tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post6819280859327008712..comments2023-07-06T03:24:58.768-04:00Comments on Your Big Girl Pants: Friday Follies-Presidential Death MatchEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-37069277671884464782012-09-21T22:21:44.175-04:002012-09-21T22:21:44.175-04:00The first half or the last half? I'm now wage...The first half or the last half? I'm now wagering all my ducats on Grant :-)Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-77141086318331894052012-09-21T22:05:09.226-04:002012-09-21T22:05:09.226-04:00Having seen half of The Hunger Games qualifies me ...Having seen half of The Hunger Games qualifies me to weigh in. I'll put twenty on Jackson.Sara Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-43850573055126195282012-09-21T16:37:18.825-04:002012-09-21T16:37:18.825-04:00But see, strategy changes a lot of that. In Linco...But see, strategy changes a lot of that. In Lincoln/Grant, you have guys who understand that it's best to let other people take each other out and wait a bit. Teddy wouldn't be able to help himself, he'd attack. Jackson could be controlled by Van Buren, but otherwise Jackson would attack, too. I agree that in theory, the Bushes are stronger together, except that I think there's a family issue, too - would W really just listen to his smarter father? Or would he argue? No question JQA would listen to his father. Don't know about the Harrisons - Benjamin was 7 when his grandfather died. And I continue to think that Nixon/LBJ could be a dangerous duo - but you're right, they couldn't really trust each other for very long.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-32655510783593055302012-09-21T16:24:32.043-04:002012-09-21T16:24:32.043-04:00I have the fight scene from West Side Story in my ...I have the fight scene from West Side Story in my head, but unfortunately the music is "Luck Be A Lady." Terrible, just terrible.<br /><br />I divide the presidents roughly into four quadrants- weak defenders/weak attackers/strong defenders/strong attackers. I tend to think it is better to be a weak attacker than a weak defender, but much better to be a strong defender than a strong attacker. As a weak attacker, at least the strong attackers won't think of you as easy pickings and come after you first. However, with the strong attackers, every time you attack, you expose yourself to greter injury and risk than waiting for someone to bring the fight to you. A strong defender conserves energy.<br /><br />However, the ability to team up changes the landscape and strategy for everyone who is willing to take the risk of joining up with another person. It is a huge risk, with a big payoff, mostly for everyone except the strong attackers. Strong attackers immediaIf there isn't a lot of trust there, the situation will lead to large knife between the ribs. I tend not to think of sheer political alliances being enough to overcome the natural distrust in that situation. Natural friendships and family bonds might just be enough (perhaps).<br /><br />I think teaming up is enough for two weak defenders (like the Adamses) to transform into strong defenders. Strong attackers like Teddy or Jackson won't go after them right away when it is clear that they are a team. For the Bush guys, it would be enough to transform a weak attacker (Dubya) and a strong defender (Sr.) into a strong attacker. (Sr. Bush would rather defend, but Dubya can't be controlled, so he would be dragged along into the mess). Having someone be able to watch your back would be invaluable. For the natural lone strong attacker, they don't gain much advantage by teaming up. The temptation to stab the strong attacker while they were otherwise occupied would be too strong for pretty any other person.Mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15832189885769646643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-24456961803297648612012-09-21T14:37:54.850-04:002012-09-21T14:37:54.850-04:00I'm sticking with Grant. If we're surmisi...I'm sticking with Grant. If we're surmising teams, he'd pair up with Lincoln ("Grant is my man and I am his the rest of the war"), and Lincoln would do well in a knife fight - long arms. If they both made it to the end, well, we all know who was susceptible to a sneak attack from behind (and if I remember right, Grant actually survived an assassination attempt on the same night as Lincoln was shot, though it may have just been because he had better guards).LWDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-61648412276522655222012-09-21T13:27:17.192-04:002012-09-21T13:27:17.192-04:00My first thought was yours, Emily, that Jackson an...My first thought was yours, Emily, that Jackson and Teddy would be the last two standing (and I gave the final victory to Teddy -- he's a white man, so Jackson maybe wouldn't instinctively be as vicious :>). But team-ups didn't occur to me, so now I have to rethink this. And now I have that gang dance/fight music from West Side Story in my head.beadgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04545183481263349646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-44197694295574466922012-09-21T13:00:28.452-04:002012-09-21T13:00:28.452-04:00I'm really starting to come around to Grant. ...I'm really starting to come around to Grant. Teddy was a badass, but Teddy was obvious, and I think any two-person teams would go after Teddy as soon as possible. Grant, on the other hand, was capable of keeping his mouth shut. Grant's only real problem is that he doesn't have any natural alliances, unless Lincoln would join him. Now Lincoln and Grant would be a pretty interesting team.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-8085324020843957902012-09-21T11:34:24.222-04:002012-09-21T11:34:24.222-04:00But the ability to team up has to be based on trus...But the ability to team up has to be based on trust. I would not trust Nixon, nor an LBJ to have my back in that situation, would you? The related pairs are better, since there already is natural trust. I don't think most of the natural pairings would turn on each other until the end. And if you are on the attack, you go after the easy pickings first, the weak, alone and/or tiny, like Reagan and Madison, but you would want to avoid two-on-one situations until you absolutely must take them on, no matter how frail the participants might look.Mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15832189885769646643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-44965100337877177092012-09-21T11:26:11.131-04:002012-09-21T11:26:11.131-04:00Way to put your money where your mouth is. Harris...Way to put your money where your mouth is. Harrison was a recon man, then fought under Sherman - but Grant fought and taught recruits before commanding them, and he went to west point. Without troops, I gotta like Grant's chances over Harrison if we're going off of military experience. I just don't think, if we're going off best presidential physical shape, that WHH has a chance. Dude was 68 (at a time when that was physically older than it is today) and died of pneumonia a few weeks after he was sworn in. Of the team-ups that I see as useful, honestly like an LBJ/Nixon (if you believe The President's Club, that's possible) or even a Nixon/Ford (because then Ford gets the benefit of Nixon's strategy) would be more effective than the related pairs.