Gene, though I loathe AI slop (and the weirdly narrow seat on that toilet flushing Donald’s bust qualifies as slop by definition), your depiction of the Trump road apples is poster-worthy. Great job!👏
You can compare presidents across eras, but you cannot do it responsibly without also evaluating them relative to the constraints, crises, norms, and tools available in their own time. So the realistic method is comparative, but context‑weighted. If you don’t rate presidents in their times, you end up systematically overrating: modern presidents (because they have more tools); presidents during major crises (because crises create opportunities for greatness). You also systematically underrate: early presidents (because the office was weaker); presidents during quiet periods (because they had fewer opportunities to demonstrate greatness). Context is the equalizer. The best scholarly practice uses both context and comparison. And when you combine both "in‑their‑times" evaluation and cross‑temporal comparison, Trump ends up at or extremely near the bottom of the presidential rankings --- usually last --- across the major historian and political science surveys. Even when you include right-leaning historians, conservative political scientists, and conservative-leaning organizations, Trump still ends up at or near the bottom of presidential rankings.
Seems my head has been in the sand. Turns out Natalie is not just his assistant and constant companion and possible nurse / minder. She is obsessed with him, sent him many love letters and ingratiated herself into his circle. I guess if women can fall for serial killers, there can be people that can be infatuated with a 78 year old Trump.
I voted 2, though maybe I should’ve said 3, since I still would choose Buchanan or Andrew Johnson as number 1, and doesn’t that mean the other should be 2.
So what would make T number 1? At this point attempting to cancel the 26 or 28 elections, declaring himself King, or using a nuclear weapon.
What’s sick is that none of these are wholly out of the question.
I rank Trump as the worst. Your other two guys, plus Pierce, made weak decisions that brought on a war. They were incompetent and guilty of nonfeasance. Trump is a crook who is challenging the rule of law, which is the essence of what this country is. He is guilty of malfeasance. And treason.
There are reasons to rank Trump as the worst. But I don’t think Buchanan and A. Johnson are mere nonfeasors. Buchanan was viciously pro-slavery, and that is why he did nothing to rein in the South.
A. Johnson remained viciously pro-slavery after the Civil War, and fought against implementing the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments. And (as some recent takedowns of JFK’s ghostwritten Profiles in Courage have noted), A.Johnson’s impeachment was only defeated by direct bribery.
So he was, like Trump, an anti-rule of law guy on both those counts.
I do have a lot of empathy for those who fought in Korea. In Vietnam we had senior NCO's who fought there and it was horrific. An now Trump wants to suck up to North Korea? And leave an economic power house in the lurch. EVERYTHING he does hurts the USA. How can I say "enemy agent" without saying it?
I love your post, but I am curious about your use of AI slop for the accompanying illustrations. You have written about the negative effects of AI on great writers such as yourself, who make a living expressing real thoughts and feelings. Isn’t it just as egregious to use for “artistic creations?”
I re-read your post from the link above. I remember your explanation about your AI conundrum better now after a second glance. Thanks for taking the time to follow up with me.
I am a musician and am watching in real time how AI is changing how music is being manipulated by AI users. Its frightening!
Good try but I am not impressed. I had a year in Vietnam with the Infantry. It is hard to out do me with this sort of chat. We were not called "The Big Red One" for nothing. Our radio was the "MF" network. The one book everyone in the First MID was to read was what DeSade wrote. (Not my choice.) If I were to select a book it might be Gravity's Rainbow or Slaughterhouse-Five. Since I am reading PK Dick now, I also tend to get pet idea about data centers and hidden guest rooms in the White House.
Gene, though I loathe AI slop (and the weirdly narrow seat on that toilet flushing Donald’s bust qualifies as slop by definition), your depiction of the Trump road apples is poster-worthy. Great job!👏
Not all of AI is "slop," I regret to say.
Venting is good. Voting is better. Make sure you're registered.
