama's......

Isn't it, though? Not that anyone will admit to having supported President Bush through the eight years he was in office. Talk about election fraud, 100 million fake votes in two elections.

At this time eight years ago, Bush's approval rating was 55%. Obama is at 51%. You act like election fraud just automatically showed up in 2000 and left in 2008. Let's talk that Ohio county that has 109% voter turnout.

[Farnhamia]

Isn't it, though? Not that anyone will admit to having supported President Bush through the eight years he was in office. Talk about election fraud, 100 million fake votes in two elections.

I guess that is what Bush meant when he said history would judge him.

He also said something about the wars being the next president's problem.

[Jinos]

A "record" which has been greatly exaggerated by conservative media.

Worst probably has to go to GWB, who has the title of most fiscally irresponsible president in US history, with a terrible handling of foreign policy.

The only other person who could compete with his title are Ronald Reagan and Herbert Hoover.

GWB is the most fiscally irresponsible president in US History???

Don't get me wrong, he was definitely one of the worst fiscally, but Obama has him beat.

GWB initiated two wars while creating an extremely large tax cut.

That had never happened in US history.

Under Obama we have trillion dollar deficits.

Constructed by Bush.

Bush's last year in office only saw a little over a 400 billion dollar deficit in comparison.

Utter lie. Bush's last year in office saw the deficit peak above 1 trillion. His last fiscal year had the deficit above 1.3 trillion. Bush pushed past a 400 billion deficit before his first term was even up.

And don't go pulling the crap that because Republicans control the house, Obama wasn't able to anything cause the Democrats could have done plenty about the deficit during the first 2 years of his term when they had control of the House and a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate.

It took Bill Clinton about 6 or so years to turn GHWB's smaller deficit into a surplus during a booming economy. And you're telling me that Obama should have been able to curb GWB's larger deficit in a smaller time during an economy worse than any other time in American modern history except the Great Depression with a Congress more divided than any time except the Civil War?

GWB was bad, but when compared to Obama, he seems mild in comparison.

Only when you look at the budget through a kaleidoscope.

[Desperate Measures]

I guess that is what Bush meant when he said history would judge him.

He also said something about the wars being the next president's problem.

He really just wanted someone competent to come along. Nice of him in a way.

[AiliailiA]

So... 40,000 exiles and 3,200 killed or disappeared. I think that this qualifies Pinochet as destructive and genocidal.

CIVIL WAR. Why can't you listen to me?

Well, CIVIL WAR. You seem to be in favor of it.

[AiliailiA]

I guess that is what Bush meant when he said history would judge him.

He also said something about the wars being the next president's problem.

President tells truth shocker.

[Greed and Death]

Funny that some here call GB2 fiscally irresponsible but don't realize what our current leader is doing.

I'm not saying Obama is innocent in all of this, but Bush did walk into office with a surplus and he did spend more than he had. He then initiated some big programs like TARP that his successor carried on. That's the fundamental difference there.

Well there was this recession in in the early 2000's and he did what a Keynesian would do.

Bush provides at least proof that Keynesianism does not work.