America’s problem for years now has been bipartisan. Four disastrous presidencies in a row — Bush 41, Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama — have left America weaker, more dangerous, and poorer than it had been and could have been. Find out exactly what these four presidents did wrong, and how the nation’s situation has now drastically changed, in Rating America’s Presidents: An America-First Look at Who Is Best, Who Is Overrated, and Who Was An Absolute Disaster.
“The problem with so many presidential rating and ranking lists— typically based around polls of college professors—is not just that they are biased. The most recent Republican president is almost always given the lowest marks, of course. No, the deeper problem is that they revolve around flawed, or in many cases, no criteria at all. Spencer’s evaluation of our presidents is quite different. He instead goes by the simple question: ‘Who preserved, protected, and defended the Constitution of the United States?’ Readers will find that Rating America’s Presidents provides an enlightening perspective based on who fulfilled that simple, but essential presidential oath.” — Jarrett Stepman, columnist for The Daily Signal and author of The War on History: The Conspiracy to Rewrite America’s Past
Preorder Rating America’s Presidents here.
Vernon Parker says
Recently got an email saying my copy will be delivered in 2 to 3 weeks. Between then and now I think I will rank the presidents myself and see how close I agree with Robert.
gravenimage says
Let us know the result, please!
RichardL says
let’s not forget Reagan. He had a 50% rate when it comes to foreign policy and maybe less when it comes to islam. Don’t get me wrong: I loved him and I queued 7 hours to salute his open casket in the summer of 2004 in full uniform, but he funded Osama and the Taliban. I am hoping that DJT goes after islam in his glorious second term.
gravenimage says
Yes–Reagan, much as I admired his strong stance against Communism, had something of a blind spot when it came to recognizing the threat of Islam. To his defense, though, so did most people at the time.
Clifford Fodor says
Reagan was helping the Afghanistanis fight the Russians who were in Afghanistan. Once the Russians left, the nature of the beast changed. I remember a Tom Toles cartoon in which he drew the same Afghan man twice. Under the Afghan man on the left, he wrote “Hero, friend, ally. Under the Afghan man on the right (once the Russians left), he wrote, “Villain, enemy, terrorist.” Then, down in the corner he drew himself talking to the Afghani and telling him, “You’ve changed.”.
gravenimage says
I remember that Tom Toles cartoon. The problem, of course, is that they hadn’t really changed at all.
But so many hopeful Westerners assumed that if they were opposing evil they must be the good guys–and not just examples of a somewhat different evil.
vlparker says
That’s what the intelligence community is supposed to be for. To prevent that from happening. How long have globalist lefties been in charge of the CIA? I know G H W Bush was director for about a year in the mid 70s.
Bryant Hill says
I would not say Reagan had a blind spot as it relates to not recognizing the threat of Islam to the United States, but he played his hand of cards close to his chest. During the tenor of Reagan’s presidency, many Muslims were citizens he treated them as so, but to say that Reagan didn’t know or understand the threat Islam could cause America, I think he knew, but stayed silent as it was not as much of a threat back then to openly address to the nation.
Wellington says
Echoing gravenimage, RichardL, Reagan fought the main enemy du jour, much as America did in WWII, hence alliances with bad guys against other bad guys often is the only choice one has—being allied with Stalin against Hitler and then allied with some Muslim components against the Evil Empire.
A la Abraham Lincoln, one fight at a time is enough. There is also the factor that the malevolent nature of Islam slipped under the democratic radar screen as free societies had to fight two other totalitarian ideologies, first Nazism and then Communism.
gravenimage says
+1
Ray Jarman says
+++++++1 Well stated.
mortimer says
Agree with W. Pres. Reagan fought an enemy that he knew and had studied. Reagan knew the vulnerabilities of communism and exploited them in order to crack it open.
