# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/21 "2010-02-11T02:35:54Z")
All ten votes for Malcolm X! ---
**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 11, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/22 "2010-02-11T04:07:38Z")
Jeez, already it’s tough! Lucille Ball Henry Bergh Daniel Bliss James Branch Cabell John Coltrane Jimi Hendrix Walt Kelly Jack Kirby Shel Silverstein Babe Zaharias My vote for Silverstein is, in part, for his scary book-jacket picture on the back of _The Giving Tree_. OK, not really. ---
**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 11, 2010, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/23 "2010-02-11T10:58:18Z")
At some point the ambiguity of _“Great”_ will bite us. I imagine those voting against Malcolm X and Henry Ford are eliminating _because_ of these men’s significance not _in spite_ of it. (Looking up “great” in Webster’s I see “great bloodshed” used as an example, suggesting that Hitler might be considered one of the “greatest” Germans!) I regard Henry Ford as clearly belonging in the Top 30, and am disappointed to see he might disappear in the first round! For how many rounds will such multiple votes be allowed? I’m sorry my name got associated with this voting method, which I mentioned once: > [@Greatest American elimination game (setup thread)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-setup-thread/527145/90): > > Anyway, I hope there’s an opportunity to “lobby” for some of the nominations before they’ve lost any chance to appear on the Final List of 40. > > … Can I start by lobbying for John Brown?.. how about this compromise: Each voter gets ten votes in the initial round to use as he/she sees fit, but can spend all on the _same_ candidate. For example, if I felt strongly enough, I could cast all 10 votes for John Brown. My suggestion clearly dealt with _supporting_ votes (John Brown was my own nominee), not (necessarily) _elimination_ votes. The following votes are chosen _solely_ for the purpose of protecting Henry Ford this round. Lucille Ball - 2 votes Jimi Hendrix - 2 votes Daniel Bliss - 2 votes Carl Sagan - 2 votes Robert Heinlein - 2 votes (Sorry if this seems to be “gamesmanship.” I’m generally opposed to such, but feel explicit _rules_ are the way to go.) ---
**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 11, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/24 "2010-02-11T14:41:55Z")
Sorry I misunderstood your suggestion. We’ll see how the first round goes. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/25 "2010-02-11T16:02:27Z")
First those that were actually bad people: Henry Ford - 4 votes (Jew hating Nazi loving bastard) Malcolm X - 6 votes ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/26 "2010-02-11T16:11:18Z")
All 10 votes for Nazi-decorated Charles Lindbergh ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/27 "2010-02-11T17:07:44Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > At some point the ambiguity of _“Great”_ will bite us. I imagine those voting against Malcolm X and Henry Ford are eliminating _because_ of these men’s significance not _in spite_ of it. (Looking up “great” in Webster’s I see “great bloodshed” used as an example, suggesting that Hitler might be considered one of the “greatest” Germans!) A teacher at my high school was fond of “shocking” her students by proclaiming Hitler was a great man, then explaining what she meant. However, the impact of the apparently pro-Nazi statement was lessened once the kids started letting their friends in the incoming classes in on the attempt to spark controversy. > [@](#): > > My suggestion clearly dealt with _supporting_ votes (John Brown was my own nominee), not (necessarily) _elimination_ votes. Of course, this could have led to a very small second-round field if just about everyone had gone with the “usual suspects” right away. As I stated in the setup thread, the members of my actual “Quintessential Quintet” were all nominated by the time I posted, so I just threw an additional five names into the discussion. Although a few of them appear headed for earlier exits than I had hoped for, I didn’t expect any to make the Top Ten, with the possible exception of Eisenhower. ---
**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 11, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/28 "2010-02-11T17:28:24Z")
Current standings (as of BobbyLibDem’s vote): ## 1 Malcolm X 23 2 James Branch Cabell 11 2 Charles “a dingo ate my baby” Lindbergh 11 4 Henry Ford 9 5 Robert Heinlein 7 5 Jack Kirby 7 7 Lucille Ball 6 7 Jimi Hendrix 6 7 Shel Silverstein 6 10 Daniel Bliss 5 10 Walt Kelly 5 10 H. P. Lovecraft 5 10 Carl Sagan 5 Babe Zaharias 4 Bruce Catton 3 Marilyn Monroe 3 Ambrose Bierce 2 Willis Carrier 2 Joshua Chamberlain 2 John Coltrane 2 Jim Henson 2 J.P. Morgan 2 And one vote each: PT Barnum Harry Bergh Richard Feynman Robert Frost Kurt Godel Audie Murphy Elvis Presley John D. Rockefeller Babe Ruth Nikola Tesla John von Neumann Daniel Webster This should not be a final count - I caught at least one omission (Kirby) and fixed it, but I might have missed something else. ---
**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 11, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/29 "2010-02-11T17:29:54Z")
Incidentally, the question of tie-breakers hasn’t been opened yet. For the initial knock-out-many rounds, I propose that we get rid of everyone who is tied for the last eliminated place (so 13 would go out with the current voting, including 3 of mine). ---
