Presidents and presidential candidates have long been the subject of comedic satire. Since the days of the absolutely revered George Washington, the United States has deemed the country's chief executive fair game for cartoonists, authors, comedians and about anyone else who wants to thumb their nose - in jest, of course - at the most powerful person in the world.

It is what makes this country great.

And among those making fun of Numero Uno, it is the impressionists that have captured the stage in the post-1960s television era. Some folks, such as legendary impressionist Rich Little, have built entire careers around the skill.

Of course, Little was hand delivered the ability to channel perhaps the most reviled and exaggerated character ever to hold the Oval Office. And no, I'm not talking about Johnny Carson.

Little was so good at playing former President Richard Nixon that when you were watching him, you sometimes felt that it was more Nixon-like than Nixon himself.

Outside the world of professional impressionists, however, no place has encouraged the mockery of presidents more than NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

In a recent discussion in the newsroom, one reporter said she hoped that if Sarah Palin is rebuffed in her efforts to win in November as part of John McCain's presidential ticket, "we've got to find some place on the national stage for her just so Tina Fey can keep playing her. She (Fey) is making Saturday Night Live worth watching again."

So here are my favorite five of the 30-plus years of SNL's presidential irreverece.

The godfather - Chevy stumbles into greatness as Gerald Ford

Chevy Chase's work in playing the relatively nondescript Gerald Ford is pure genius.

Hey, it doesn't take genius playing the likes of Nixon, Clinton or the current President George Bush. Their actions, their speaking characteristics and their character invite parody.

But Ford, the only chief executive not to be elected into office, was the antithesis of the man he replaced, Richard Nixon. Ford was basically known more as a good guy and a good athlete than he was as an orator or policymaker.

So Chase, one of the original SNL Not Ready For Prime Time players, seized on what little Ford gave him and then he ran with it. What Ford gave him was a couple of stumbles, including one memorable one deplaning Air Force One on a steep movable walkway.

Chevy's stumbling and bumbling, all the while trying to maintain the conversation with Henry Kissinger is classic physical comedy. That, combined with his role as the Weekend Anchor, put Chase as the leading comedian on a cast of comedic greats.

Will Farrell as President George W. Bush

As difficult as a task that Chase had with Ford, Will Farrell had an inversely proportionate east task playing the current president.

It is somewhat odd that one of the most bumbling, malapropism filled chief executives ever to take center stage at the White House hasn't found a worthy imitator in the SNL ranks.

Part of the problem, of course, is that it is hard to top the president himself. Comedian and late night TV host David Letterman's running segment where he offers up a Bush-ism unedited and directly from the President's mouth is one of his most popular and - often - one of his funniest.

The other thing that makes it difficult is that there are legion of comedians and impressionists that do the current chief executive, and they do him well. For Farrell, it was one of his lesser roles, remembered only after significant effort and doing a checklist of SNL greats.

So, great it isn't. But Farrell is still one of the funniest comedians inside the framework of SNL's three-minute sketch fest.

Dana Carvey as President George H.W. Bush

It is worthy to note that it can be sometimes difficult to recall the first George Bush as president and his mannerisms, but it isn't as hard if you think back to SNL's Dana Carvey imitating George H.W.

Who doesn't remember his clipped quip, "Wouldn't be prudent"? It is a testament to Carvey's abilities that he played at least one of the President's prime opponents - the oddball H. Ross Perot - with aplomb.

Of everyone on this list, Carvey may be the least remembered for his comedic chops, but his ability to imitate the famous and powerful was a meal ticket for him and great watching for us.

Darrell Hammond doing President Clinton

Speaking of softballs, there must have been a line in front of Lorne Michaels' office for the opportunity to play former President Bill Clinton. Clinton's southern affectation combined with a gregarious record of womanizing and an oozing charm/sleaze (depending upon whom you ask) were ripe for ripping.

Hammond, though, played the role to perfection. His deliberate performance and sly smile captured the essence of all things unspeakable but speakable about Clinton, and for the least-known SNL member on this list, he may have done the best at playing a sitting president or presidential candidate.

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin

The fact that Palin was a virtual unknown to the general public just a few short weeks ago and that Fey has been able to turn in some SNL classic performances playing the Alaskan governor is simply proof that Fey is as good as it gets when it comes to comedians in this day and age.

Heck, the arrival of Palin virtually pulled Fey back to the SNL stage.

What's amazing, though, is that Fey has Palin down. She looks like Palin. She is able to replicate her mannerisms and speech patterns. The only difference is that Fey is way funnier, which is nice to see after the past couple of presidents and their compatriot imitators.