# The President Elimination Game **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 24, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317 "2009-09-24T01:36:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**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:** [November 16, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/501 "2009-11-16T22:00:00Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > I know it’s getting boring, but Zachary Taylor is still my vote. I think I voted Madison 9 times before we finally got rid of him. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/502 "2009-11-16T22:24:45Z")
I’ll keep voting for Arthur until he’s eliminated, which is likely to be after Christmas at the rate I’m picking up support. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/503 "2009-11-16T23:00:56Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > I know it’s getting boring, but Zachary Taylor is still my vote. > > (Also, as a fangirl of the musical 1776, I am going through cycles of being offended that Adams is so heavily voted for and acceptance, because he is “obnoxious and disliked, that cannot be denied.”) That’s hardly the reason, mate, as I’ve stated repeatedly. I wouldn’t dispute that Adams was utterly sweet to children, small animals, and elderly female relatives. He also used the First Amendment as my erstwhile Nebraska forebears would use a whetted corncob, or at least stood idly by while it was done. How does anything that Taylor did – or didn’t do – compare with that? ---
**Author:** ![Makeitstop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@Makeitstop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Makeitstop)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/504 "2009-11-17T03:29:37Z")
Taylor. Again. The XYZ affair saves Mr Adams from the chopping block, at least for one more round. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/505 "2009-11-17T03:48:52Z")
I’ll stick with Harrison. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/506 "2009-11-17T05:19:10Z")
Likewise me and that brilliant, sneaky, maddeningly hypocritical Jefferson. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/507 "2009-11-17T07:19:41Z")
> [@stuthehistoryguy](#): > > That’s hardly the reason, mate, as I’ve stated repeatedly. I wouldn’t dispute that Adams was utterly sweet to children, small animals, and elderly female relatives. He also used the First Amendment as my erstwhile Nebraska forebears would use a whetted corncob, or at least stood idly by while it was done. How does anything that Taylor did – or didn’t do – compare with that? I’ve been voting Taylor because I decided to make my goal to eliminate the presidents by their average ranking. When it comes to John Adams, I’ll pick him with no hesitation. But my math says it’s time for Taylor to go. I mostly said what I said about Adams for an excuse to quote 1776 and to confess just how much of a nerdy fangirl I am. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2009, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/508 "2009-11-17T10:03:21Z")
Tempted to vote for Adams, but: **George HW Bush** ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/509 "2009-11-17T10:11:45Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > I’ve been voting Taylor because I decided to make my goal to eliminate the presidents by their average ranking. When it comes to John Adams, I’ll pick him with no hesitation. But my math says it’s time for Taylor to go. My argument is that Taylor is chronically underrated and underappreciated. The polls I cited earlier reflect that, and it may do well to reflect on the real accomplishments and ideals he had (thwarted as they were by the hand of Eternity) as opposed to his memory as digested by the gizzard of presidential poll ratings. JMHO. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/510 "2009-11-17T12:28:34Z")
As Harrison did absolutely nothing, then the question becomes how many presidents did actual harm and should be eliminated before him. I think we are about at that point, so my vote goes to Harrison. ---
**Author:** ![Stowed\_Bob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stowed_bob/32/3312_2.png) [@Stowed\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stowed_Bob)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/511 "2009-11-17T14:47:08Z")
John Adams. I like how sporadic the voting is from round to round. Strong runner ups one round can be overshadowed the next by presidents who had little or no traction. You have to wonder how much that has to do with the shelf life of reiterating the argument already stated several pages back. I’m surprised compiling the cases already stated isn’t common practice by now. > [@stuthehistoryguy](#): > > There is no higher value in the American spirit than freedom of speech. Through the cold war and the war on terror, we have always held dear that, while those who reviled our government were allowed to do so unmolested, the dissidents in the nations aligned against us were thrown in prison for speaking out against injustice. To jail an American for dissent is the closest thing to blasphemy one can imagine in American civil society. > > [John Adams](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_and_Sedition_Acts). Get him out of here. > [@Algorithm](#): > > Adams actively encouraged via direct participation in partisan politics while in office. He failed to unite the Federalists in the wake of Washington’s retirement, drawing opposition from his own party when seeking re-election. Failing to defeat Jefferson in a re-match in 1800, he ironically performed his most influential (and [proudest](http://www.supremecourthistory.org/history/supremecourthistory_history_history_marshall.htm)) act in a ridiculous, lame-duck, “fuck you” to Jeffersonian Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![CyclopticXander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@CyclopticXander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyclopticXander)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/512 "2009-11-18T05:03:38Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > I mostly said what I said about Adams for an excuse to quote 1776 and to confess just how much of a nerdy fangirl I am. Nice to see this, because I’ve never actually met anyone in real life who loves 1776 as much as I do. I’ve driven hours to catch productions of the stage show, and I just have to watch the movie every July 4th. So fangirl meet fanboy:) I’m going to throw Cleveland out there as my vote, although it’s a close call with Benjamin Harrison. I’m just hoping we can mull over these names before we go throwing out people who actually accomplished things in office. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/513 "2009-11-18T05:25:20Z")
For those who love Polk and hate(d) Buchanan: [Donald Graham on President James K. Polk](http://www.newsweek.com/id/222559) ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/514 "2009-11-18T12:20:46Z")
Adams. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/515 "2009-11-18T18:30:52Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > As Harrison did absolutely nothing, then the question becomes how many presidents did actual harm and should be eliminated before him. I think we are about at that point, so my vote goes to Harrison. He supported the McKinley tariff and the Sherman Silver Purchase Act. I think both of those helped walk us right into the Panic of 1893. I don’t think he could have prevented the whole depression by not vetoing the two bills, but they certainly didn’t help the economy. Of course his defeat allowed Grover Cleveland to take the heat for it. In any case, I can’t say he did nothing. I might say that he did nothing good. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/516 "2009-11-19T18:41:43Z")
My count so far - John Adams: 5 - ( **Tom Scud** , **Algorithm** , **Stowed Bob** , **ToeJam** , **stuthehistoryguy** ) Benjamin Harrison: 3 - ( **Skammer** , **Neptunian Slug** , **amarone** ) Zachary Taylor: 2 - ( **Leiko** , **Makeitstop** ) George HW Bush: 2 - ( **Gyrate** , **BobLibDem** ) Jefferson: 1 - ( **Elendil’s Heir** ) John Quincy Adams: 1 - ( **Swords to Plowshares** ) Chester Arthur: 1 - ( **Sternvogel** ) Grover Cleveland: 1 - ( **CyclopticXander** ) Total: 16 votes ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/517 "2009-11-19T19:08:15Z")
Where’s my vote-did I miss another round? Yep-durn unread posts resetter… Harrison then. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/518 "2009-11-19T19:55:41Z")
I’ll throw in for Adams this time around. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/519 "2009-11-19T19:57:11Z")
Didn’t any of you see the HBO miniseries? He was crusty but adorable! 😉 ---
**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:** [November 19, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317/520 "2009-11-19T20:00:54Z")
Final vote count: Adams 6 Harrison 4 Taylor 2 George HW Bush 2 Jefferson, JQ Adams, Arthur, Cleveland 1 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-elimination-game/511317.md?page=27)