who's your favourite idiot/s in history?

Ever tell a good joke, perfectly straightforward, and the guy you're telling it to says "I don't get it. I don't get it."? So it's very simple, but the guy just can't figure things out for himself, so you have to spell everything out for him, ruining the joke. So I'll spell it out for you. Only thing is, there's nothing funny about breathing polluted air.

Raleigh introduced tobacco to Europeans. If he hadn't done it, someone else would have. The Europeans took up smoking. This all happened a long time ago. In my lifetime, there are lots of tobacco farmers, several massive cigarette companies, and lots of small cigarette and cigar producers around the world. And at least once a day, usually more often, some smoker lights up in front of me and forces me to breathe his stinking shit. Is that clear enough for you?

 

stalin and hitler
and all russian heads of the government

 

Probably the time that Dick Cheney shot that guy while hunting.... thats the bush administration for you shoot you in the back when you arent looking... nice shooting Elmer Fudd

 

I'm sorry but anyone who chooses to invade Russia in the middle of winter is an Idiot (notice the captial I). I belive the saying goes, he who is unaware of history is doomed to repeat it. Not to mention, he frequently ignored the advise of his top military advisors, while fighting a war against the majority of the western world with Italy as his most significant ally in the European theater. So he's definitely up there.

My favorite idiot in history however, was Custer. "Holy shit that's a lot of idians!" I do believe that in this case a Darwin award is in order for the most photographed man of the 19th century.

Honorable mention goes to Napoleon (see history of Winter invasions of Russia) and Saddam Hussein.

 

Sorry bout the double post... not sure how that happened.

I'm sorry but anyone who chooses to invade Russia in the middle of winter is an Idiot (notice the captial I). I belive the saying goes, he who is unaware of history is doomed to repeat it. Not to mention, he frequently ignored the advise of his top military advisors, while fighting a war against the majority of the western world with Italy as his most significant ally in the European theater. So he's definitely up there.

My favorite idiot in history however, was Custer. "Holy shit that's a lot of idians!" I do believe that in this case a Darwin award is in order for the most photographed man of the 19th century.

Honorable mention goes to Napoleon (see history of Winter invasions of Russia) and Saddam Hussein.

 

Napoleon invaded Russia on June 24, 1812. Hitler invaded Russia on June 22, 1941. Neither leader invaded Russia in the winter. Neither leader expected to be still at war with Russia by the following winter. Both leaders were simultaneously at war with England.

Although Napoleon lost this one big time, he was widely regarded as a good military strategist and tactician prior to it. Hitler was at no time regarded as a good strategist, and was referred to in some quarters (never to his face) as Russia's most important general. Neither man was an idiot. You can hate them without thinking of them as mentally retarded.

Ironically, Napolean told Russian ambassador Kaurakin, prior to his invasion, "You know it’s easy to start a war but it’s very difficult to finish one."

 

Mark Chapman, the man who shot John Lennon.
First fucking idiot who came to mind.
God, I hope no one's stupid enough to let that man out of prison.

 

There ain't no idiot bigger than Bush! "The illiteracy of our children are appaling."

 

Lol, I personally HATE Bill O'reilly,
I love how he argues... IF they can't agree, then insult them...

 

I agree with the whole idea of Hitler being a terrible stratagist. He blundered through most all of his military endeavors, and only his highly competent generals, like Guderian and Manstein, managed to turn what could have been a defeat into victory. Like when Hitler wanted to halt Guderian's panzers during their encirclement of the British/French army in France 1940. Only Guderian's "reconnaisance in force" allowed Germany to achieve what I think was the greatest(most decisive) victory of the 20th century.

Hitler might have been a good politician but he was a shit general.

 

Thoms Midgeley, inventor of leaded petrol and CFC's.

 

Well, the original poster specified favorite idiot, not most hated idiot, so mine is Forrest Gump.

I don't know if there was a real Forrest Gump or not, I'm guessing there was but the story was "fleshed out" a bit. But despite being mentally incompetent, the Gump character was an incredible guy.

 

Forrest Gump is a fictional character. He's not based on anybody real. Read the book and you'll know for sure that he's not real.

 

As I'm sure you all know, Hitler often overrode his generals. So a shitty military strategist who picks a fight with half the world and doesn't listen to his top notch generals once his war started. That sounds like an idiot to me... sounds kinda familiar too.

 

whoever invented the escalator...my theory is that the "lazy" revolution kicked in soon after that....GOSH!

 

Nixon
and
bush will go down in my idiots book for sure

 

So, end the suspense: Who's Bill O'Reilly?

I have lots of friends named Bill. They keep showing up in my mailbox.

 

I thought of another, Kristen Tomhton. Grrr....

 

Hands down idiot in my book is George W. Bush.

 

Rarely idiots end up in history books.
Some king may be, after all they have not to fight for their job: it's given them by right of birth.
Wait....you're right my friend.
There are some president, in poor undeveloped countries, that have inherited their postion in a similar way: without having to prove their worth.
Yes, i'm thinking at Baby Doc, former president of Haiti. Who else?