Yeah, Right, Whatever

President Ronald Reagan.

Former President Ronald Reagan was named the "Greatest American" of all time in an interactive contest tonight, topping fellow Republican Abraham Lincoln.

Of more than 2.4 million votes in the survey sponsored by America Online, Reagan, who died last year after a long bout with Alzheimer's disease, captured the title with 24 percent of ballots, just edging out Lincoln by 0.44 percent, according to host Matt Lauer.

When this special was announced, I'll admit it. I was worried. I mean, who knows what kind of people the mind-numbed sheep in this country might choose. I'll also admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the results.

In the top five along with The Gipper were Abraham Lincoln (who came in a close second), Martin Luther King, Jr., George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. Not a bad top 5, eh? Rounding out the top ten were President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey, and Franklin Roosevelt.

W, Clinton, and FDR I can almost understand- for younger Americans, they are the three most well known presidents in the 20th (and start of the 21st) Centuries. But... Elvis? Oprah? Those are the kind of votes I was worried about. What have they really done? I mean... besides having fluctuating waistlines, the ability to make (and spend) large quantities of money, and celebrity status?

So... Reagan is The Greatest American ever... Well, duh...