# Greatest living American elimination game (game thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [June 16, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715 "2025-06-16T19:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/21 "2025-06-18T18:03:24Z")
I say Taylor Swift. Musician, songwriter, and icon? Seriously?? How many of those have we had over the past three decades? To quote a line from a song by another person who was hailed as a musician and icon, “She works hard for the money”. That’s what she’s all about. No more, no less. _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**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:** [June 18, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/22 "2025-06-18T20:55:30Z")
Our votes this round ( **Bicycle\_Bill** missed the noon deadline, sorry, so I didn’t count his): José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef - 3 votes Craig Ferguson: Polymath, director-writer, comedian - 2 votes Jim Gaffigan: Comedian, author, commentator - 7 votes Mitt Romney: Senator, impeachment juror - 1 vote Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist - 1 vote Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary - 1 vote Jim Gaffigan, a funny guy but not a Doper pick for greatest living American, is first out. Our remaining nominees: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist Buzz Aldrin: Second on Moon José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer Simon Biles: GOAT gymnast Judy Blume: Children’s literature icon Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire Bob Dylan: Poet of generation Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist Craig Ferguson: Polymath, director-writer, comedian Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire Amanda Gorman: Poet, activist, prodigy Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration Mark Kelly: Senator, astronaut, aviator Stephen King: Great American writer Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian Mitt Romney: Senator, impeachment juror Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist Taylor Swift: Musician, songwriter, icon Tim Walz: Honorable political messenger Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary **Eliminated** 1. Jim Gaffigan: Comedian, author, commentator Voting for our second round will end at noon EST on Fri. June 20. My vote is again for José Andrés. I’m pretty well-read, and if I’ve never heard of somebody before, there’s no way I’d consider him or her the GLA. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/23 "2025-06-18T20:56:23Z")
I’ll vote again for Craig Ferguson. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/24 "2025-06-18T21:34:09Z")
Yeah, hard to get my head around him being on this list, Craig Ferguson 'tis for me as well. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/25 "2025-06-18T21:41:02Z")
Craig Ferguson. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/26 "2025-06-18T23:00:53Z")
> [@](#): > > José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef I know nowt of the guy but from a listing of greatest achievers, that’s a rather thin resume. He will have to go some time, might as well be early. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/27 "2025-06-18T23:24:21Z")
I mean, the guy’s organization has provided hundreds of millions of meals in crisis areas (Puerto Rico, Ukraine, Gaza, etc.), so he might be worth some consideration in these times… > **[How José Andrés and His Corps of Cooks Became Leaders in Disaster Aid...](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/02/dining/jose-andres-central-kitchen-disaster-aid.html?unlocked_article_code=1.P08.TfPy.9oXhrzLMyKEM&smid=url-share)** > > Long before the killings of seven workers in Gaza, World Central Kitchen pioneered a new way to deliver emergency relief, using local labor and recipes. [Chef José Andrés on humanitarian work under a second Trump administration and using food to help others | Vox](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/386585/jose-andres-world-central-kitchen-gaza-asheville-sevilla-trump) ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/28 "2025-06-19T02:25:31Z")
When they install him as Supremo of USAID we’ll be off to the races. ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/29 "2025-06-19T02:30:04Z")
I still say Taylor Swift. Musician, songwriter, and icon? Seriously?? How many of those have we had over the past three decades? To quote a line from a song by another person who was hailed as a musician and icon, “She works hard for the money”. That’s what she’s all about. No more, no less. And to quote another so-called iconic group – “Bye-bye-bye!” _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/30 "2025-06-19T04:00:03Z")
Craig Ferguson. While I’d love to rate a humorist, I don’t think we have someone of the universal appeal of Mark Twain or Johnny Carson, and I think the “greatest living American” should have that kind of universal appeal, if not necessarily universal fame. My defense of Taylor Swift in this game will wait until later. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/31 "2025-06-19T04:28:23Z")
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar All other basketball players can go with him. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/32 "2025-06-19T05:20:00Z")
Craig Ferguson, easily. Jose Andres isn’t the greatest, but he’s probably in the upper half of this list.. Just continuing his humanitarian work and he’s a totally reasonable Nobel Peace Prize winner. Middle of the pack talk show host vs “fed millions in war zones?” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/33 "2025-06-20T00:47:24Z")
Even just in the field of “artists and entertainers” Craig Ferguson is at the bottom of this list. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/34 "2025-06-20T02:16:35Z")
OK, voting out Craig Ferguson! And if names are being eliminated one at a time, this game will go on for months, which feels like a long time! Unless that’s a feature planned by @Elendil_s_Heir, and not a bug? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/35 "2025-06-20T02:28:22Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > And if names are being eliminated one at a time, this game will go on for months, There are currently 30 nominees left on the list. If one is eliminated every two days, then it will take 60 days to determine the winner. So, two months. Is that the plan, @Elendil_s_Heir? ---
**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:** [June 20, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/36 "2025-06-20T02:51:13Z")
Indeed it is. But if there is a consensus to winnow the field more quickly, I’m willing to do so. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/37 "2025-06-20T03:06:51Z")
Just ran across this thread. I’m voting for Mitt Romney this round. Reasons why would be better debated in P&E, but it comes down to his being on the wrong side of things, and on top of that failing at what he tried to do. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2025, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/38 "2025-06-20T03:11:39Z")
P&E is all well and good, but feel free to write at greater length here. ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/39 "2025-06-20T03:18:12Z")
Upon further consideration, I’m going to stick with my initial reasons. Unlike many of the other people on the list, he failed in both his 2012 run for POTUS, and also failed in his attempts at opposing Trump. Since he has a much stronger record of failure than most of the others on the list, I’ll stick with my vote for him. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/40 "2025-06-20T15:17:46Z")
Again for Jose Andres. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=3)