Which U.S. President has been the most out-of-touch with the people since 1970?

[shemp]

I'm curious as to how people feel about this. I thought Reagan was the worst, but Dubya seems to be beating him on this, and he doesn't even have Alzheimer's as an excuse.

[Some Friggin Guy]

Well, Shemp, I have to agree, but if you had asked which had been more out of touch with REALITY, I would have a different answer.

[shemp]

I asked exactly what I meant to ask. Nobody could come close to Reagan for being out of touch with reality.

[Tricky]

Well, a case for Jimmy Carter can be made too. During the Oil Embargo, he actually went on TV and asked Americans to make personal sacrifices, like turning down their heat. I nearly laughed so hard the drool ran down my chin and collected in my navel. If he thought the American people were going to give up one damn thing, he must have been from another planet. That's probably where he got the sweaters.

[Crossbow]

Bush, Jr. is the most out of touch with the people.

He comes from a rich family,
His family has substantial political connections,
He is a resident of a state that does not have an income tax, and
He has never really had to worry about holding a job, paying bills, or being poor.

There are very, very few people that are so fortunate.

[Samus]

Crossbow: There are very, very few people that are so fortunate. True, although just because his background was an uncommon one, that doesn't mean he lacks understanding of the American people. Most presidents in recent history (and, in fact, most politicians in general) are very far removed from what the "average" American lives like...whatever "average" means.

I voted for Carter. I'm not sure if he didn't know what the people wanted, or just had no clue how to achieve it. He's a great man, but he wasn't a great president.

I do not believe George W. Bush is out of touch with what the average American wants. I believe he just thinks he knows better than we do about what is best for the country. It's just an opinion, I have no evidence to post to back my point of view. This is, after all, an opinion poll...

[Bottle or the Gun]

Bush Sr. Didn't know what a barcode scanner was when he went shopping.

[Kodiak]

Bush Sr.


Reagan was very personable and related well with the common citizen.

Bush Jr. is a exercise junkie, a sports (especially baseball) fan, and very religious. He's a mixture of dynasty/elitist and "average Joe"

[Zero]

Probably G.H.W. Bush...at least the Shrub is in touch with the outrageously wealthy, Poppy was in touch with nobody!

[bug_girl]

i notice that no one has choosen clinton as "out of touch" :D

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by bug_girl
i notice that no one has choosen clinton as "out of touch" :D

I thought about that as well, but I was not going to vocalize it.

:p

[Brown]

Originally posted by Kodiak
Bush Sr.I concur with this. I liked the elder Bush, but I was often astonished at how little he knew about ordinary citizens. He really didn't know how hard ordinary people worked or how difficult it was for them to make ends meet. He did not seem to know how much an average family spent on weekly groceries, for example. He did not appear to understand some of the problems facing small businesses.

He was rightly criticized during his vice presidency for what has become known as his "You, too, can be a janitor" speech, in which he told students in a predominantly Hispanic school that they didn't have to excel (even though this school was one of the best in the nation), because the world needs menial laborers, too.

[corplinx]

Originally posted by Bottle or the Gun
Bush Sr. Didn't know what a barcode scanner was when he went shopping.

check snopes on that one

[Hexxenhammer]

Originally posted by corplinx


check snopes on that one Snopes article. (http://www.snopes.com/history/american/bushscan.htm) Huh. I've seen that video and he really does look stupified by the scanner.

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Hexxenhammer
Snopes article. (http://www.snopes.com/history/american/bushscan.htm) Huh. I've seen that video and he really does look stupified by the scanner.

OTOH...check when the Snopes article was last updated... ;)

[Hutch]

Originally posted by Commander Cool
I voted for Carter. I'm not sure if he didn't know what the people wanted, or just had no clue how to achieve it. He's a great man, but he wasn't a great president.

Agree completely with you on Carter, Commander. Of all the presidents, he probably had more of the 'common man' about him than any president since Truman, but he was never able to have that "common touch" that allows a president to lead people to go along with his policies, be they politicians or ordinary folks like us.

Bush Sr. and Reagan may be tied for second, but on the other hand, Senior kept Dukasis out of the White House, and he might have been the class of out-of-touch Presidents if he had made it.(IMHO)

[SRW]

Originally posted by Crossbow
Bush, Jr. is the most out of touch with the people.

He comes from a rich family,
His family has substantial political connections,
He is a resident of a state that does not have an income tax, and
He has never really had to worry about holding a job, paying bills, or being poor.

There are very, very few people that are so fortunate.

Sort of like Kerry, Edwards, Hillary, kennedy Gore... gee do you think you just might be describing the majority of politicos?