Our leaders today should be doing the same thing to jilhadism.
tgusa says
When Reagan was elected in 1980 through 1988 when he left office no American was paying any attention to muslims and islam. At that time the USA was engaged in an epic struggle against the USSR and the USSR was doing the same in return. The ignorance was strong in America in spite of the 60s and 70s bombings kidnappings killings and hijackings carried out by muslims. Much like we see today no American was relayed any info regarding what islam was or what islamic intentions were.
Even the intentions of the islamic revolution in Iran were ignored or covered up by the US media. Or worse, the media portrayed the Shah as the bad guy the oppressor. Israel alone was what was riling up the muslims. The media has not changed. If you think the reporting of facts about islam is bad today at least now people are talking about it.
The afghan freedom fighters as they were labeled when reported on to Americans were also referred to as the mujahideen. At the time nobody had any idea what that really meant nobody had any idea what islam was all about and nobody in America that might have known was talking. The taliban came later, that was the end result.
James Lincoln says
tgusa,
As gravenimage said above, President Reagan took a very strong stance against Communism but did not fully realize the threat of Islam.
He was certainly not alone, even though the following took place during his watch:
==========
“Terrorist Attacks in the U.S. or Against Americans”
1982–1991
Lebanon: Thirty US and other Western hostages kidnapped in Lebanon by Hezbollah. Some were killed, some died in captivity, and some were eventually released. Terry Anderson was held for 2,454 days.
1983
April 18, Beirut, Lebanon: U.S. embassy destroyed in suicide car-bomb attack; 63 dead, including 17 Americans. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Oct. 23, Beirut, Lebanon: Shiite suicide bombers exploded truck near U.S. military barracks at Beirut airport, killing 241 marines. Minutes later a second bomb killed 58 French paratroopers in their barracks in West Beirut.
Dec. 12, Kuwait City, Kuwait: Shiite truck bombers attacked the U.S. embassy and other targets, killing 5 and injuring 80.
1984
Sept. 20, east Beirut, Lebanon: truck bomb exploded outside the U.S. embassy annex, killing 24, including 2 U.S. military.
Dec. 3, Beirut, Lebanon: Kuwait Airways Flight 221, from Kuwait to Pakistan, hijacked and diverted to Tehran. 2 Americans killed.
1985
April 12, Madrid, Spain: Bombing at restaurant frequented by U.S. soldiers, killed 18 Spaniards and injured 82.
June 14, Beirut, Lebanon: TWA Flight 847 en route from Athens to Rome hijacked to Beirut by Hezbollah terrorists and held for 17 days. A U.S. Navy diver executed.
Oct. 7, Mediterranean Sea: gunmen attack Italian cruise ship, Achille Lauro. One U.S. tourist killed. Hijacking linked to Libya.
Dec. 18, Rome, Italy, and Vienna, Austria: airports in Rome and Vienna were bombed, killing 20 people, 5 of whom were Americans. Bombing linked to Libya.
1986
April 2, Athens, Greece:A bomb exploded aboard TWA flight 840 en route from Rome to Athens, killing 4 Americans and injuring 9.
April 5, West Berlin, Germany: Libyans bombed a disco frequented by U.S. servicemen, killing 2 and injuring hundreds.
1988
Dec. 21, Lockerbie, Scotland: N.Y.-bound Pan-Am Boeing 747 exploded in flight from a terrorist bomb and crashed into Scottish village, killing all 259 aboard and 11 on the ground. Passengers included 35 Syracuse University students and many U.S. military personnel. Libya formally admitted responsibility 15 years later (Aug. 2003) and offered $2.7 billion compensation to victims’ families.
https://www.infoplease.com/world/disasters/man-made/terrorist-attacks-in-the-us-or-against-americans
==========
Prior to 9/11, I believe that the first *real* wake-up call to Americans was on Oct. 12, 2000 in Aden, Yemen:
U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole heavily damaged when a small boat loaded with explosives blew up alongside it. 17 sailors killed. Linked to Osama bin Laden, or members of al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Pamela Elizabeth Reed says
Truth, jihadist wake up America.
tgusa says
James,
The Munich Olympic Massacre of September 5 1972 should have been a wake up call for an examination of islam and its intentions. But again, even though it was internationally televised the media didn’t lift a finger to examine the why behind it. They probably all thought, its just Israelis that they are after. Well everyone has now found out that is just not true. They never considered that it could end up at their doorsteps and today many of them still don’t.
