# Greatest American elimination game (game thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 10, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423 "2010-02-10T15:08:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/1 "2010-02-10T15:08:30Z")
Setup thread: [Greatest American elimination game (setup thread) - The Game Room - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550191) We have 102 nominees. What a country! In the first elimination round, as suggested by **septimus** , each player has ten votes to use as he or she sees fit, but can spread them around among several nominees, or even spend them all to eliminate a single nominee. All U.S. Presidents have a free pass for the first round, which will run through Fri. Feb. 12 at noon EST. You need not have participated in the setup thread to vote. Our list of nominees: John Adams: President, writer, statesman Susan B. Anthony: Suffrage activist Lucille Ball: Actress, comedian, redhead P.T. Barnum: World’s greatest showman Henry Bergh: Saved children, animals Leonard Bernstein: Composer, conductor, educator Ambrose Bierce: Author, journalist, satirist, critic Daniel Bliss: Educator, AUB founder John Brown: Righteous, inspirational abolitionist James Branch Cabell: Author, marriage proponent Andrew Carnegie: Industrialist, philanthropist Willis Carrier: Air conditioning pioneer George Washington Carver: Agricultural botanist Carrie Chapman Catt: Women’s rights suffragist Bruce Catton: Civil War historian Joshua Chamberlain: Civil War hero Cesar Chavez: Civil rights activist Chief Joseph (Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt): Leader, peacemaker, tactician John Coltrane: Musician, composer Aaron Copland: Composer, musician Walt Disney: Animator, entrepreneur, icon Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist, orator Thomas Edison: Inventor, workaholic Albert Einstein: Scientist, activist Dwight D. Eisenhower: President, war hero Ralph Waldo Emerson: Philosopher, writer John Franklin Enders: Modern vaccines pioneer Philo Farnsworth: TV piorneer, inventor Richard Feynman: Physicist, Renaissance man Henry Ford: Inventor, industrialist, philanthropist Benjamin Franklin: Scientist, statesman, inventor Robert Frost: Greatest American poet William Lloyd Garrison: Abolitionist, writer George Gershwin: Prolific, versatile composer Kurt Gödel: Mathematician, incompleteness theorem Alexander Hamilton: Financier, economist, statesman Robert Heinlein: Science fiction author Jimi Hendrix: Influential musician, activist Jim Henson: Beloved children’s programmer Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.: Supreme Court Justice Langston Hughes: Harlem Renaissance poet Andrew Jackson: President, general, populist Thomas Jefferson: President, Declaration writer Helen Keller: Redefined language, mind Walt Kelly: “Pogo” creator, humorist John F. Kennedy: President, “New Frontier” Martin Luther King Jr.: Preacher, orator, humanitarian Jack Kirby: Comics pioneer Lewis and Clark (Meriwether and William, resp.): Louisiana Purchase explorers Abraham Lincoln: President, emancipator, writer Charles Lindbergh: Aviator, American hero H.P. Lovecraft: Horror writer Douglas MacArthur: WWII general James Madison: President, Framer, statesman George Marshall: General, diplomat, statesman John Marshall: Fourth Chief Justice Marilyn Monroe: Legendary film star J.P. Morgan: Financial giant, tycoon Audie Murphy: Decorated soldier, actor Edward R Murrow: Broadcaster Thomas Nast: Editorial cartoonist, muckraker Richard Nixon: President, lawyer, author Jesse Owens: Famed Olympic athlete Thomas Paine: Political theorist, pamphleteer George S. Patton: WWII general, orator John J. Pershing: Top WWI general Edgar Allan Poe: Poet, writer, critic James K. Polk: President, statesman Elvis Presley: Rock and Roller Jackie Robinson: Athlete, activist, inspiration John D. Rockefeller: Billionaire, philanthropist Will Rogers: Humorist, social commentator Eleanor Roosevelt: Reformer, writer, advocate Franklin D. Roosevelt: President, reformer, statesman Theodore Roosevelt: President, conservationist, statesman Babe Ruth: Legendary baseball icon Carl Sagan: Astronomer, science popularizer Jonas Salk: Polio vaccine inventor Margaret Sanger: Birth-control pioneer William Seward: Diplomat; bought Alaska Shel Silverstein: Author, humorist Upton Sinclair: Author, muckraker Sitting Bull: Indian leader, warrior Tecumseh: Indian leader, uniter Nikola Tesla: Inventor, engineer Henry David Thoreau: Poet, naturalist, philosopher Jim