Bring back Celebrity Death Match -
With “real” people, not Muppets
REAL REALity TV. Even more
Entertaining than UFC. Season 1:
RFK jr vs Rand Paul
Diaper Debbie vs Melaria
Steven Miller vs. Steve Bannon
Elon Musk vs Hegsbreth
You can compare presidents across eras, but you cannot do it responsibly without also evaluating them relative to the constraints, crises, norms, and tools available in their own time. So the realistic method is comparative, but context‑weighted. If you don’t rate presidents in their times, you end up systematically overrating: modern presidents (because they have more tools); presidents during major crises (because crises create opportunities for greatness). You also systematically underrate: early presidents (because the office was weaker); presidents during quiet periods (because they had fewer opportunities to demonstrate greatness). Context is the equalizer. The best scholarly practice uses both context and comparison. And when you combine both "in‑their‑times" evaluation and cross‑temporal comparison, Trump ends up at or extremely near the bottom of the presidential rankings --- usually last --- across the major historian and political science surveys. Even when you include right-leaning historians, conservative political scientists, and conservative-leaning organizations, Trump still ends up at or near the bottom of presidential rankings.
Seems my head has been in the sand. Turns out Natalie is not just his assistant and constant companion and possible nurse / minder. She is obsessed with him, sent him many love letters and ingratiated herself into his circle. I guess if women can fall for serial killers, there can be people that can be infatuated with a 78 year old Trump.
Trump is far and away the worst in my lifetime- I'm 68. It is not fathomable to me that someone was worse.
Forgive me, but I found this column wonderfully, raucously funny!
I forgive you.
God, I love this column!
I voted 2, though maybe I should’ve said 3, since I still would choose Buchanan or Andrew Johnson as number 1, and doesn’t that mean the other should be 2.
So what would make T number 1? At this point attempting to cancel the 26 or 28 elections, declaring himself King, or using a nuclear weapon.
What’s sick is that none of these are wholly out of the question.
I rank Trump as the worst. Your other two guys, plus Pierce, made weak decisions that brought on a war. They were incompetent and guilty of nonfeasance. Trump is a crook who is challenging the rule of law, which is the essence of what this country is. He is guilty of malfeasance. And treason.
There are reasons to rank Trump as the worst. But I don’t think Buchanan and A. Johnson are mere nonfeasors. Buchanan was viciously pro-slavery, and that is why he did nothing to rein in the South.
A. Johnson remained viciously pro-slavery after the Civil War, and fought against implementing the thirteenth and fourteenth amendments. And (as some recent takedowns of JFK’s ghostwritten Profiles in Courage have noted), A.Johnson’s impeachment was only defeated by direct bribery.
So he was, like Trump, an anti-rule of law guy on both those counts.
I don't know enough about all the presidents to know that Trump is the worst, but he's certainly the worst during my lifetime.
Welll … Abe certainly should have said it!
Why wasn't that "YES!!!!!!!! x a billion"?.....
Holding a Bible upside down!
Alas, it wasn't actually upside down. That was a calumny.
I do have a lot of empathy for those who fought in Korea. In Vietnam we had senior NCO's who fought there and it was horrific. An now Trump wants to suck up to North Korea? And leave an economic power house in the lurch. EVERYTHING he does hurts the USA. How can I say "enemy agent" without saying it?
My father fought in Korea. Though I miss him dearly, I’m glad he is not alive to experience this POS president.
I love your post, but I am curious about your use of AI slop for the accompanying illustrations. You have written about the negative effects of AI on great writers such as yourself, who make a living expressing real thoughts and feelings. Isn’t it just as egregious to use for “artistic creations?”
This is a fair point. I address it head-on here. Please read it. https://geneweingarten.substack.com/p/artificial-outrage?utm_source=publication-search
I re-read your post from the link above. I remember your explanation about your AI conundrum better now after a second glance. Thanks for taking the time to follow up with me.
I am a musician and am watching in real time how AI is changing how music is being manipulated by AI users. Its frightening!
Good try but I am not impressed. I had a year in Vietnam with the Infantry. It is hard to out do me with this sort of chat. We were not called "The Big Red One" for nothing. Our radio was the "MF" network. The one book everyone in the First MID was to read was what DeSade wrote. (Not my choice.) If I were to select a book it might be Gravity's Rainbow or Slaughterhouse-Five. Since I am reading PK Dick now, I also tend to get pet idea about data centers and hidden guest rooms in the White House.
Enough?