The Total Preposterous And Outrageous “Prager University” Presidential Rankings Survey!

The Right Wing Propaganda Organ known as “Prager University”, which is NOT a university, but a well financed attempt to distort the reality of American history, extol the virtues of unbridled capitalism, work against “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion”, and undermine science, has come out with a 2026 Ranking of American Presidents.

Anyone who would believe the virtues or veracity of this listing needs their heads examined, as it is a total distortion of the office of the Presidency to the extreme imaginable!

All Presidents except William Henry Harrison (one month) and James A. Garfield (6 months) are included, but with the decision NOT to include Donald Trump, even though he finished his first term five years ago, but using the excuse that he is presently in office, so not to be placed in the listing for now.

One can be certain when a later version of this so called “Ranking” is published in the future, Donald Trump will end up very high on the list, probably in the top five, based on the crazy order of the Presidents compiled by the propagandists promoting this pure trash of a listing.

So without listing every President, let’s look at the most significant cases of total distortion.

The survey starts off with George Washington Number 1 and Abraham Lincoln Number 2, but after that, the listing goes totally awry.

Ronald Reagan is Number 3, which is a major distortion of reality, but then is followed by, of all people, Calvin Coolidge at Number 4. That is an example of how wacky this survey is, when examined in detail. No one who has any intelligence would rate Coolidge as anything more than in the bottom third of the Presidents.

The rest of the top 10 are in order—Thomas Jefferson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, James Monroe, James Madison, John Adams, and Theodore Roosevelt. Monroe, Madison and John Adams in most cases would be in the middle of the second ten, not the top ten, but otherwise, not terrible, except to put Coolidge above the Founding Father Presidents and Theodore Roosevelt, as well! How crazy can one get?

Harry Truman is rated Number 12, behind Grover Cleveland at Number 11, which seems ridiculous, followed by Andrew Jackson as Number 13 and James K. Polk as Number 15, both who have otherwise collapsed to lower than Number 20 with recent reevaluations that have caused their rapid decline. Ulysses S. Grant is Number 14, higher than the rise he has gained in legitimate rankings.

John F. Kennedy ends up Number 18 and Franklin D. Roosevelt as Number 20, with of all people, William Howard Taft in between as Number 19, clearly totally lacking in reality.

The Two Bushes, HW and W are Numbers 21 and 22, with Bill Clinton behind them as Number 23, followed by the largely unimpressive many Presidents that have been ranked low for many decades in surveys.

But once we reach the 31-42 range, the bottom of the list, we discover Lyndon B. Johnson Number 35 behind Herbert Hoover Number 33, as well as behind Gerald Ford Number 27 and Richard Nixon Number 29. How crazy can one get to come up with such rankings?

And it gets worse, as Woodrow Wilson is Number 37, followed by Barack Obama Number 38, Jimmy Carter Number 39, and then followed by two Presidents who belong in the bottom, Andrew Johnson Number 40 and James Buchanan Number 41. One might be harshly critical of Wilson, who has declined in rankings in recent years, but to put him in the bottom six of all Presidents is preposterous! And placing Obama and Carter in this bottom group is outrageous beyond belief and reality!

But one might ask, well, who is the absolute bottom at Number 42, and it is, unbelievably, Joe Biden! Whether one admires Joe Biden’s Presidency or not, to put him dead last is the height of craziness, not based on facts!

Notice that the three recent Presidents who demonstrated compassion, empathy, common decency and humanity, morals, ethics, and had no corruption—Obama, Carter, Biden—end up in the bottom five of these listings, which is testimony to how disgraceful this listing of Presidents really is!

This so called “Prager University” Poll is total garbage, and no serious scholar or intelligent citizen would accept the presposterous and outrageous compiling of this propaganda organ, that deserves to be disposed of as extremist and lunatic in nature!

James Talarico And Andy Beshear: Two Devout “Legitimate” Christians Who Inspire For The Future Of Relationship Between Government And Religion!

Texas State Senator James Talarico is competing for the Democratic Senatorial nomination against Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, and he has become a national sensation, due to his charisma, personal presence, and his liberal Christian views, espousing the teachings of Jesus.