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by SRW


Sort of like Kerry, Edwards, Hillary, kennedy Gore... gee do you think you just might be describing the majority of politicos?

No, I think not.

In the first place Kerry, Edwards, Hillary, Kennedy, Gore, et al were not on the list.
In the second place, none of those people had the combination of having a father who was a former president and coming from a very rich family.

[Ladewig]

I voted for Carter. I'm not sure if he didn't know what the people wanted, or just had no clue how to achieve it. He's a great man, but he wasn't a great president.

Carter might have known something about the general populace, but he knew nothing about the people running Washington. I think that was what kept him from acheiving what he wanted. Carter probably has more principles than any three other men on the list.

[WildCat]

Originally posted by SRW


Sort of like Kerry, Edwards, Hillary, kennedy Gore... gee do you think you just might be describing the majority of politicos?
Well, to be fair, Edwards got his money the old fashioned way. By chasing down ambulances of people injured using products of corporations w/ deep pockets. :p

Kerry just happens to keep falling in love w/ wealthy heiresses.

Hillary had the good acumen to marry a future president (has she ever had a real job?)

I guess the shoe fits for Kennedy and Gore (no one seems to mind that Gore's daddy pulled some strings to assure that he would never get anywhere near a combat zone in Vietnam).

[SRW]

Originally posted by Crossbow


No, I think not.

In the first place Kerry, Edwards, Hillary, Kennedy, Gore, et al were not on the list.
In the second place, none of those people had the combination of having a father who was a former president and coming from a very rich family.

I did not say they were all on the list I am only saying that most politicians come from a privileged class. Kerry and edward are wealthy, and Edwards comes form a wealthy family so do Gore, Hillary, Kennedy etc.

Your Specific description of Bush can be applied to Most Politicians.

Ok I did not mean to hijack this thread.

I voted Carter, Anyone who thinks a 12 year olds main worry in live is Nuclear Proliferation is just not getting it.

[WildCat]

Originally posted by Ladewig


Carter might have known something about the general populace, but he knew nothing about the people running Washington. I think that was what kept him from acheiving what he wanted. Carter probably has more principles than any three other men on the list.
Carter's policies (mainly his choice for Fed chairman, who pursued a disastrous monetary policy now in economics textbooks under "don't ever, ever, ever do this") were responsible for the extraordinarily high inflation, unemployment, and interest rates of the late '70's.

Generally, a president isn't responsible for the economy but Carter was the exception that proves the rule.

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Crossbow
In the second place, none of those people had the combination of having a father who was a former president and coming from a very rich family.

Neither do six out of the seven presidents on the list... :confused:

[WildCat]

Originally posted by Kodiak


Neither do six out of the seven presidents on the list... :confused:
See? They made the choice easy for you. ;)

[Zero]

Originally posted by WildCat

Well, to be fair, Edwards got his money the old fashioned way. By chasing down ambulances of people injured using products of corporations w/ deep pockets. :p

Kerry just happens to keep falling in love w/ wealthy heiresses.

Hillary had the good acumen to marry a future president (has she ever had a real job?)

I guess the shoe fits for Kennedy and Gore (no one seems to mind that Gore's daddy pulled some strings to assure that he would never get anywhere near a combat zone in Vietnam). Wow, so much right-wing spin in a single post...neat, but creepy!;)

Edwards: We all claim to hate lawyers, but when we get hurt or screwed over, we all make sure we have one, don't we? Lawyers are only hated by Republicans when they represent normal people; if he had, say, represented a drug company whose products caused birth defects, Edwards would probably have a cabinet position right now.

Kerry: The man's personal life is none of our business. If he had fallen in love with two waitresses, or two interns, you would still be making nasty comments, right?


Hillary Clinton: Successful lawyer, right?

Gore: Never got into an Army uniform for a BS staged photo-op.

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Zero
Wow, so much right-wing spin in a single post...neat, but creepy!;)

Edwards: We all claim to hate lawyers, but when we get hurt or screwed over, we all make sure we have one, don't we? Lawyers are only hated by Republicans when they represent normal people; if he had, say, represented a drug company whose products caused birth defects, Edwards would probably have a cabinet position right now.

Kerry: The man's personal life is none of our business. If he had fallen in love with two waitresses, or two interns, you would still be making nasty comments, right?


Hillary Clinton: Successful lawyer, right?

Gore: Never got into an Army uniform for a BS staged photo-op.

You're not so bad at spin yourself! :)

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Kodiak


Neither do six out of the seven presidents on the list... :confused:

And that is why I voted the way I did!

Please see my original post.

