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The Winner:
The Play-by-play:
Round 1: The bottom half
(32)James Carter vs. (33)Zachary Taylor: Soft-spoken peanut farmer vs. celebrated Indian/British fighter? Taylor Wins.
(24)William Howard Taft vs. (41)Warren G. Harding: This isn't “who was the most fat-ass US president”, plus Harding was America's first black president (allegedly (and only if you use the old (and pretty racist) “one drop rule”)). Harding Wins.
(25) Chester A. Arthur vs. (40)Franklin Pierce: In the Mexican war Pierce injured his leg after falling off his horse, he passed out and had to be carried away, while Arthur spent the Civil war... housing and outfitting soldiers... Pierce Wins?
(29) Calvin Coolidge vs. (36) Herbert Hoover: Coolidge presided over much of roaring twenties, before Hoover got there and brought that party to a screeching halt. Coolidge Wins.
(28) Gerald Ford vs. (37) John Tyler: Why is Gerald Ford a bad-ass? He doesn't even need your vote to become president. He can become president through sheer force of will (and the 25th amendment). What did Tyler do? Get kicked out of his own party. Ford Wins.
(31) Rutherford B. Hayes vs. (34) Benjamin Harrison: Hayes was wounded 5 times during the Civil war and just kept going. What will it take to kill him (heart attack)? Harrison on the other hand lost the popular vote but still won the presidency on that old “electoral college” technicality. Technicalities unfortunately are not bad-ass. Hayes Wins.
(23) Martin Van Buren: vs. (42) James Buchanan: Van Buren was the first true American to serve as president (in that he was the first president to be born an American citizen). Buchanan is the only president not to be married, fueling speculation that he may have been the first gay president. Van Buren Wins.
(26) Ulysses S. Grant vs. (39) George W. Bush: Two of the biggest alcoholics (and there have been quite a few) to hold the office of the presidency. The difference: One of them actually won a war. Mission Accomplished! Grant Wins.
(30) Richard Nixon vs. (35) William Henry Harrison: Watch some video tape of the Nixon – Kennedy debates; take a close look at Nixon. Is that the nervous, sweaty face of a bad-ass? No. You know who is a bad-ass? William Henry Harrison. In an attempt to prove just how bad-ass he was he delivered his inaugural address on a cold rainy day without an coat or a hat. Harrison Wins.
(22) George H.W. Bush vs. (43) Andrew Johnson: You know what's not particularly bad ass? millionaire oil tycoons. On the other end of the spectrum are of course World War II fighter pilots. Well George Bush is/was both of those things. Andrew Johnson was neither. Bush Wins.
(27) James Garfield vs. (38) Millard Fillmore: One of the first metal detectors built was made in order to find an assassin's bullet inside of Garfield (it didn't work). Fillmore's last words, after being fed some mediocre soup were “the nourishment is palatable”. Dick move, Fillmore. Garfield Wins.
Round 2: the satisfactory 32
(1)Franklin D. Roosevelt vs. (33) Zachary Taylor: Sure Taylor was a war hero, but then again who isn't? Upon assuming the office of the president one of FDR's top priorities was repealing prohibition. So raise your glass to the bad-ass who said it's OK to get sloshed again. Roosevelt Wins.
(17) John Adams vs. (16) Lyndon B. Johnson: Adam's idea of being a bad-ass: fuck with France's boats, and then weasel out of an actual fight. Johnson's idea of being a bad-ass: Send over 500,000 soldiers to clean up the fight that France was to chicken-shit to finish. Johnson Wins.
(9) Harry Truman vs. (41) Warren Harding: Warren Harding was an alcoholic, womanizing, and allegedly corrupt president. Mildly bad-ass, yes. But Truman showed the whole world what happens when you fuck with America. You get atomic bombs dropped on you. Yeah we're just that crazy. Truman Wins.
(40) Franklin Pierce vs. (8) Woodrow Wilson: Wilson was famous for coming up with the league of nations; an intergovernmental organization that the US decided they didn't want to join. Pierce was the first president to recite his inaugeral address from memory... How does Pierce keep Winning these?