CBS preventing him from being interviewed by Stephen Colbert on his show, leading to the interview being posted on YouTube, and gaining 6 million views at this writing, has made his attempt to gain a Senate run against three Republican contenders, including Senator John Cornyn, suddenly gain massive support.

His decency, compassion, and empathy, all true Christian values, make him someone to watch and root for, not only for flipping a Senate seat to Democrats, but also as a potential national figure in the short and long term, if he can be successful.

And it must be recalled that in July 2025, the podcaster Joe Rogan, who has often been supportive of Donald Trump although at times a critic, had the then mostly unknown James Talarico on his podcast, and made the astonishing statement that Talarico should run for President, a stunning statement!

The same decent, compassionate, and empathetic Christianity of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who has managed to hold the Governorship in a heavily Republican state for two terms, makes Beshear a person on the short list of potential Democratic Presidential nominees for 2028.

At a time of hypocrisy of the white Christian nationalist right wing that has backed MAGA Republicans and Donald Trump, it is inspiring that we can have those who are “religious” in a true sense, which includes an open mind toward others who are of different religions, and those with no religious beliefs, and offer themselves as alternatives for America’s future.

This includes support for immigrants; women; racial minorities; and people of different genders and sexual orientation–a tolerance equivalent of the teachings of Jesus.

This author and blogger is very enthused and optimistic about the role of Talarico for the Senate future, and for Beshear for the Presidential future, as models of what America should strive for, whether or not, either individual succeeds in his future political ambitions.

The Passing Of Jesse Jackson, A Civil Rights Icon And First Serious Black Presidential Contender!

The news of the passing of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, a Civil Rights Icon and close adviser to the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, at age 84, is a reminder of his prominence and significance in the Civil Rights Movement, and as a Democratic Presidential contender in the 1980s.

Jackson was a charismatic, inspiring preacher and second place finisher in primaries in 1984, when behind Walter Mondale, and again in 1988, when behind Michael Dukakis.

Jackson was present when King was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968, and spent decades carrying on the King tradition of non violence, and commitment to progressive causes.

Jackson was the first serious black Presidential candidate, and drew great respect, although he was criticized for his scandalous private life romantic scandals, nothing anymore seen as unusual, although more so decades ago.

Jackson led the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a nonprofit social justice organization that rallied people of all backgrounds around promotion of civil and human rights.

Jackson was eloquent and charismatic, and united people of all races, as well as sexual orientation, a pathbreaking change in the Democratic Party.

It can be asserted that without Jackson’s Presidential runs in the 1980s, there might not have been the future of Barack Obama.

And Jackson also helped to free hostages in various nations, due to the respect and fame that he brought in his negotiations with foreign governments.

Jackson’s impact remains part of the Democratic Party and progressive tradition, as the best hope for the future of America!

The American Presidency In Mourning Over The Loss Of Dignity And Respect Perpetrated By Donald Trump!

The office of the American Presidency has been in existence for 237 years since the Inauguration of George Washington on April 30, 1789.

The 45 men who have occupied the office have been analyzed and evaluated constantly, with some being extremely wanting in leadership, while others turned out to be glorious heroes, and many just adequate.

But the office of the American Presidency is in mourning over the loss of dignity and respect perpetrated by Donald Trump.

No one, not even James Buchanan or Andrew Johnson, is perceived today as worse than Donald Trump, as neither set out to destroy American democracy and the rule of law by intention and action as Donald Trump has done.

Herbert Hoover may have presided over the tragedy of the Great Depression, and Richard Nixon may have engaged in actions that were illegal and unconstitutional, but both still had a sense of dignity that can never be matched by Donald Trump.

No President has set out to undermine international affairs, and promote open racism and criminality in domestic affairs as Donald Trump has done and is still doing.

No President has a lower ethical or moral standard than Donald Trump, and no one has wished to glorify themselves in obscene ways and manners in the way he has.

If Donald Trump had only had one term of office, his reputation would be higher than it now is, as he threatens the complete breakdown of the nation as it reaches the 250th Anniversary of the Republic.

The battle for preservation of democracy and the rule of law cannot be allowed to lead to defeat, so every decent American must join in the struggle to maintain the goodness of this nation, and work to overcome and reverse the harm being done daily.

Long live the Republic, and the institution of the Presidency for future generations!

Presidents Day 2026: Need For Updated Assessment, And One Scholar’s Viewpoint!

