Not the "only" problem.  There's no choice for Clinton, other than "other," for example.  And you don't specify which Bush. 

(Of course, my vote was for Jefferson.)

This poll just goes to show what short memories many people have. Reagan got the credit for the Iranian hostage crisis ending, even though it has been shown the deal was cemented before he took office. Reagan got credit for the collapse of the Soviet Union, but the government failed during the first Bush Presidency in 1991. During the Reagan years we had rampant inflation which led to the most onerous lending rates on record, the S&L scandal and collpase, the junk bond crisis, two recessions and the worst stock market plunge since the Great Depression. Crack became the staple drug of impoverished neighborhhoods, while homeless people populated cities in record numbers. We were treated to the War in Grenada and El Salvador with the President ignoring the law and Congress with the Iran/Contra episode. Business was deregulated and government oversight eliminated to end competition in the marketplace by newly merged monopolies and cartels created by leveraged buyouts. Yeah, old times, good times, as Phil Hartman would say.

"You have never spoken of him so well before."--Viola de L.

"He was not dead, before."--William S.

Apologies for the Bush confusion. It's George W. as the poll now shows.

As far as Clinton goes, we took an informal poll among a few newsroom staff and these were the top 9.

Jefferson

Madison

A tie for third goes to the four that gave their lives: Kennedy, McKinley, Garfield and Lincoln.

I did a report on Garfield in highschool. He lived for a couple months after taking a bullet in the spine, dying an agonizing death. Civil war general to boot. I live in McKinleyville now. Nearby Arcata  has a statue of McKinley in the city square and someone always wants to get rid of it because he was "imperialistic". I always scratch my head on that one. Jeez people, he got assassinated!   

Reagan? Well, the planet didn't get vaporized in a nuclear war as luck would have it...

Favorite president? Why aren't Warren Harding and Millard Fillmore on the list? I'd have probably voted for them ahead of Reagan, but it's no surprise in Kern County that RR is the top vote-getter. After all, these are the same genisues locally who helped s/elect GWB to his time in the White House. Great move, that.

Millard Fillmore isn't funny.  Oh, wait, that's Mallard Fillmore.

.

Never mind.

I'm a fan of FDR and Eisenhower, for different reasons obviously seeing as one was a Democrat and one was a Republican. Have other Presidents achieved more? Probably. But I like those two. Oh, and JFK, can't forget JFK.

I had a roommate that voted for Gerald Ford because he was a skier. Can anyone top that? 

My favorite president is George W. Bush. 

Reagan as Governor created the largest tax increase in California history.

And for those of you that include the Social security deduction as taxes. He Created the largest tax increase in Federal government history.

Reagan also presided in the largest deficit and debt in American history. Until Bush Jr. Reinstated the Reagan economic policy in the new century.

The 90's were good for me. But I had already become permanently disabled. So the Union busting by Reagan didn't reduce my standard of living as it may have for some.

My adult years started under Nixon. Stag Flation began after the oil embargoes and Nixon price fixing. Ford did nothing to change anything. But I was in the Army during that time. I had a steady paycheck things were okay. Just had that pesky little war to deal with.

Carter.

Now that was my great years.

4.7% Cal Vet Home loans. 10% interest on savings accounts compounded daily. 17% CD's and 20% treasury bills. Unions were strong and 2 million jobs were created every year.

Yeah, let's bring back high interest rates, lol!

"Aids? what aids" one can not forget that little gift of the Reagan years..they all have some good(well all most all) and some bad about them..pick one?Jefferson.

I'm ashamed to admit but Reagan was my favorite since it helped shape my world view (I was 10 when he left office). Plus, I loved that Reagan Cheese! Talk about leaving a legacy...Clinton comes in a close second.

Robb,

High interest rates are coming back. The fed cuts do not affect the mortgage rate. And the 10 year is up 3/4% since the first of the year.

Reagan created a recession in order that he and Volger could lower interest rates and give a boost to Wall street.

The lower interest rates resulted in two housing bubble bursts during his reign. And another during Bush  Jr. Reign.

Artificially low rates hurt the housing market therefor the economy.

Low rates discourage savings. America has always had a history of low interest rates and the worst savings history in the industrialized world.

20% cent CD's and Tbills are great for the 66% of Americans that already have their home mortgage. 66% is a super majority. Enough to win any vote.

Marge Schott.

Oh. Prez of the U.S.!

I'm a huge Jefferson fan, but Washington has to top my list because the guy could have been a king and declined. That was a case where a politician put democracy in front of personal gain. He certainly didn't want to set a precedent...

Millard Fillmore isn't funny.

It's okay sometimes. Prickly City is better.

Teddy Roosevelt was a good president.