Below is a link to a list of terror attacks starting in 1961. The list is basically split between islamic and commie. Damn those global right wingers always carrying out terror attacks, not! I have noticed that over the decades the three monkeys have had much influence in our policies regarding terrorism. Either that or the powers that be would like it to go on and on and on.
https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/pubs/fs/5902.htm#:~:text=Attack%20on%20the%20Munich%20Airport%2C%20February%2010%2C%201970%3A,All%20three%20terrorists%20were%20captured%20by%20airport%20police.
tgusa says
The Beirut Marine barracks attack was partly enabled by the rules of engagement in place at that time (had been before Reagan took office) which left our guys in hostile territory without any bullets in their weapons to defend themselves The driver just drove on in past the guard shack unopposed. Bad ROE, sound familiar? The saying, something is rotten in the state of Denmark, certainly applies.
gravenimage says
Yes, more people in the West should have recognized the threat of Islam earlier–but these terror attacks and hijackings seemed to most to be sporadic and lack any real goal (save, perhaps, the frequent hatred of Israel).
But it is easy to condemn people forty or fifty years ago for not seeing this–the bigger problem is that many now *still* refuse to see this threat.
tgusa says
Pointing out the obvious is not necessarily condemnation of people of forty or fifty years ago. Besides, as of yet we have not begun digging up graves like the opposition is.
Sam says
What you call(ed) terrorist attacks were fight back against criminal Israel which grabbed the Palestinian lands and drove them out as refugees …. I don’t agree with any attack that killed any civilian (Italy, Austria), but by no means these attacks in general were carried by what you call “jihadists”, remember George habash? The head and the creator of the popular front for Palestine liberation, remember the name?he is a Christian, then remember Nayef Hawatmeh? The head and the creator of the Democratic front for the liberation of Palestine, remember the name?he is also a Christian… as far as the marines who got killed in Lebanon, well, what will you do if Chinese or Russian soldiers are here in the USA armed and have checkpoints and are part of am occupation of your land, what do you do?kiss their feet and welcome them with songs?
You guys have tiny brains and lack human style emotions such as comparison, all what you want is money and more money and lands, even if you kill a 1000 citizen for each square foot of land that may have up or natural gas, you are the children of satan.
gravenimage says
“Sam” wrote:
What you call(ed) terrorist attacks were fight back against criminal Israel which grabbed the Palestinian lands and drove them out as refugees …. I don’t agree with any attack that killed any civilian (Italy, Austria), but by no means these attacks in general were carried by what you call “jihadists”,
…………………….
In other words, Muslims have the right to slaughter Infidels–this is, in fact, classic Jihad.
Then, “Sam” is lying about Israel, and apparently has no problem with Muslims murdering Israeli civilians in pizza parlors and on buses.
Then, he has actually praised Muslims raping Infidels and burning down buildings in Europe, which pretty much gives the lie to the idea that he opposes Jihad terror in Europe.
More:
remember George habash? The head and the creator of the popular front for Palestine liberation, remember the name?he is a Christian, then remember Nayef Hawatmeh? The head and the creator of the Democratic front for the liberation of Palestine, remember the name?he is also a Christian…
…………………….
There have been a handful of dhimmi Christians involved in “Palestinian” terrorism. Note that “Sam” has to go back decades to find just two of them.
Of course, the vast majority of these terrorists have been Muslim, and this is a Jihad against Jews, Christians, and all other Infidels.