Presidents Day is tomorrow, Monday, February 16, a good time, after a full year of the second Presidency of Donald Trump, and one retirement year of Joe Biden, to reassess rankings of Presidents, particularly recent Chief Executives.

C Span is likely in process of reassessing its rankings of Presidents, last done in 2021, as Joe Biden became President, and Donald Trump became, at the time, a former President who had been defeated for reelection, but mounted an illegal, unconstitutional attempt to overthrow the results of the Presidential Election of 2020 through the US Capitol Insurrection of January 6, 2021.

There can be disagreement over many Presidents and their rankings, but with the reality that in recent years, the following Presidents have seen their stock rise in assessments of scholars, in chronological order:

Ulysses S. Grant
Harry Truman
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Lyndon B. Johnson

At the same time, the following Presidents have seen their stock fall lower in assessments of scholars, in chronological order:

Andrew Jackson
James K. Polk
Woodrow Wilson
Ronald Reagan

In the view of this scholar, author, and blogger, the thought is that the following recent Presidents will be likely to benefit the most in the future in rise in rankings from where they are presently, in chronological order:

Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Barack Obama
Joe Biden

But the debate over Presidential performance will continue, certainly, to be heatedly debated for the long term future.

Stephen Miller: “The Worst Of The Worst” Around Donald Trump!

President Donald Trump has a long list of horrendous, disgraceful, despicable people around him in his second term Cabinet and elsewhere.

But if one had to choose one individual who could be considered “the worst of the worst”, using the language employed about immigrants being pursued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), it would be Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief Of Staff For Policy and Homeland Security Adviser, an extremely polarizing figure.

Miller, who is of Jewish heritage, and whose family ancestors came to America in the 20th century to escape the Czar of Russia and pogroms, is a clear cut white supremacist bigot, an avowed racist, who even in high school, railed against Latino fellow students and others of racial background other than white Caucasians.

Many see Stephen Miller as Trump’s “Brain”, and some call him “Prime Minister”, and Miller is a major speech writer of what Trump utters regarding his hateful intentions as President, to deport millions of immigrants, not just the lawless and criminal elements.

In the first term of Trump, Miller was responsible for the Muslim travel ban; the family separation policy that took kids aways from their parents without concern for their emotional health; and trying to do away totally with DACA (Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals), a program initiated during the Barack Obama Administration. He also has supervised the writing of Trump’s Inaugural Addresses and his State of the Union speeches, so has had a tremendous, but deleterious, influence on Donald Trump over the past decade.

Miller has no concern about the rights and freedoms of women, gay and transgender Americans, Latinos, Black Americans, Asian Americans, and Muslims, as he pursues the goal of 3,000 people being readied for deportation on a daily basis, an insane and outrageous abuse of power.

The Southern Poverty Law Center placed Miller on their database of extremists in 2020.

Miller has encouraged Donald Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would permit the military to police our streets, creating martial law conditions.

What has occurred tragically in Minnesota in the past two months is just a sign of what Miller would wish to accomplish nationally.

Hopefully, at some point in the future, Stephen Miller can be held accountable by the law for his transgressions and illegal, unconstitutional policies and actions!

The Issue Of Age And Potential Democratic Presidential Contenders In 2028

The issue of age is a consideration as Democrats plan for the upcoming Presidential nomination process for the Presidential Election of 2028, once the Midterms in November are resolved.

With the last two Presidents being the oldest nominees and Presidents in American history, and the reality of signs of aging that have been exposed about both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, age is definitely an important consideration.

So this author and blogger has done research into the present age of the list of 25 potential contenders discussed two days ago on this blog.

Of course, the age of all 25 will increase by three years until the inauguration on January 20, 2029, so that is a consideration beyond the momentary statistics at this point of time.

Presently, there are two potential contenders who are in their late 30s–Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (36) and Jon Ossoff (39), so Ocasio-Cortez would still be under age 40 at the time of the inauguration, while Ossoff would be early 40s at nearly age 42, still in either case, the youngest President in American history.

Six of the potential Presidential contenders are presently in their 40s, bringing back the memory of John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Presently, they are Pete Buttigieg (44), Ruben Gallego (46), Wes Moore (47), Andy Beshear (48), Elissa Slotkin (49), and Ro Khanna (49). Of course, by Inauguration Day 2029, only Buttigieg and Gallego will still be under 50.

