It's mildly interesting that folks have the responses that they did to this poll, but so what? It's meaningless because ultimately it's driven by subjective impressions based upon imperfect memory, visceral reactions, and the particular media narrative individuals pay heed to.

It is certainly possible that George Bush may objectively be the worst president in U.S. history, but that is a designation that will always be open to debate, and in any case can only be determined through

Why is Reagan rated the best? Because people like him. If he'd been my grandfather I'd have probably liked him too, but on the whole he was a merely average president. And I make that statement based upon the long-term fallout of his presidency: increased national debt, increase in the politics of personal destruction, the implementation of policies that have eroded the economic security of the American middle class, and Iran-Contra all make his presidency of questionable merit. It's great that he gave everyone permission to feel good about themselves, I suppose, but that doesn't mean anything. He laid the groundwork for the current debacle in the White House, and so if George Bush is the worst, Reagan and his administration has to take part of the responsibility for it.

As for the worst, what does that mean? Nixon was certainly bad in criminal terms, and he did he darnedest to give the Constitution a ride, but Bush has him thoroughly beat on both those terms. Bush has certainly done long-term fiscal damage to both the federal government and to the economic health of the national, particularly the working and middles classes. Nixon wasn't too bad on those terms. Bush has destroyed out international credibility, which we may never get back when you consider it's coinciding with our transformation into a second-rate economic power. Bush may win the worst ever by virtue of destroying the United States (though we may linger indefinitely as a political entity). In any case, only time will tell. I tend to think that on objective terms Bush may very well turn out to be the worst, but a poll isn't going to demonstrate that.

But what about other presidents? How many people who answered the poll even knew we had presidents such as Herbert Hoover, Millard Fillmore, or James Buchanan?

Ultimately, I don't know what the point of such a poll is. To tell us what people pretty much already know? A bunch of people hero worship Reagan. No surprise. Some people hate Clinton and some people love him. Duh. People are starting to dislike Bush with increasing fervor, but it's not like we didn't already know that. I guess I feel like the only thing this will do is convince Bush to dig his heels again, the way he always does when people express negative feelings about him. It will whip up the right, get crowed about by the left, and tomorrow more soldiers will die in Iraq, more folks will not go to the doctor because they have no insurance, more working families will get deeper in debt trying to keep up with making ends meet as their wages erode.

When are you going to go to work at Taco Bell? That's what I want to know. A man needs to try to reach beyond himself, challenge himself, stretch beyond his talent and ability. Taco Bell awaits ye, perhaps even, eventually, as assistant graveyard shift manager.

Gracious me, you're slipping. Come on, get back in the game. Tell me again what's so awful about Salon's one page summary of random celeb gossip. Because, you know, I don't quite get it yet. I need you to explain it again and again and again and again.

Or, maybe that vein in your forehead finally burst and you're down for the count.

Rage?

First, yeah, this movie just wasn't that good. It seemed unimaginative, obvious, and tired. A retread, as it were. I don't often agree with Stephanie, but I think she nailed this one. Even the title is, well, obvious and unimaginative.

I do also agree that sometimes the whole red state/blue state thing can be pushed a bit hard. I don't think this movie had enough thought put into it for subtle political irony, or even clumsy political irony. It's just a dumb movie based on a tired old theme.

I imagine this movie will be popular though. Americans have been well-trained over the years to accept crap as entertainment, so a movie like this, technically facile and visually engaging, will probably play pretty well. It's not crap, it's just not good. Of course a lot of people will like it.

Finally, regarding my "enemies," the car people . . . um, huh? My enemies? I didn't know they were my enemies. I must not watch enough 24-hour cable news.