More:
as far as the marines who got killed in Lebanon, well, what will you do if Chinese or Russian soldiers are here in the USA armed and have checkpoints and are part of am occupation of your land, what do you do?kiss their feet and welcome them with songs?
…………………….
The US had a presence in Lebanon to protect Americans and to defend against the Jihad there. It seems that “Sam” here is much happier with Lebanon being taken over by Jihad terror group Hezb’allah and used as a base from which to wage violent Jihad against Israel.
More:
You guys have tiny brains and lack human style emotions such as comparison, all what you want is money and more money and lands, even if you kill a 1000 citizen for each square foot of land that may have up or natural gas, you are the children of satan.
…………………….
Does “Sam” here mean “compassion” instead of “comparison”? Note that he literally cannot even spell the word. And how are the horrors of Jihad terror “compassionate”? He is using the word in the Islamic sense, where Muslims butchering Infidels is characterized as an example of the compassion of Allah.
And what is he babbling about here? The United States has natural gas, and has not killed anyone over it.
Then, “Sam” keeps saying that he is not Muslim, but his describing those who dare oppose Jihad as “the children of satan” rather casts doubt on this, let’s just say…
Sam says
9/11 was and is a false flag act, the mossad/ciao are the ones who created this false flag, the world knows this, more than 80% of the Americans knows this …. remember, Saudi Arabia is a Jewish kingdom, headed by the said family who are Jews from Iraq originally.
gravenimage says
Ah, yes–the claim that the Saudis and Osama bin Laden are all Jews, and that Jihad and Shari’ah are all somehow Jewish–yet at the same time are orthodox Islam…
And should I even ask what “ciao” is? Is guess this is the same as “missed”, whom “Sam” claimed was responsible for 9/11 at some recent point in the past.
And note that while “Sam” claims that 9/11 was Jewish (or perhaps Americans killing their own people–he has said both), he has also lauded Muslims for burning down buildings and raping Infidels–because the ‘filthy Infidels’ somehow deserve it.
Note that like most Muslim apologists that “Sam” here doesn’t even try to be cogent or consistent in his ugly hogwash.
Then, the claim that 80% of Americans believe this vicious claptrap is of course an utter lie. But when has this ever stopped “Sam”?
Michael Copeland says
” At the time …nobody had any idea what islam was all about….”
So true.
We all need to spread the word:
https://gatesofvienna.net/2019/10/islam-the-learning-curve/
gravenimage says
+1
Sam says
This is a partial reply for gravenimage.
The royal Saudi family called Al Saud are Jews, a Jewish man from southern Iraq, who was extremely wealthy entered what’s now Saudi Arabia and created the name Saudi, the criminal UK was the one to install them and they are what they are now. Sucking the wealth of the poor Arabian Bedouins, spending trillions of dollars building the trashy wahabism mosques, creating and expanding hate against Muslims all over the world … although real Muslims and real Islam would have been loved and respected by all, specially the Christians… despite the fact that Christianity has been and is killed and altered by the Jewish mafia??? … poor guys, no brains what so ever.
gravenimage says
“Sam” wrote:
This is a partial reply for gravenimage.
The royal Saudi family called Al Saud are Jews, a Jewish man from southern Iraq, who was extremely wealthy entered what’s now Saudi Arabia and created the name Saudi, the criminal UK was the one to install them and they are what they are now.
……………………….
And “Sam” backs this ludicrous claim with…what? Nothing at all. But then, Muslim apologists don’t need facts.
Why would “Jews” set up a Shari’ah state and fund Da’wa and violent Jihad all over the world? Crickets…
More:
Sucking the wealth of the poor Arabian Bedouins,
……………………….
What wealth do Arab Bedouins have? The only wealth Saudis have is unearned oil wealth, which Muslims are unable to even drill for on their own. Oil accounts for over 90% of Saudi Arabia’s exports.
More:
spending trillions of dollars building the trashy wahabism mosques, creating and expanding hate against Muslims all over the world …
……………………….
How is Wahhabism different from Islam? Of course, it is not.
