# 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:** 8
**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:** [July 2, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/141 "2025-07-02T21:13:30Z")
Magic Johnson. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/142 "2025-07-02T21:43:22Z")
Spike Lee again ---
**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:** [July 2, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/143 "2025-07-02T21:55:35Z")
Jim “Lover Boy” Lovell again. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/144 "2025-07-02T22:07:31Z")
Mackenzie Scott ---
**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:** [July 2, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/145 "2025-07-02T22:10:15Z")
Jim Lovell: ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/146 "2025-07-02T22:37:31Z")
I promised a small post in support of Amory Lovins, I hope this is convincing without being too long-winded. As noted by another poster, Lovins is often grouped with Al Gore and Bill McKibben as a “climate activist”, which is, insofar as the power we use impacts our climate, somewhat true. Certainly if Lovins’s program was followed, not just nationally but worldwide, our climate issues would be considerably eased if not completely solved. He’s been pushing for non-fossil-fuel sources for energy for his entire career, which makes the association inevitable for many. But climate change is only part of the pitch for the necessity of his target. Distributed, clean generation is not only better for the planet, but better for the United States, more economical, reduces our dependence on our enemies, and is more healthy for our population. To a great extent, he is arguing against ignorance, all the people who design, build and use things the easy way, “the way they’ve always done it”. Instead he argues in favor of new ways to do things more efficiently that will unlock greater benefits. He focuses a great deal on business and capitalism to make the changes he pushes, which can be very unpopular with the climate movement. Much of the work of his think tank, the Rocky Mountain Institute, focuses on providing economically competitive, superior solutions to companies in accordance with his vision. I think that he overestimates the degree that rationality aids such transitions, among businesses and even more in the consumer market, but you cannot fault him for the goal for which he is striving. If we are going to get a sustainable drive for clean sustainable energy, we’re going to have to do the kinds of things that Lovins has been pushing for his entire career. The fact that he is and has been working hard on one of our largest and most significant problems for the bulk of his life, and has made headway in a market-friendly way that is consistent with American tradition and values, gives him a solid argument to be in the top tier of greatest living Americans. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/147 "2025-07-03T22:14:38Z")
Oh, and my vote this round is for Jim Lovell. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/148 "2025-07-04T03:58:39Z")
Spike Lee. Since it looks like Lovell is on his way out , this is priming the pump to wash Lee out in the next go-around. _ **-“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:** [July 4, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/149 "2025-07-04T20:58:08Z")
Our votes this round: José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef - 1 vote Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration - 1 vote Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan - 2 votes Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut - 3 votes MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist - 1 vote Jim Lovell’s portrayal by the beloved Tom Hanks in _Apollo 13_ does not save him here. Our remaining nominees: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire Bob Dylan: Poet of generation Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire 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 Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary **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. Simon Biles: GOAT gymnast 8. Judy Blume: Children’s literature icon 9. Amanda Gorman: Poet, activist, prodigy 10. Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Mon. July 7. He got two votes last round; I’ll vote for Spike Lee this time. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/150 "2025-07-04T21:01:51Z")
Mackenzie Scott again ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/151 "2025-07-04T21:07:54Z")
I’ll go Amory Lovins. The defense a couple posts up makes him sound aspirational but without the actual accomplishments. And I think the proliferation of solar power is like 99% due to the price coming down, not advocacy. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/152 "2025-07-04T21:16:03Z")
Magic Johnson ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/153 "2025-07-04T21:40:30Z")
Spike Lee ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/154 "2025-07-04T22:26:53Z")
Sayonara, Spike. Maybe if you were a fan of someone other than the Knicks… ? _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/155 "2025-07-04T22:52:34Z")
I was going to Mackenzie Scott but looked her up, Jesus, 19 billion of funneling Bezos to charities is something. I’ll go with Janet Yellen this round, and then maybe revisit Scott later. ---
**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:** [July 4, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/156 "2025-07-04T23:10:50Z")
Janet Yellen Isn’t even the best living American Secretary of the Treasury ---
**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:** [July 5, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/157 "2025-07-05T01:56:29Z")
I agree with Snarky\_Kong. Amory Lovins does not to me stand above a host of other climate activists. ---
**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:** [July 5, 2025, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/158 "2025-07-05T03:58:48Z")
Goodbye Spike Lee! ---
**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:** [July 5, 2025, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/159 "2025-07-05T04:10:56Z")
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ---
**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:** [July 7, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/160 "2025-07-07T16:08:35Z")
Our votes this round: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist - 1 vote Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration - 1 vote Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan - 4 votes Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist - 2 votes MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist - 1 vote Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary - 2 votes Spike Lee has left his film set, his Knicks courtside seat and this thread. Our remaining nominees: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire Bob Dylan: Poet of generation Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration Mark Kelly: Senator, astronaut, aviator Stephen King: Great American writer Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary **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. Simon 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 Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Weds. July 9. Still relatively unimpressed with him as compared to others who remain, I’ll vote for José Andrés this time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=9)