(4) George Washington vs. (29) Calvin Coolidge: George Washington ran one of the largest distilleries in early America. There weren't any (legally) running in Coolidge's day. Washington Wins.
(20) Grover Cleveland vs. (13) William Clinton: Both men show remarkable bad-assery in that they both survived career ending disappointment, and just kept coming. Cleveland lost the 1888 election (though won the popular vote) only to come back in 1892 and kick ass on two non- consecutive occasions, while Clinton survived an impeachment and went on to be one of the most highly regarded modern presidents. Clinton Wins.
(12) James K. Polk vs. (21) William McKinley: McKinley stole Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines from the Spanish... and what the hell, throw Hawaii in there too for good measure. Polk not only accomplished every goal he set for his presidency, but he also served for only 4 years; just like he promised he would. Polk Wins.
(28) Gerald Ford vs. (5) Thomas Jefferson: Being immune to death is pretty bad ass right? Well, at 93 years and 165 days Ford is the longest lived president. Not quite immortal, but closer than the rest. Jefferson, of course, purchased the Louisiana territory (which doubled the size of the country) from Napoleon, who sold it, just to spite England. Napoleon Wins.
(2) Theodore Roosevelt vs. (31) Rutherford B. Hayes: Hayes was wounded 5 times in the civil war and kept going. We've established that... Roosevelt was shot (you know, with a bullet) right before giving a speech... and still gave the speech! Roosevelt Wins.
(18) Ronald Reagan vs (15) Barrack Obama: Reagan is the only U.S. President to be photographed in a Nazi uniform. Nazis aren't bad ass, but having the balls to do that (it was for a movie), and then run for president, that's something. Obama is the real first black president, and by black we mean mostly black (Clinton was blacker). Reagan Wins.
(10) Dwight D. Eisenhower vs. (23) Martin Van Buren: When asked for fair treatment by the Mormons (who were just kicked out of Missouri), Van Buren told them to go away because they would drag his election results down (he lost anyway). Eisenhower took Truman's “don’t fuck with us or we'll nuke you” idea, and ran with it. He went all Tarkin Doctrine on the world “ruling through fear of force rather than force itself”. Eisenhower Wins.
(26) Ulysses S. Grant vs. (7) James Monroe: Monroe is famous for, of course, the Monroe Doctrine. In which he told Europe they could go pound sand. Ummm... Grant was friends with Mark Twain... that’s cool right? Monroe Wins.
(3) Abraham Lincoln vs. (35) William Henry Harrison: Abraham Lincoln was shot to death while watching a play... enough said. Remember that inaugural address Harrison was giving in the cold and rain? Yeah, it is the longest inaugural address ever given at over 2 hours long... after being edited for time. Harrison Wins.
(19) John Quincy Adams vs. (14) Andrew Jackson: J.Q. Adam's loved to skinny dip in the Potomac river. Jackson loved dueling. In one duel he was shot in the chest while taking his time to aim carefully. As calm as could be he lined up his shot, and killed his opponent with one bullet ( if you don’t count the one inside Jackson's own chest). Jackson Wins.
(11) John F. Kennedy vs. (22) George H.W. Bush: Both served in WWII. But Kennedy did something Bush didn't. Marilyn Monroe. Kennedy Wins.
(27) James Garfield vs. (6) James Madison: Garfield appointed Ben-Hur author Lew Wallace as U.S. Minister to Turkey because he though a Muslim country would provide good inspiration for a second novel. And in yet another presidential act of telling England to get lost ( and also to stop stealing our sailors ( chose not to make a seamen joke there, because I’m classy)) Madison beat the British in the war of 1812. Madison Wins.
Round 3: Sweet 16
(1) Franklin D. Roosevelt vs (16) Lyndon B. Johnson: Roosevelt is by far the most famous polio survivor (name one other... yeah that's what I though.) Lyndon Johnson shook Forrest Gump's hand. Johnson Wins.
(9) Harry S. Truman vs (40) Franklin Pierce: The most important thing Pierce accomplished was buying a portion of Mexico (the southern portions of Arizona and New Mexico) in order to... build a train there. Truman didn't do much in his presidency... oh yeah except end WWII. Truman Wins.