And the idea that Infidels are concerned about Muslims purely due to the Saudis–as appalling as they are–is absurd.
In fact, there has been violence from all over the Muslim world–Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria–not just Saudi Arabia.
More:
although real Muslims and real Islam would have been loved and respected by all, specially the Christians…
……………………….
Christians have been robbed, raped, kidnapped, forcibly converted, had their homes and businesses destroyed, been enslaved, and murdered outright for 1400 years now–why would they love and respect these horrors?
More:
despite the fact that Christianity has been and is killed and altered by the Jewish mafia??? … poor guys, no brains what so ever.
……………………….
The idea that Christians are being killed and “altered” (what does this even mean) in Jihad terror attacks are somehow the “Jewish mafia” is absurd. Are there Jews waging violent Jihad in Dar-al-Islam?
Besides, “Sam” contradicts himself, lauding Muslim attacks on Infidels, including Christians.
CogitoErgoSum says
We have been led to where we are now by Presidents unable to think ahead no farther than the next election.
Pamela Elizabeth Reed says
Next election, hope Islam is stopped from jihadist America. Americans are tired of communist, socialism jihadist globalist. Wake up
mortimer says
Those four former presidents showed virtually no understanding of jihadism. They failed to learn about one of the greatest challenges to world peace.
Harry Truman was one of few presidents who actually understood other nations, because he READ HARD BOOKS about them.
Those four former presidents were SHALLOW and culpably negligent. They failed to INFORM themselves thoroughly on jihadism.
mortimer says
Political leaders like the above-mentioned four live in a world of fantasy Islam. They actually believe (in their uninformed credulity) that jihadism is the work of a ‘tiny minority of extremists’.
In fact, jihadism is the work of ALL MUSLIMS and ALL MUSLIMS participate in jihad UNTIL the day when they leave Islam.
Muslims lie and dissemble about jihad in order to deceive WESTERN POLITICAL LEADERS about its seriousness and those Western leaders are as simple-minded as swans … accepting everything that Muslims say without challenging any of it.
SemiDave says
I look back to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy by Sirhan Sirhan as a warning of what was to come on American soil.
Yohanan says
A shame that this JihadWatch is swamped by one-sided radical right David Horowitz politics. A far out right which denies voice to politically opposed. My comments bounce here after making anti-Trump comment. Obama’s criticism of Trump at the DNC was spot on. Trump was elected by Putin’s KGB. Trump’s presidential record and qualifications are full of holes – a no brainer. It’s time to look elsewhere for focused news digest on Islamic terror.
Wellington says
Yohanan: You’re lying. Jihad Watch is not going to bounce you just because you make an anti-Trump comment. Also, you, like so many Leftists, cannot distinguish between conservatives and reactionaries. Horowitz is a conservative and not some kind of extremist (unless seen through the myopic lens of Leftism). Moreover, it is Western Leftism which has made a stupid alliance with Islam because, for Western Leftism, Western Civilization is the real villain.
As for your ridiculous contention that Trump was “elected by Putin’s KGB (N.B., it no longer is the KGB but FSB),” do you not know that even though the ever increasingly Leftist Democratic Party could come up with ZERO evidence that a single vote was changed by Putin and his minions in the 2016 election, the damn Democrats still tried, unsuccessfully, to impeach Trump on this entire Russian collusion hoax and had to, pathetically, wind up impeaching him over a phone call to the Ukrainian President.
As for Trump’s presidential record, this would include getting out of the worst deal even made by an American President, i.e., the Iran nuclear deal made by Obama. Trump’s record would also include, before Covid, the lowest unemployment rate among black Americans ever, pulling out of the stupid Paris Climate Accord, getting rid of NAFTA by way of the USMCA, being the only leader in the world to take on the deceptive Chinese over tariffs and currency manipulation, making NATO members pay their fair share, having Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Qasem Soleimani killed, moving the American Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, getting rid of many onerous business regulations placed on business by Obama’s silly Executive Orders, and appointing over 300 conservative judges to the federal judiciary who will interpret the law and not make it up from the bench as Leftist judges do. Trump is also against the idiocy of sanctuary cities, providing free healthcare to illegals and providing free tuition to illegals (as well as driver licenses).