[Zero]

Originally posted by Kodiak


You're not so bad at spin yourself! :) At least mine is based on an accurate view of reality. You should try it sometime!;)

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by SRW


...

Your Specific description of Bush can be applied to Most Politicians.

...

No it cannot!

How many current politicians come from rich families where their father was a former US president?

I can think of three (including the current president), and three out of hundreds (or tens of thousands if you really want to cast a wide net) hardly means most.

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Zero
At least mine is based on an accurate view of reality. You should try it sometime!;)

WOW! :eek:

I've never actually seen anyone spin their spin before!! :D

[Zero]

Originally posted by Kodiak


WOW! :eek:

I've never actually seen anyone spin their spin before!! :D Sure you have...you just didn't see me do it. Wow, you seem to be victim of O'Reillyitis, a disorder in which you are such a victim of spin that the spin begins to look like reality, and reality(as you saw in my post) looks just like spin. You know, kind of like when you get off the roller coaster, and for a few minutes the world seems to still be moving?

[WildCat]

Originally posted by Zero
Wow, so much right-wing spin in a single post...neat, but creepy!;)

Edwards: We all claim to hate lawyers, but when we get hurt or screwed over, we all make sure we have one, don't we? Lawyers are only hated by Republicans when they represent normal people; if he had, say, represented a drug company whose products caused birth defects, Edwards would probably have a cabinet position right now.

Kerry: The man's personal life is none of our business. If he had fallen in love with two waitresses, or two interns, you would still be making nasty comments, right?


Hillary Clinton: Successful lawyer, right?

Gore: Never got into an Army uniform for a BS staged photo-op.
Of course it's spin! Isn't that the point of this thread? :confused:

And I do take issue w/ the "successful lawyer" Hillary is alleged to be. What did she ever do that was non-government related? If I had a law degree and was married to a governor I could be a successful lawyer also, I'm sure.

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Crossbow


And that is why I voted the way I did!

Please see my original post.

"Original post" nothing...

You were responding to SRW's mentioning of Kerry, Edwards, Gore, Hillary, and the Kennedys as fulfilling the classifications you made about Bush Jr., namely:

"He comes from a rich family,
His family has substantial political connections,
He is a resident of a state that does not have an income tax, and
He has never really had to worry about holding a job, paying bills, or being poor."

[Bottle or the Gun]

Originally posted by corplinx


check snopes on that one

Saw it on the news, but ok.

[SRW]

Originally posted by Crossbow


No it cannot!

How many current politicians come from rich families where their father was a former US president?

I can think of three (including the current president), and three out of hundreds (or tens of thousands if you really want to cast a wide net) hardly means most.

You did not mention the father being president in your first post, which is what I responed to. Ok I should have said most members of congress which includes the people I mentioned.

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Zero
Sure you have...you just didn't see me do it. Wow, you seem to be victim of O'Reillyitis, a disorder in which you are such a victim of spin that the spin begins to look like reality, and reality(as you saw in my post) looks just like spin. You know, kind of like when you get off the roller coaster, and for a few minutes the world seems to still be moving?


Yessss Masssterrrrr...

:jedi:

[specious_reasons]

Originally posted by SRW

...and Edwards comes form a wealthy family...


Just nitpicking here, from Edwards' website:
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/john_edwards.asp

John Edwards was born in Seneca, South Carolina and raised in Robbins, North Carolina, a small town in the Piedmont. There John learned the values of hard work and perseverance from his father, Wallace, who worked in the textile mills for 36 years, and from his mother, Bobbie, who ran a shop and worked at the post office. Working alongside his father at the mill, John developed his strong belief that all Americans deserve an equal opportunity to succeed and be heard.

A proud product of public schools, John became the first person in his family to attend college. He worked his way through North Carolina State University where he graduated with high honors in 1974, and then earned a law degree with honors in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

What's your definition of "wealthy family"? Mind you, this is his own description, but I would put his heritage as middle-class.

Certainly not comparable to the Bush, Kennedy, or Gore families.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by SRW


You did not mention the father being president in your first post, which is what I responed to. Ok I should have said most members of congress which includes the people I mentioned.

Gee whiz man you still just do not get it! Please take a deep breath and focus a bit will you?

True, I did not explicitly mention having a father for a president in my first post, but in my third post (which was a response to one of yours), I did explicitly mention that Bush, Jr has a former president for a father.

Or to put it another way ...

Question: How many current members of the US Congress have a father who was a former US President?
Answer: None!

OK now?

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Kodiak


"Original post" nothing...