(4) George Washington vs. (13) William Clinton: When a bunch of uppity farmers refused to pay their taxes, George decided to raise a militia and go there himself to ask why. The farmers promptly ran away. Clinton, known for his musical prowess, appeared on the Arsenio Hall show to play saxophone... for some reason. Washington Wins.
(12) James K. Polk vs. (???) Napoleon Bonaparte: Polk went to war with Mexico and took most of the U.S. Southwest. Napoleon went to war with pretty much everyone and took pretty much whatever he wanted, including almost all of Europe. Napoleon Wins.
(2) Theodore Roosevelt vs (18) Ronald Reagan: As President, Roosevelt lost the ability to see out of one eye during a boxing match. Reagan on the other hand lost his mind, and not in the bad-ass way, in the very sad way. Roosevelt Wins.
(10) Dwight D. Eisenhower vs (7) James Monroe: Eisenhower loved playing golf, in fact, he is enshrined in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Monroe won the 1820 election almost unanimously (losing only one electoral vote). He even got votes from Missouri, which wasn't even a state yet. Monroe Wins.
(35) William Henry Harrison vs (14) Andrew Jackson: Harrison may have been a celebrated Indian fighter, Jackson took that to a new level. In the First Seminole war he was ordered to deal with the Seminole and Creek Indians in Georgia, as well as prevent slaves from escaping into Florida In the process of doing all of that, he also managed to take over Florida. Even though nobody asked him to. Jackson Wins
(11) John F. Kennedy vs (6) James Madison: Madison Square Garden was named for James Madison. Kennedy's 45th birthday would be held at Madison Square Garden, at which, Marilyn Monroe sang “happy birthday Mr. President” to Kennedy. Kennedy Wins.
Round 4: Elite 8
(16) Lyndon B. Johnson vs (9) Harry S. Truman: In 1960 Johnson was elected to both the vice- presidency, and a third term in the senate. In 1948, Truman won the election for president even though the Chicago Tribune had reported that Dewey won. Truman Wins.
(4) George Washington vs (???) Napoleon Bonaparte: In an effort to distance himself from the monarchy of Europe Washington insisted he be called MR. President, as opposed to your highness, or other royal terms. On the other hand, When being coronation emperor, Napoleon paid for the Pope to travel all the way to France in order to crown him emperor. When the time came for the Pope to place the crown on his head, napoleon instead snatched the crown and put it on his own head. Napoleon Wins.
(2) Theodore Roosevelt vs (7) James Monroe: Monroe was the last president to have been a revolutionary war hero. He crossed the Delaware with Washington, and was shot in the shoulder at the battle of Trenton. Roosevelt was a war hero in his own right, and is the only president who has ever won the Medal of Honor. Roosevelt Wins.
(14) Andrew Jackson vs. (11) John F. Kennedy: One day after leaving the capitol building, a man drew two pistols and shot twice at Jackson. Both guns misfired and Jackson proceeded to beat the man half to death with his cane. The only logical explanation is that Jackson is bulletproof... Guess who wasn't bulletproof? Jackson Wins.
Round 5: Final 4
(9) Harry S. Truman vs (???) Napoleon Bonaparte: In World War One Truman's artillery brigade fired some of the last shots of the war. Bombarding the Germans
after the armistice was signed (but before the ceasefire took effect). Wile in exile in Elba, Napoleon escaped his captor. When he was approached by the regiment sent to capture him, he causally rode up to them, dismounted his horse and said "Here I am. Kill your Emperor, if you wish." Long stroy short, those men accompained him to Paris, where he proceded to take over again.
(2) Theodore Roosevelt vs (14) Andrew Jackson: Andrew Jackson is on the 20 dollar bill. Theodore Roosevelt isn't on any money. Jackson Wins.
Round 6: The Championship
(???) Napoleon Bonaparte vs. (14) Andrew Jackson:
Napoleon's last words : “France, the army, the head of the army, Josephine”
Jackson's Last words: “My right side is paralyzed. I need no doctor. I can overcome my own troubles. “
Jackson wins! Flawless victory.