Thorpe: Native American athlete Harry Truman: President, statesman Harriet Tubman: Civil rights advocate Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens): Humorist, “Huckleberry Finn” John von Neumann: Mathematician, scientist, polymath Earl Warren: Chief Justice, governor George Washington: President, general, statesman Daniel Webster: Orator, advocate, statesman Orson Welles: Writer, director, actor Walt Whitman: Civil War poet Eli Whitney: Inventor, cotton gin Roger Williams: Statesman, religious leader Frank Lloyd Wright: Prairie School architect Orville and Wilbur Wright: Aviation pioneers, inventors Malcolm X: Civil rights leader Babe Zaharias: Greatest female athlete ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/2 "2010-02-10T15:15:34Z")
My list (from the other thread) - one vote each: We have too many writers, please eliminate five: Ambrose Bierce: Author, journalist, satirist, critic James Branch Cabell: Author, marriage proponent Robert Heinlein: Science fiction author H.P. Lovecraft: Horror writer (Poe is more important) Shel Silverstein: Author, humorist Two who just don’t measure up: Carl Sagan: Astronomer, science popularizer; Cosmos was big, but what did he contribute as a scientist? Jim Henson: Beloved children’s programmer competing head-to-head with Walt Disney. Sorry, Jim. Screw them: Charles Lindbergh: Aviator, American hero, and Nazi sympathizer. Richard Nixon: President, lawyer, author, crook. Nikola Tesla: Inventor, engineer, crank, wasted vast amounts of other people’s money. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/3 "2010-02-10T15:22:46Z")
Exempting presidents, eh? Shoot, I was going to vote for Adams three times. Instead, I’ll go with: Lucille Ball PT Barnum Ambrose Bierce James Branch Cabell Bruce Catton Joshua Chamberlain Robert Heinlein HP Lovecraft Shel Silverstein John von Neumann ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/4 "2010-02-10T15:29:15Z")
OK, here’s my breakdown of the categories, again (editorial comments from previous posts snipped). Some people are listed twice, eg. Thomas Paine as a writer and activist. Politicians and activists: US Presidents and other political leaders: Presidents (13): John Adams: President, writer, statesman Dwight D. Eisenhower: President, war hero Andrew Jackson: President, general, populist Thomas Jefferson: President, Declaration writer John F. Kennedy: President, “New Frontier” Abraham Lincoln: President, emancipator, writer James Madison: President, Framer, statesman Richard Nixon: President, lawyer, author James K Polk: President, statesman Franklin D. Roosevelt: President, reformer, statesman Theodore Roosevelt: President, conservationist, statesman Harry Truman: President, statesman George Washington: President, general, statesman Other leaders (9): Benjamin Franklin: Scientist, statesman, inventor Alexander Hamilton: Financier, economist, statesman Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.: Supreme Court Justice George Marshall: General, diplomat, statesman John Marshall: Fourth Chief Justice William Seward: Diplomat; bought Alaska Earl Warren: Chief Justice, governor Daniel Webster: Orator, advocate, statesman Roger Williams: Statesman, religious leader Native American leaders (3): Chief Joseph (Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt): Leader, peacemaker, tactician Sitting Bull: Indian leader, warrior Tecumseh: Indian leader, uniter Activists: Women’s rights/suffrage (3): Susan B. Anthony: Suffrage activist Carrie Chapman Catt: Women’s rights suffragist Margaret Sanger: Birth-control pioneer Civil Rights/Abolitionists (10): John Brown: Righteous, inspirational abolitionist Cesar Chavez: Civil rights activist Frederick Douglass: Abolitionist, orator William Lloyd Garrison: Abolitionist, writer Langston Hughes: Harlem Renaissance poet Martin Luther King Jr.: Preacher, orator, humanitarian Jackie Robinson: Athlete, activist, inspiration Eleanor Roosevelt: Reformer, writer, advocate Harriet Tubman: Civil rights advocate Malcolm X: Civil rights leader Other Activists (5): Henry Bergh: Saved children, animals Daniel Bliss: Educator, AUB founder Thomas Nast: Editorial cartoonist, muckraker Thomas Paine: Political theorist, pamphleteer Upton Sinclair: Author, muckraker Scientists and inventors (15): Willis Carrier: Air conditioning pioneer George Washington Carver: Agricultural botanist Thomas Edison: Inventor, workaholic Albert Einstein: Scientist, activist John Franklin Enders: Modern vaccines pioneer Philo Farnsworth: TV piorneer, inventor