Too bad Pres. Obama isn't the Dem version of "The Decider" eh?

[LynnTheDem]

Then he could just Decide things and we'd all get everything we want...everything I feel any true American would want; education, healthcare for all, true freedom of choice, being able to say we don't torture...and have it be true...

Unfortunately, Pres. Obama doesn't believe in being The Decider. Otherwise if he did, we'd have the Dem equivalent of George W. bUsh, The Decider. Coz of course it's ok when WE do it.





















Only it's not. It's not ok for a Decider (R), and it's not ok for a Decider (D).

I don't agree with many of your recent decisions, Pres. Obama, but you didn't Decide them alone in a bubble. Thank you for putting the messy thing called "democracy" back into action.

[GarbagemanLB]

1. I don't think it's much to ask for some leadership on this healthcare issue.

He has been way too quiet on this.

[LynnTheDem]

2. "Leadership" when it's a (D) but not when it's an (R)?

Not for me, thanks!

[babylonsister]

3. Thank you! nt

[Clio the Leo]

4. Nope, we got the "Constitutional Law Professor"

.... we relish the upside of that, but we have to also accept the (perceived) down side of that.

[Zodiak]

14. He pissed that Constitutional Law professor thing away

...with FISA and his godawful handling of the torture issue and war crimes.

I will not accept that he is a Constitutional Law professor when he does nothing for our benefit and twists the constitution to protect criminals.

He is a Constitutional Law professor in the same way Orly Taitz is a lawyer. It's a title to throw around with no substance underneath it at all, and certainly no adherence to the ethics implied by such a title.

Kinda like when Obama called himself a "progressive".

[depakid]

17. +1

A "constitutional law professor" who lets torturers, bankster, fraudsters and food poisoners walk away scot free- encouraging others to behave the same way....

Difficult to understand, much less have respect for at this point.

[BlueIdaho]

5. What makes you think he isn't?

Ok - he's more well spoken but like the President before him, he doesn't know how to lead, how to control the levers of power. I'm not sure either of these guys could find their ass with both hands.

[treestar]

11. Control the levers of power?

It is plain you think the President should be a Decider. And has all the power.

[BlueIdaho]

18. Nope

But this President, any President has real power - power that can be used to shape the movement of legislation through congress. The Bully Pulpit. The power of the party - his party to help or hinder re-election campaigns to name just two. You don't think LBJ sat on his thumbs in the White House and let congress dither and fiddle over Medicare do you? The current bill is exactly what Obama campaigned against when he ran for President. He is now obsessed on signing something - anything - so he can claim a victory. But a victory for whom? The insurance companies? Unfortunately the President not only doesn't know how to use his office, I don't think he knows where the executive washroom is.

[treestar]

20. I've heard Obama's speeches dismissed as "just speeches" on this board

so the BP is meaningless to me.

the election campaigns of conservative Democrats from the mid-west - yeah, that'll give us more Republicans.

Those aren't very good levers of power.

Look, it's nice to think someone who agrees with us could get a hold of enough power to force everyone who doesn't want to do what we want to go along. But in the end, we don't want that.

LBJ had a huge majority of Democrats - 68, I think.

[BlueIdaho]

21. The only problem with Obama's speeches

Is the lack of follow through. The BP only has meaning if the President is willing to get bloody for a cause. I understand my goal of medicare for all will NEVER be reached in America but I expect a Democratic majority in congress to do much better than delivering thirty million of America's poorest and sickest to the for-profit insurance industry complete with mandates to buy crapsurance and financial penalties when they can't afford to pay. What's next Poor Houses?

That sounds more like something the republicans would do.

[treestar]

23. What does "getting bloody" entail?

It's better not to get what any small group of us wants than to have too much power in a branch.

The people will be covered, and the insurance companies pay their medical bills.

[Armstead]

6. You set up a false choice -- Either a lame non-leader or W? No there are otehr alternatives.

How about being a strong leader who actually presses for the interests of the people, while also being able to work well with others?

It's possible, ya know.

[GarbagemanLB]

7. Don't question Obama! This is all CONGRESS'S fault! Obama has such a cute family and is charismatic.

We can never question him!

[QC]

9. And he's so dreamy in his swimsuit!

I have a great picture of him in my locker!

[treestar]

12. It is Congress! Do you think they are a bunch of puppets that the POTUS

controls?

some posts here make me think people honestly think the govt. is a company with the POTUS as CEO and that Congresspeople answer to the President as if he were their boss.

I cannot believe the shit I read here! It's like Cheney claiming he had nothing to do with the Executive Branch!

[GarbagemanLB]

22. Can you comprehend the fact that Obama is the head of the Democratic party? Do you understand what

'leadership' is?

[treestar]

24. I understand the separation of powers

And thought the President was leader of the Executive Branch.

I don't want a president who strong arms everything he wants at the expense of Congress (or the Judiciary). Well, a President can't. The last one tried his damndest, though.

[babylonsister]

8. Amazing to me that you're getting trashed for supporting the

Democratic president. How soon they seem to forget. Sad, isn't it.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. Did you ever see a TV program called Yes Prime Minister?

it was set in the UK but it gives you an idea how much a president's hands are tied (feet and gagged too).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIXH3-A8zMI

[BeyondGeography]

13. A lot of my lefty friends would prefer a dictatorship

Which is ok, if only they would come to terms with themselves.

[Moochy]

15. The Switcheroo!!!

[Enrique]

16. it's funny reading this on DU

where for years I've read people pounding on dems for being passive and weak and cowardly.

Now since Obama is elected, I'm reading here about the virtues of passivity.

[QC]

19. You forgot the part about the magic wand.

That seems to be one of the current talking points.