Greatest living American elimination game (game thread)

(Not an official vote) Jesse Jackson’s relationship/association with Martin Luther King.

(Official vote) Bernie Sanders

I don’t doubt that Dr King’s coat tails have been beneficial to Jackson himself, just reflecting on that benefit to the wider merkinland.

I brought him up earlier in the thread in that my impression is that he deserved to go out early, but sort of weirded out about my ignorance of his earlier life. Perhaps other people are giving him a significant benefit of the doubt as well.

Andres

Dylan

Our votes this round:

José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef - 2 votes
Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer - 1 vote
Bob Dylan: Poet of generation - 6 votes
Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader - 1 vote
Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian - 1 vote
Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader - 2 votes
Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes - 2 votes

Bob Dylan may sing “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” but this time, yeah… it is.

Our remaining nominees:

José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef
Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer
Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist
Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader
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

Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Weds. Aug. 6.

My vote this time? Still José Andrés. For all his good works, I just don’t think he belongs in this mostly-august company.

Jackson

Jesse Jackson

Warren is one of my Senators, but I’m voting goodbye to her.

I think I’m gonna go with Biden this round. In spite of his long public service, he’s had a few votes that I really can’t…I just can’t. Confirming Thomas was one. I like you, Joe, but those votes are informing my vote this time.

Bernie Sanders.

Biden

Wait, Biden voted nay on Thomas.

He was incredibly shitty to Anita Hill. Had he served one term and stepped aside gracefully and in a timely manner, I’d feel differently about him.

Jackson

It’s the shits getting old: I conflated his treatment of Anita Hill with his eventual vote.

Fair enough.

Jesse Jackson

José Andrés.