Richard Feynman: Physicist, Renaissance man Benjamin Franklin: Scientist, statesman, inventor Kurt Gödel: Mathematician, incompleteness theorem Carl Sagan: Astronomer, science popularizer Jonas Salk: Polio vaccine inventor Nikola Tesla: Inventor, engineer John von Neumann: Mathematician, scientist, polymath Eli Whitney: Inventor, cotton gin Orville and Wilbur Wright: Aviation pioneers, inventors Businessmen and industrialists (7): P.T. Barnum: World’s greatest showman Andrew Carnegie: Industrialist, philanthropist Walt Disney: Animator, entrepreneur, icon Thomas Edison: Inventor, workaholic Henry Ford: Inventor, industrialist, philanthropist J.P. Morgan: Financial giant, tycoon John D. Rockefeller: Billionaire, philanthropist Generals and soldiers (7): Joshua Chamberlain: Civil War hero Dwight D. Eisenhower: President, war hero Andrew Jackson: President, general, populist Douglas MacArthur: WWII general Audie Murphy: Decorated soldier, actor George S. Patton: WWII general, orator John J. Pershing: Top WWI general Writers (17): Ambrose Bierce: Author, journalist, satirist, critic James Branch Cabell: Author, marriage proponent Bruce Catton: Civil War historian Ralph Waldo Emerson: Philosopher, writer Robert Frost: Greatest American poet Robert Heinlein: Science fiction author Langston Hughes: Harlem Renaissance poet Helen Keller: Redefined language, mind H.P. Lovecraft: Horror writer Thomas Paine: Political theorist, pamphleteer Edgar Allan Poe: Poet, writer, critic Will Rogers: Humorist, social commentator Shel Silverstein: Author, humorist Upton Sinclair: Author, muckraker Henry David Thoreau: Poet, naturalist, philosopher Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens): Humorist, “Huckleberry Finn” Walt Whitman: Civil War poet “Show biz” (7): Lucille Ball: Actress, comedian, redhead P.T. Barnum: World’s greatest showman Walt Disney: Animator, entrepreneur, icon Jim Henson: Beloved children’s programmer Marilyn Monroe: Legendary film star Edward R Murrow: Broadcaster Orson Welles: Writer, director, actor Musicians and composers (6): Leonard Bernstein: Composer, conductor, educator John Coltrane: Musician, composer Aaron Copland: Composer, musician George Gershwin: Prolific, versatile composer Jimi Hendrix, musician and activist Elvis Presley, rock-and-roller Comics (3): Walt Kelly: “Pogo” creator, humorist Jack Kirby: Comics pioneer Thomas Nast: Editorial cartoonist, muckraker Athletes (5): Jesse Owens: Famed Olympic athlete Jackie Robinson: Athlete, activist, inspiration Babe Ruth: Legendary baseball icon Jim Thorpe: Native American athlete Babe Zaharias: Greatest female athlete Miscellaneous (3): Lewis and Clark (Meriwether and William, resp.): Louisiana Purchase explorers Charles Lindbergh: Aviator, American hero Frank Lloyd Wright: Prairie School architect ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/5 "2010-02-10T15:30:33Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Richard Nixon: President, lawyer, author, crook. Didn’t notice that you’d pardoned Tricky Dick in advance for the first round. Throw my final vote on Marilyn Monroe ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/6 "2010-02-10T15:46:39Z")
Walt Kelly Walt Kelly Walt Kelly Walt Kelly Jack Kirby Jack Kirby Jack Kirby Jack Kirby James Branch Cabell Lucille Ball ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/7 "2010-02-10T15:51:01Z")
OK, round 1, time to thin out the ranks. Marilyn Monroe Jimi Hendrix Jim Henson Robert Heinlein H.P. Lovecraft Kurt Gödel Shel Silverstein Carl Sagan Malcolm X James Branch Cabell ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/8 "2010-02-10T15:52:19Z")
This isn’t a dis on **Happy** , who is using the rules as stated, but is it wise to allow someone to pile on votes like this? I don’t mind someone icing Walk Kelly, but I can see someone piling ten votes on Ben Franklin right now and knocking him out. I don’t think that’s what we’re after here. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/9 "2010-02-10T15:53:55Z")