**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 11, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/30 "2010-02-11T17:43:45Z")
Thank you, **Tom Scud** , for tallying the votes so far - I’d be glad to let you keep doing it, if you’re willing. I haven’t decided yet on tie-breakers. What you say might work. Any other suggestions by our other players? ---
**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 11, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/31 "2010-02-11T17:57:56Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Incidentally, the question of tie-breakers hasn’t been opened yet. For the initial knock-out-many rounds, I propose that we get rid of everyone who is tied for the last eliminated place (so 13 would go out with the current voting, including 3 of mine). I don’t mind, as long as tied-for-last \> 1 vote (maybe even \>2). Otherwise you could end up with a huge cut, depending on how the vote spread goes. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/32 "2010-02-11T18:04:16Z")
Ten people I feel were more famous than important Lucille Ball George Gershwin Jimi Hendrix Jim Henson Walt Kelly Jack Kirby H.P. Lovecraft Marilyn Monroe Babe Ruth Shel Silverstein ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/33 "2010-02-11T19:12:29Z")
Bliss - 1 vote Henson - 3 votes Marilyn Monroe - 2 votes Ruth - 2 votes Zaharias - 2 votes ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/34 "2010-02-11T19:55:37Z")
Tough - for the first round, I picked the ones who I thought had the most negative effect on America. I’ll leave the “not very important” votes for later. Single vote Walt Disney: Animator, entrepreneur, icon (His pre-war pro-nazi attitudes put him here) Charles Lindbergh: Aviator, American hero (Ditto) Eli Whitney: Inventor, cotton gin (Good intentioned, but his invention strengthened the cotton market, and thus, slavery) Three votes against Douglas MacArthur: WWII general (His self-centered arrogance weakened his government and killed soldiers in Korea) Douglas MacArthur: WWII general (His self-centered arrogance weakened his government and killed soldiers in Korea) Douglas MacArthur: WWII general (His self-centered arrogance weakened his government and killed soldiers in Korea) Four Votes Against Malcolm X: Civil rights leader (The anti-MLK, his militancy, which is what he is best known for, is still setting back civil rights) Malcolm X: Civil rights leader (The anti-MLK, his militancy, which is what he is best known for, is still setting back civil rights) Malcolm X: Civil rights leader (The anti-MLK, his militancy, which is what he is best known for, is still setting back civil rights) Malcolm X: Civil rights leader (The anti-MLK, his militancy, which is what he is best known for, is still setting back civil rights) ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/35 "2010-02-11T20:24:23Z")
One vote each please… Harriet Tubman Carrie Chapman Catt Walt Disney Helen Keller H.P. Lovecraft Eleanor Roosevelt Carl Sagan Margaret Sanger Mark Twain Martin Luther King Jr. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/36 "2010-02-11T22:54:45Z")
Ambrose Bierce: Author, journalist, satirist, critic Ambrose Bierce: Author, journalist, satirist, critic Ambrose Bierce: Author, journalist, satirist, critic Bruce Catton: Civil War historian John Coltrane: Musician, composer Aaron Copland: Composer, musician Shel Silverstein: Author, humorist Shel Silverstein: Author, humorist H.P. Lovecraft: Horror writer Babe Zaharias: Greatest female athlete I agree with Tom Scud about too many writers, including several that are not particularly accomplished. I voted extra times against Bierce because his entry exceeds the three word limit and he should be eliminated for that reason alone – but also he is not in the same league with many similar U.S. writers and thinkers who are not even on the list. Same with Shel Silverstein–how is he on this list when Dr. Suess is not? If not for the rule about U.S. Presidents getting a free pass, my list would look like this: Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook Richard Nixon: sleazy incompetent crook ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/37 "2010-02-11T23:22:55Z")
Too many people on that list are simply famous because they were entertainers. I see nothing “great” about starring in a sitcom or movies. 5 votes off each: Lucille Ball Marilyn Monroe ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/38 "2010-02-12T00:22:00Z")
Henry Bergh: Saved children, animals Willis Carrier: Air conditioning pioneer Henry Ford Will Rogers: Humorist, social commentator Marilyn Monroe Put Two Votes on each of these guys for me. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/39 "2010-02-12T01:37:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > All 10 votes for Nazi-decorated Charles Lindbergh He wasn’t really a Nazi-just a misguided idealist. Henry Ford was the really pro-Nazi one and even he was mostly misguided. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423/40 "2010-02-12T05:56:46Z")
> [@](#): > > He wasn’t really a Nazi-just a misguided idealist. Henry Ford was the really pro-Nazi one and even he was mostly misguided. They were the right wing equivalent of Jane Fonda. Stupid celebrities who let themselves be led by the nose and used as propaganda tools. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-american-elimination-game-game-thread/528423.md?page=3)