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-51633428459020596932012-09-21T11:11:42.316-04:002012-09-21T11:11:42.316-04:00While I did omit the natural alliance of the Adams...While I did omit the natural alliance of the Adamses, I felt their prowess would be lacking. I really don't see TR and USG working together as a unit. <br />I'll wager 2000 quatloos on B. Harrison.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03601046731675622281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-9884184110612696172012-09-21T10:55:52.684-04:002012-09-21T10:55:52.684-04:00I have to agree with Jay that being able to team u...I have to agree with Jay that being able to team up is just an enormous advantage. Some people come into the arena with natural alliances, and having someone else be able to defend you while you attack has to put you in the top half at least. After that, it's pure aggression, guile, and athleticism.Mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15832189885769646643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-81965859008942157992012-09-21T10:48:48.170-04:002012-09-21T10:48:48.170-04:00Benjamin Harrison over Teddy??? Scandalous :-) F...Benjamin Harrison over Teddy??? Scandalous :-) Ford played football, but his strategy was sorely lacking. I'll reconsider the Harrisons, but Hayes and Mckinley are no match for Grant or Teddy in my book. Hey, wouldn't it be cool if Teddy and Grant worked together? Maybe with Ike?Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-6622162632255637622012-09-21T10:40:00.246-04:002012-09-21T10:40:00.246-04:00Hmm, I was thinking Taft's girth might give hi...Hmm, I was thinking Taft's girth might give him an advantage, protecting his organs from a deep, penetrating wound, but then I checked the length of the knife and 6.87" blade is pretty long.<br />You spoke of Nixon's football prowess, but I cannot believe you omitted Ford. The man was a star football player. Although he was in his early 60s as President, I don't think that would slow him down.<br />WH Harrison was pretty tough in his day, but I think the fact that he got sick so soon after he began might indicate a lack of prowess by the time he became President. Tough to say. Might have been a bug that could fell any President today. I also like Zachary Taylor for similar reasons.<br />Grover Cleveland had no compunction against executing someone himself, so that presents a mental advantage--few others had that type of experience, even the military heroes like Ike, Taylor, Jackson, Washington or Harrison.<br />I think BHO would do better than suggested. He is among the youngest and he is still a decent basketball player. I don't think he'll go out early due to racial animus, but I think he might actually tip his hand too early that he is athletic, leading to a gang-up to take out that threat.<br />There are some natural pairings that would be pretty fierce: The Harrisons. Grandpa and Grandson kicking butt together. Hayes & McKinley--Hayes mentored McKinley and both were pretty tough soldiers. I think that kind of unity and loyalty would lead toward victory for them. <br />My final 5 are those two pairs plus Ford. Ford would then be taken out and it'd be down to the 2 pairs. Hayes and McKinley would turn on each other while the Harrisons attacked both. Then WH Harrison would allow his grandson to win.<br />Victor: Benjamin HarrisonAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03601046731675622281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-53224842748047019532012-09-21T10:33:23.796-04:002012-09-21T10:33:23.796-04:00Grant is a contender. He was military, he was tou...Grant is a contender. He was military, he was tough, and the drinking didn't seem to hurt one bit (the supposed Lincoln quote pretty much says it all there). And I could see a situation in which Teddy was overconfident, and Grant would take him down. I actually think W would hamper HW. The Harrisons and Adams' would not be serious contenders. And I don't think Teddy liked FDR enough to team up with him. I think he'd use Taft as long as he could. Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-66143565765274026142012-09-21T09:59:35.461-04:002012-09-21T09:59:35.461-04:00Well, I have seen Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter,...Well, I have seen Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, and based on that documentary, Lincoln was seriously underrated. Lol. Considering that alliances are possible, any father/son or cousin duo has to have a serious advantage over anyone else.Mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15832189885769646643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-1951803440281543132012-09-21T09:56:08.466-04:002012-09-21T09:56:08.466-04:00I think the final 2 would be Teddy and Grant, and ...I think the final 2 would be Teddy and Grant, and in that fight I give Grant the edge (assuming he would have sobered up during the course of the rest of the melee).LWDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-32133686874532388352012-09-21T09:29:45.687-04:002012-09-21T09:29:45.687-04:00Too hard. Must get coffee now.Too hard. Must get coffee now.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5308923185697655557.post-6940352195626888472012-09-21T09:28:17.501-04:002012-09-21T09:28:17.501-04:00GHWB and JFK both have significant military experi...GHWB and JFK both have significant military experience, but JFK's back and GHWB being older as president would be an issue. <br /><br />Bubba would be toast. Obama and GWB would be toast - no real physical fight in them. I actually don't think Lincoln would get all that far - awesome president, but not a knife fighting man. <br /><br />Jackson was older during his presidency - and see, that's one of the main things Teddy has going for him: not only was he fit, interested in exercise, and strategic, he was younger than anybody else. Washington was old. So if you had them in their physical prime, rather than presidential physical prime, GHWB, Jimmy Carter (who went to Annapolis), JFK (pre-back issues), Jackson, and Washington would go further. Honestly I think it would be Jackson versus Teddy at the end in that case, and Jackson might win: he was a badass.<br /><br />1st down would be Taft, unless he sat on Madison (who was tiny). <br /><br />If strategy came into play then Van Buren, Nixon, and LBJ would last awhile. LBJ would last a long time, I think. He was a tough bastard (I say, affectionately). Wilson, Polk, and Jefferson would be thinking to hard to notice that Teddy had already knifed them.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11713092722965430212noreply@blogger.com