Jimi Hendrix-2 votes Elvis Presley-1 vote Babe Zaharias-2 votes James Branch Cabell-4 votes Lucille Ball-1 vote ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/10 "2010-02-10T15:55:20Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > This isn’t a dis on **Happy** , who is using the rules as stated, but is it wise to allow someone to pile on votes like this? I don’t mind someone icing Walk Kelly, but I can see someone piling ten votes on Ben Franklin right now and knocking him out. I don’t think that’s what we’re after here. > > Just saying. I kind of agree with this. How about a two vote maximum. I’ll change my votes accordingly. Also, Walt Kelly is a great satirist. He shouldn’t go out in the first round. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/11 "2010-02-10T15:55:42Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/12 "2010-02-10T16:00:37Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Setup thread: [Greatest American elimination game (setup thread) - The Game Room - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550191) > In the first elimination round, as suggested by **septimus** , each player has ten votes to use as he or she sees fit, but can spread them around among several nominees, or even spend them all to eliminate a single nominee. My idea was that the votes could be used as plus or minus, and piled on to _save_ a candidate. I think it makes less sense to pile on to _eliminate_. By the way, if tallying votes becomes a headache, I’ll volunteer to help. I have _lots_ of practice doing tedious manipulations. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/13 "2010-02-10T16:07:35Z")
I will split my votes accordingly: Henry Ford Henry Ford Henry Ford Henry Ford Henry Ford Malcolm X Malcolm X Malcolm X Malcolm X Malcolm X ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/14 "2010-02-10T16:12:15Z")
I’m wondering if the [Lucille Ball](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucille_Ball) voters realize the degree to which she was a producer and TV innovator, in addition to an actress. Much more impressive to my mind than Marilyn Monroe. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/15 "2010-02-10T16:15:58Z")
Fie on you voters of Jim Henson! I mean, if it were just \*The Muppet Show \*I could understand it. But how many generations of Americans have grown up under the benevolent influence of _Sesame Street_? Anyhoo, here’s my lot for elimination: Willis Carrier John Coltrane Robert Frost Marilyn Monroe J.P. Morgan Audie Murphy John D. Rockefeller Shel Silverstein Daniel Webster Babe Zaharias ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/16 "2010-02-10T16:53:49Z")
We have 102 nominees. The field must be winnowed. If someone wants to knock out somebody with all ten of his or her votes, so be it (although I wouldn’t do it myself). ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/17 "2010-02-10T17:16:57Z")
Let’s knock out: Daniel Bliss James Branch Cabell Willis Carrier Bruce Catton Robert Heinlein (if Asimov’s not here, why leave him in?) Jack Kirby H.P. Lovecraft J.P. Morgan (I hated Match Game :D) Babe Ruth (too drunk) Malcolm X (I prefer the other civil rights leaders) ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/18 "2010-02-10T17:18:01Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Fie on you voters of Jim Henson! I mean, if it were just \*The Muppet Show \*I could understand it. But how many generations of Americans have grown up under the benevolent influence of _Sesame Street_? Yeah but, I don’t think you can credit the educational / cultural impact of Sesame Street to the account of Jim Henson. While his puppets were critical to the success of the show, it was not his drive, goals or ideals that brought the show into existence. The muppets, while a significant part of the show, are not what makes the show important. I would argue that the curriculum presented through the muppets, cartoons and live-action segments is what makes the show important. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/19 "2010-02-10T21:48:04Z")
In a way, this is tougher than the President Elimination Game, because it’s more personal. It’s tough both to see your own choices slated for elimination and to have to knock out someone else’s presumably well-thought-out selections. So to “share the poverty”, as it were, I’ll avoid shooting my wad on any individual, and thus give these ten one vote each: Daniel Bliss James Branch Cabell Bruce Catton Joshua Chamberlain Richard Feynman Robert Heinlein Jack Kirby H.P. Lovecraft Carl Sagan Shel Silverstein In this round, I’m trying to concentrate on significance, and thus begrudgingly retaining some people whose impact I consider negative on balance, but undeniably seminal. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/20 "2010-02-10T22:04:07Z")
I think the Shel Silverstein nomination (not mine, BTW) was inspired as he’s one of the coolest people ever to walk the Earth. It makes me wish I had nominated Tom Lehrer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423.md?page=2)