You were responding to SRW's mentioning of Kerry, Edwards, Gore, Hillary, and the Kennedys as fulfilling the classifications you made about Bush Jr., namely:



Well you sure got me confused!

Just what is your question(s)?

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Crossbow


Well you sure got me confused!

Just what is your question(s)?

You explained yourself in the post to SRW above. All is clear once again. :)

[SRW]

Originally posted by Crossbow


Gee whiz man you still just do not get it! Please take a deep breath and focus a bit will you?

True, I did not explicitly mention having a father for a president in my first post, but in my third post (which was a response to one of yours), I did explicitly mention that Bush, Jr has a former president for a father.

Or to put it another way ...

Question: How many current members of the US Congress have a father who was a former US President?
Answer: None!

OK now?

None is right what does that have to do with anyting? Was Bush Jr a member of congress?

You did not mention Bush JR as the son of a president in your first Post which is the one I responded to... Get it? Everyone else seems to.

[SRW]

Originally posted by specious_reasons


Just nitpicking here, from Edwards' website:
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/john_edwards.asp


What's your definition of "wealthy family"? Mind you, this is his own description, but I would put his heritage as middle-class.

Certainly not comparable to the Bush, Kennedy, or Gore families.

Ok my bad, I know he is wealthy now and though he came from a wealthy family. I still think most members of congress came from wealthy backgrounds and I do not know of any that are unprovided now.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by SRW


None is right what does that have to do with anyting? Was Bush Jr a member of congress?

You did not mention Bush JR as the son of a president in your first Post which is the one I responded to... Get it? Everyone else seems to.

First,
Bush Jr was not a member of Congress.
Bush Sr was, but not his son.
So I do not know what you are talking about.

Second,
If you have a question about my posts, then please ask it. Note, due to the limitations of this form of communication it may take more than one effort to properly phrase just what your question is.

Third,
I think that I am finally starting to understand at least some of your issues, specifically, I think what you have been doing is harping on my first post while essentially ignoring the subsequent posts. If so, then I suggest that you discontinue this practice.

[SRW]

Originally posted by Crossbow


First,
Bush Jr was not a member of Congress.
Bush Sr was, but not his son.
So I do not know what you are talking about.

Second,
If you have a question about my posts, then please ask it. Note, due to the limitations of this form of communication it may take more than one effort to properly phrase just what your question is.

Third,
I think that I am finally starting to understand at least some of your issues, specifically, I think what you have been doing is harping on my first post while essentially ignoring the subsequent posts. If so, then I suggest that you discontinue this practice.


I responed to your first post and you continued to move the goal posts. I refuse to accept that you said someting you did not in your first post. It was clear to me that you did not say in your first post that Bush JR was the son of Bush Sr.

I responed to your first post and you added a new qualification and directed it at me. Can you say "moving the goal post". Go back and re-read this thread.

[Tricky]

This is a bit timely. A new entry in Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/ribs.asp) Talks about how Bush tried to pump up the local economy by cajoling the press corps to order food in an Arizona eatery. Pretty bizarre transcript, but the kicker is at the end. Although he placed a large order, Bush didn't leave a tip.

When I was working in a restaurant, "common" was the nicest thing we might say about such people.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by SRW



I responed to your first post and you continued to move the goal posts. I refuse to accept that you said someting you did not in your first post. It was clear to me that you did not say in your first post that Bush JR was the son of Bush Sr.

I responed to your first post and you added a new qualification and directed it at me. Can you say "moving the goal post". Go back and re-read this thread.

Well, well! Your poor dear!

I certainly do apologize for making things so hard for you to follow; your brain must be aching all over the place for me not flat out saying that Bush Jr (the current president) was the son of Bush Sr (a former president). Gee whiz! I thought that whole father-son thing was common knowledge and not worth repeating, but no, you have shown how wrong I was on this point.

You had a question about my first post so I tried to clarify it but you chose to ignore the clarification. I thought that I was doing you a service, but alas my efforts only served to further confuse you.

My most humble apologies!

I will try to remember in the future that it is extraordinarily difficult for you to look past a person's first posting.

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Crossbow


Well, well! Your poor dear!

I certainly do apologize for making things so hard for you to follow; your brain must be aching all over the place for me not flat out saying that Bush Jr (the current president) was the son of Bush Sr (a former president). Gee whiz! I thought that whole father-son thing was common knowledge and not worth repeating, but no, you have shown how wrong I was on this point.

You had a question about my first post so I tried to clarify it but you chose to ignore the clarification. I thought that I was doing you a service, but alas my efforts only served to further confuse you.

My most humble apologies!