See how is it done? Mere insult just won’t do. Facts are important, but then long ago I realized that for Leftists facts are optional. You come to mind.
tgusa says
Democrats and their supporters are still fighting the cold war. I remember when the KGB was a force to be reckoned with. In 1983 Senator Ted Kennedy reached out to the KGB for assistance against the reelection of Ronald Reagan. I wonder why? I suspect there may have been collusion but it wasn’t Trump.
Rooster says
Come on man, you just got to post your opposing comment. Obama was “spot on”? You obviously are ignorant of his upbringing and history?. Good ole Barry was groomed for his 8 years and did more damage to America than any invading enemy could have done. He is the worst President in my life time! He took Jimmy Carter’s title. Happy hunting for the truth on Islamic terror. There’s no better place than Jihad Watch!?.
Wellington says
+1
gravenimage says
Good post.
gravenimage says
Yes–the claim that Obama is “spot on” in claiming that Trump is destroying Democracy is just grotesque. How is he doing that? By acting to keep ravening Jihadists out of the US?
gravenimage says
The claim that you are going to be bounced at JihadWatch for making an anti-Trump comment is absurd. While I applaud much of what the president has done, I myself have made comments here quite critical of Trump. For that matter, so has Robert Spencer.
Wellington says
Yes, gravenimage, and as I already noted above, Yohanan is a liar.
gravenimage says
Agreed.
Rooster says
The above picture speaks volumes, the good ole boy “President’s Club“. It doesn’t matter which party has the Presidency, the American people have been screwed for decades since the Bush dynasty began. Trump is still a deficit spender, but he has done more for America than any President since Reagan. If Biden wins the election this November, then America will cease to exist unless we have another revolution to assert our independence from Communism, Socialism.
Pray for peace but be prepared for war, it’s coming!
Meek says
It is said “the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know”….true fact.
Trump has his flaws but unless you got a candidate thats not muslim or affiliated with obama…you might wanna reconsider.
I laugh when i see people complain about trump. The fact he’s doing what people dont like shows his doing something right.
I really hope he wins.
Im no fan of trump,its just my honest opinion.
Jaycee says
Add Carter and we’re good. The Bush’s aren’t Bush’s….they lied. Daddy SCHERFF was the 4th REICH….family photo has 3 of Hitlers men.
infidel says
Future will note Trump as one of the best.. I’ve no doubts in this regard
Proud-kafir says
Dear America, means are as important as ends. America had the power (a potent combination of Science + Tech + Military + Strategy) to combat the Communists in Afghanistan well without having to enlist Pakistan or Taliban. However, America chose the Pakistan and Taliban combination and naturally the jihad concept that erupted (or re-erupted) then is now boomeranging. Still, yes, America has managed the situation excellently well. Osama has been killed, Taliban has been well-almost tackled, but the Islamist threat to America which emanates from Pakistan and the other Islamist countries is an extension of the wrong policies followed once upon a time. Befriending a muslim, especially Pakistan, is akin to catching a Tartar. Trump is doing more than his best, the world is (though slowly ) realizing the threat of islam and leftism, and victory for civilization and decency is not far away.
gravenimage says
Proud-kafir, the West thought that these were anti-Communist freedom fighters on the ground. They were foolish in not looking into their actual ideology.
But the idea that the West created Jihad is *quite* mistaken. This has been around for 1400 years, and is a key concept in Islam.
wpm says
Did America(and its leaders) make mistakes in past dealing in the Middle East and many other places in the world yes.The question is do we and our leaders learn from their mistakes .With the election of Trump and hopeful the reelection of Trump we are.
gravenimage says
+1