Eight of the potential Presidential contenders are presently in their 50s, including Jared Polis (50), Josh Shapiro (52), Chris Murphy (52), Gretchen Whitmer (54), Cory Booker (56), Raphael Warnock (56), Josh Green (56), and Gavin Newsom (58). All would still be under the age of 60, except Newsom, on Inauguration Day 2029.

Finally, nine of the potential Presidential contenders are presently in their 60s, including Mark Kelly (61) Kamala Harris (61), JB Pritzker (61), Jon Stewart (63), Jamie Raskin (63), Adam Schiff (65), Rahm Emanuel (66); Chris Van Hollen (67), and Mark Cuban (67).

So both Chris Van Hollen and Mark Cuban would be past the age of 70 on Inauguration Day, and Adam Schiff and Rahm Emanuel would reach age 70 during their four year term in office.

It is likely some of this long list of 25 contenders will end up not announcing, but this analysis of age is enlightening for discussion!

An All Time High Number Of Potential Jewish Democratic Presidential Contenders In 2028!

There is a possibility that America might see an all time high number of potential Democratic Presidential contenders who are of Jewish heritage in the upcoming Presidential Election of 2028.

As now perceived, there could be ELEVEN Jewish contenders:

Governors
Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania
JD Pritzker of Illinois
Jared Polis of Colorado
Josh Green of Hawaii

Senators
Jon Ossoff of Georgia
Elissa Slotkin of Michigan
Adam Schiff of California

House Of Representatives
Jamie Raskin of Maryland

Cabinet and Ambassadorships
Rahm Emanuel of Illinois

Outside of Government
Mark Cuban
Jon Stewart

Speculation Begins On Potential Democratic Presidential Contenders

It is nine months until the Midterm Elections of 2026 for Congress, and state and local government.

But already, speculation has begun on who might run for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2028, and the list is long, and not just the usual speculated candidates.

Among those assumed to be likely to run are, in no special order:

Former Vice President Kamala Harris
California Governor Gavin Newsom
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

But beyond these much speculated potential candidates, there is a much longer list of others, in no special order:

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
Former Chicago Mayor and Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel
California Congressman Ro Khanna
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego
Billionaire Entrepreneur Mark Cuban
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin
Hawaii Governor Josh Green
Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen
Comedian and Political Commentator Jon Stewart
Colorado Governor Jared Polis
California Senator Adam Schiff

So the total potential list is at least 25 candidates, and who knows, if someone not on this list joins the fray!

There are 8 Governors on the list; 9 US Senators; 3 House members; two former Mayors and Cabinet members or Ambassadors; two outside government leaders; and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

And the list is extremely diverse in nature, including:

4 Women
6 White Male Christian
2 Latinos
4 African Americans
1 Hindu
11 Jews
2 Gays
2 Outside of Government

The Proposed Independence Arch In DC A Major Controversy!

Donald Trump has created massive controversy with his White House Ballroom, which would dwarf the White House, and has already led to the destruction of the East Wing of the White House and the White House Rose Garden.

His proposed Independence Arch to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence present many problems.

Trump wants a 250 foot Arch, which would represent a 16-20 story building, would dwarf the White House itself, and is meant to be an American version of the Paris, France L’Arc de Triomphe, which stands at 164 feet. Other equivalent monuments are in Mexico City at 220 feet, and in the capital of North Korea at 197 feet, so the purpose is to create the greatest height monument in the world to satisfy Trump’s massive ego and insecurity.

It would be situated across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial, but would pose a hazard to air travel at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the District of Columbia.

The structure of the proposed Arch would be 165 feet tall and 165 feet wide, with a 25 foot pedestal and a massive 60 foot gilt bronze Lady Liberty sculpture on top.

The arch would be about half the size of the Washington Monument, which is 555 feet tall and more than double the 99 foot tall Lincoln Memorial. The White House is 60 feet tall, so would be far less impressive by comparison. Iconic views of Arlington National Cemetery would be lost.

Environmental and historic preservation factors, along with Arlington National Cemetery and the Federal Aviation Administration, are part of the review process, although Trump has appointed members of key commissions that have to consider and decide on the project moving forward.