# 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:** 21
**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:** [August 5, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/401 "2025-08-05T00:44:29Z")
Sanders ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/402 "2025-08-05T00:45:48Z")
Jesse Jackson ---
**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:** [August 5, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/403 "2025-08-05T12:18:45Z")
Sanders ---
**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:** [August 6, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/404 "2025-08-06T18:04:41Z")
Our votes this round: José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef - 2 votes Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer - 2 votes Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader - 5 votes Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader - 3 votes Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes - 1 vote Rev. Jesse Jackson, long a giant of the Civil Rights Movement and grassroots political advocacy, is no longer on our list. Our remaining nominees: José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes **Eliminated** 1. Jim Gaffigan: Comedian, author, commentator 2. Craig Ferguson: Polymath, director-writer, comedian 3. Mitt Romney: Senator, impeachment juror 4. Buzz Aldrin: Second on Moon 5. Taylor Swift: Musician, songwriter, icon 6. Tim Walz: Honorable political messenger 7. Simone Biles: GOAT gymnast 8. Judy Blume: Children’s literature icon 9. Amanda Gorman: Poet, activist, prodigy 10. Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut 11. Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan 12. Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary 13. Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration 14. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist 15. Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist 16. Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer 17. MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist 18. Mark Kelly: Senator, astronaut, aviator 19. Stephen King: Great American writer 20. Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist 21. Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire 22. Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire 23. Bob Dylan: Poet of generation 24. Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Fri. Aug. 8. Still voting for José Andrés. Still amazed he’s hung on this long. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/405 "2025-08-06T18:21:33Z")
Sanders out. A few good outcomes amongst the meddling and self-aggrandizement, but nah. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/406 "2025-08-06T18:31:04Z")
Biden. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/407 "2025-08-06T18:36:50Z")
Bernie Sanders. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/408 "2025-08-06T18:57:32Z")
Sanders ---
**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:** [August 6, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/409 "2025-08-06T20:54:32Z")
Jose Andres ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/410 "2025-08-06T20:57:27Z")
Sanders ---
**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:** [August 6, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/411 "2025-08-06T20:58:01Z")
Sanders! ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2025, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/412 "2025-08-06T21:07:45Z")
Time to get out the three-sided coin: Sorry, **Bernie Sanders**. [I clearly cannot be the only one who easily imagines Bernie standing on a front porch, yelling, “Hey you kids! Get off my lawn!"] ---
**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:** [August 6, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/413 "2025-08-06T22:20:29Z")
Four political figures left among seven nominees. They can’t all be the greatest. **Sanders** ---
**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:** [August 7, 2025, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/414 "2025-08-07T00:17:33Z")
Biden ---
**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:** [August 8, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/415 "2025-08-08T20:21:43Z")
Our votes this round: José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef - 2 votes Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer - 2 votes Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader - 7 votes Farewell, Bernie, we hardly knew ye! (Aw, who am I kidding? We know ye well.) Our remaining nominees: José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes **Eliminated** 1. Jim Gaffigan: Comedian, author, commentator 2. Craig Ferguson: Polymath, director-writer, comedian 3. Mitt Romney: Senator, impeachment juror 4. Buzz Aldrin: Second on Moon 5. Taylor Swift: Musician, songwriter, icon 6. Tim Walz: Honorable political messenger 7. Simone Biles: GOAT gymnast 8. Judy Blume: Children’s literature icon 9. Amanda Gorman: Poet, activist, prodigy 10. Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut 11. Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan 12. Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary 13. Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration 14. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist 15. Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist 16. Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer 17. MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist 18. Mark Kelly: Senator, astronaut, aviator 19. Stephen King: Great American writer 20. Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist 21. Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire 22. Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire 23. Bob Dylan: Poet of generation 24. Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader 25. Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Mon. Aug. 11. My vote’s for José Andrés. Still. One of these rounds I’ll get it right! To say he’s greater than Buzz Aldrin, Judy Blume, Jim Lovell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mark Kelly, Bruce Springsteen etc. simply boggles my mind. And as for Jim Lovell, may he rest in peace: [Apollo 13 moon mission leader James Lovell dies at 97](https://apnews.com/article/james-lovell-dies-obituary-apollo-13-astronaut-ed08c1efc0a74fbd9d47868ff9983a23) ---
**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:** [August 8, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/416 "2025-08-08T20:32:10Z")
I’ll join you for Andres now that Sanders is gone. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/417 "2025-08-08T20:36:04Z")
I just think we’re operating from different definitions of great American. Andres is out there busting his ass to feed starving people everywhere including Gaza, and publicly trying to push people to allow that food in. [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/opinion/gaza-hunger-war-israel-famine.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.ck8.7q-9.Y6gdoQVPEc\_I&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/opinion/gaza-hunger-war-israel-famine.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ck8.7q-9.Y6gdoQVPEc_I&smid=url-share) Lovell for example did some very cool things that were the apex of his career ambitions, but it’s just a very different thing, and I think we value those different things differently. Meanwhile, my Senator is doing fuck all against the greatest dictator we may have ever had, other than tweeting and making concerned comments, so Elizabeth Warren. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/418 "2025-08-08T20:41:12Z")
Dolly Parton ---
**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:** [August 8, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/419 "2025-08-08T20:48:33Z")
We’re getting down to the point where more or less equally compelling arguments can be made for everyone left on the list. But if Bernie goes, so should **Warren.** ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/420 "2025-08-08T20:58:46Z")
I give Warren a lot of credit for the CFPB. Also, she started her political activism going against the 2005 bankruptcy reform act that, among other things, put a millstone around the necks of debtors nationwide. Of the other two political living Americans remaining in our game, one voted against it (Obama) and the other voted for it. And that’s why I’m voting **Joe Biden**. IMHO, it should keep him out of the top 5. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=22)