I will try to remember in the future that it is extraordinarily difficult for you to look past a person's first posting.


tsk...tsk... :nope:

[Zero]

Originally posted by Tricky
This is a bit timely. A new entry in Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/ribs.asp) Talks about how Bush tried to pump up the local economy by cajoling the press corps to order food in an Arizona eatery. Pretty bizarre transcript, but the kicker is at the end. Although he placed a large order, Bush didn't leave a tip.

When I was working in a restaurant, "common" was the nicest thing we might say about such people. That's not fair...it was a take-out order, and I don't normally tip for take-out. If I sit down, I usually leave a 30-50% tip, but usually nothing on take-out. :p

[SRW]

Originally posted by Crossbow


Well, well! Your poor dear!

I certainly do apologize for making things so hard for you to follow; your brain must be aching all over the place for me not flat out saying that Bush Jr (the current president) was the son of Bush Sr (a former president). Gee whiz! I thought that whole father-son thing was common knowledge and not worth repeating, but no, you have shown how wrong I was on this point.

You had a question about my first post so I tried to clarify it but you chose to ignore the clarification. I thought that I was doing you a service, but alas my efforts only served to further confuse you.

My most humble apologies!

I will try to remember in the future that it is extraordinarily difficult for you to look past a person's first posting.



Wow you are so gracious in defeat it is almost a shame proving you wrong. But it is so damn easy.

[WildCat]

Originally posted by Tricky
This is a bit timely. A new entry in Snopes (http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/ribs.asp) Talks about how Bush tried to pump up the local economy by cajoling the press corps to order food in an Arizona eatery. Pretty bizarre transcript, but the kicker is at the end. Although he placed a large order, Bush didn't leave a tip.

When I was working in a restaurant, "common" was the nicest thing we might say about such people.
In the restaurant I once worked at, tipping wasn't expected for a take-out order. I don't tip on take-out orders either.

Of course reporters aren't going to order any ribs, they're notoriously cheap. Especially when there's free food to be had on AF1.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by SRW




Wow you are so gracious in defeat it is almost a shame proving you wrong. But it is so damn easy.

True enough!

You are the first person I have ever encountered who has quoted nearly every one of my posts in a given thread while simultaneously never looking past the first one.

Yes, that is so damn easy.

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by Kodiak



tsk...tsk... :nope:

Well said Kodiak!

[SRW]

Originally posted by Crossbow


True enough!

You are the first person I have ever encountered who has quoted nearly every one of my posts in a given thread while simultaneously never looking past the first one.

Yes, that is so damn easy.

I read each of your subsiquent post and all you did continue making the same errors over and over again. Yep pretty easy to beat a one trick pony.

[Mr Manifesto]

Sod any other argument in this thread. I'm voting for the man who proudly says his only contact with the outside world is through his staffers.

[Mr Manifesto]

Well, maybe I exaggerated a bit when I said "his only contact with the outside world". All that jogging's got to count for something. It's done wonders for Johnny, "Wot, the people don't like Pollies' Perks in Parliament?" Howard.


President Should Get His News From Newspapers (http://www.thebostonchannel.com/helenthomas/2547076/detail.html)

[Crossbow]

Originally posted by SRW


I read each of your subsiquent post and all you did continue making the same errors over and over again. Yep pretty easy to beat a one trick pony.

Egads!

Now you are saying that you were reading subsequent posts when in fact you continued to address my first post while you were acting as if you were responding to subsequent posts.

What a truly remarkable day to think that all this has occurred because I did not tell you that Bush Jr is the son of Bush Sr: although I did point out this oblivious fact in my third post, apparently that is no import since it was not mentioned in the first post.

I wonder if there is a bottom to this rabbit hole?

:rolleyes:

[SRW]

Originally posted by Crossbow


Egads!

Now you are saying that you were reading subsequent posts when in fact you continued to address my first post while you were acting as if you were responding to subsequent posts.

What a truly remarkable day to think that all this has occurred because I did not tell you that Bush Jr is the son of Bush Sr: although I did point out this oblivious fact in my third post, apparently that is no import since it was not mentioned in the first post.

I wonder if there is a bottom to this rabbit hole?

:rolleyes:


This all occurred simply because you are not big enough to admit when you are wrong. Ether you have not re-read the thread or you simply are to dim to get it. Bush Jr being the son of Bush Sr, is totally irrelevant to the point I made.

If you cannot get that you never will.

My Point (actually an aside, nothing to really do with the thread) was that most politicos are rich, nothing to do with lineage.

If I say Bob Dole is wealthy and you reply, "but he is not the son of a former president" I should deeply analyze you irrelevant statement?

Get a clue.