Why do people hate the president?

[Cogman]

Ok, so the president can propose a bill to congress, he can veto a law, and he can send us off to war. So why are people blaming him for things like NCLB, the current economy, the patriot act, ect? Is this just a way to shift the focus on the real people to blame? Mainly congress and the supreme court.

Its almost as if people say "If we have an awesome president then our country has no choice but to be awesome." Thats just not the case.

With media focus mainly on the president, it is no wonder that US citizens seem to give him all the credit/blame. But maybe, just maybe, if we focused on the real retards that got us into our current situation we might actually do better as a country. Maybe if we pay more attention to our local leaders, and our state representatives, rather then letting our minds take a 4 year vacation, we might just be able to shift the direction of this country.

My point is, Pay attention to your local leaders. Even if the president is the best person in the world, he can't do anything with a retarded congress.

 

[Farang]

Why blame the President for NCLB and the Patriot Act? Now granted the Congress shares some of the blame but his signature made those things happen, that is why.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Hmmm, how is he to blame for the economy? Lets see, pork is one. How about his 2004 RNC speech where he said "More Americans own homes now than ever before thanks to our policies". See the irony in that? Shall we continue?

 

[NoStateofMind]

How about the Iraq war? How many billions a month? How much rhetoric did he use to continue its funding? How about Homeland Security? The creation of another government entity. How many billions?

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: Farang
Why blame the President for NCLB and the Patriot Act? Now granted the Congress shares some of the blame but his signature made those things happen, that is why.

Yes, but he is one guy. If the bill were so bad to begin with, wouldn't you think that the 100's in congress should have polished them out? Why do the writers of the law get less blame then the guy that signs it into law?

And ultimately, Who do we have more power over, congress or the president? My vote counts a lot more for or against the guy running for senator in my state then it does for the president of the united states.

 

[sandorski]

Clinton could have easily avoided staining the dress, but he did anyway!! That's unforgivable! :|

 

[NoStateofMind]

How about the Patriot Act? Suspension of Habeas Corpus? How about torture? Missing tapes of torture and the denial that waterboarding was torture? The undermining of the U.S. Constitution for his own purposes? Signing statements to remove responsibility from the executive branch?

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Hmmm, how is he to blame for the economy? Lets see, pork is one. How about his 2004 RNC speech where he said "More Americans own homes now than ever before thanks to our policies". See the irony in that? Shall we continue?

He said that, but who made it happen? Did he draft, sign, and pass into law something that destroyed the economy all by himself?

How about the Iraq war? How many billions a month? How much rhetoric did he use to continue its funding? How about Homeland Security? The creation of another government entity. How many billions?

Who keeps giving him the bills that allow him to continue the war? Who created the bills the made homeland security? It wasn't the president. He may have suggested it, and really hope a bill would make it through congress so he could sign it, but ultimately congress is the one that it had to go through. That means our picks for congress men are just as bad if not worse then him. IMO they have more of the blame because it is their job to make these laws, not the presidents. If the president is doing their job, then they are failing.

 

[Cogman]

How about the Patriot Act? Suspension of Habeas Corpus? How about torture? Missing tapes of torture and the denial that waterboarding was torture? The undermining of the U.S. Constitution for his own purposes? Signing statements to remove responsibility from the executive branch?

Congress, Congress, Congress. (other then the torture/waterboarding stuff. And even the initial entry into Iraq as that was something he could do without congress's approval). Its like your giving him rights that he doesn't have so you can keep hating him without directing your anger where it needs to go. Congress.

Don't get me wrong, Im not saying he was a great president by any measure. But I think congress is getting off with WAY too light of a beating on this one. They should be scare for their lives that their careers might be over, but you know what? They aren't. Why is that, Shouldn't they be?

 

[Insomniator]

People need someone to blame, and someone too complain about. The man 'in charge' is the scapegoat.

 

[CallMeJoe]

Originally posted by: Cogman
Congress, Congress, Congress. (other then the torture/waterboarding stuff. And even the initial entry into Iraq as that was something he could do without congress's approval). Its like your giving him rights that he doesn't have so you can keep hating him without directing your anger where it needs to go. Congress.
Don't get me wrong, Im not saying he was a great president by any measure. But I think congress is getting off with WAY too light of a beating on this one. They should be scare for their lives that their careers might be over, but you know what? They aren't. Why is that, Shouldn't they be?

People hate Congress. The Congress has an even lower approval rating than the president. The real problem is that people blame everybody else's Congressmen for the problems, and keep sending their own Congressmen back to Washington unless they really screw up.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Cogman

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Hmmm, how is he to blame for the economy? Lets see, pork is one. How about his 2004 RNC speech where he said "More Americans own homes now than ever before thanks to our policies". See the irony in that? Shall we continue?

He said that, but who made it happen? Did he draft, sign, and pass into law something that destroyed the economy all by himself?

How about the Iraq war? How many billions a month? How much rhetoric did he use to continue its funding? How about Homeland Security? The creation of another government entity. How many billions?

Who keeps giving him the bills that allow him to continue the war? Who created the bills the made homeland security? It wasn't the president. He may have suggested it, and really hope a bill would make it through congress so he could sign it, but ultimately congress is the one that it had to go through. That means our picks for congress men are just as bad if not worse then him. IMO they have more of the blame because it is their job to make these laws, not the presidents. If the president is doing their job, then they are failing.

He is still to blame even if only partly. So what is your point? Have you not seen people raise holy fucking hell on this board about dead beat congress? The problem of course (I take offense that you think we think its just the president, like you know better than anyone) is the power of the executive branch and its republican controlled congress. Do you think it will be any different with Obama? No! He will have congress and the senate democratically controlled and anything the little shit wants he will get. The whole fucking political system is fucking corrupt. But no matter how much you wanna lay blame at others feet the president has been in the middle, so for people to blame him would not be incorrect. The assumption that he is somehow less to blame because congress wants to suck his toes (and vice versa) is BS and covering the ass that needs to have a good amount of blame if not all of it. The most inept president in our history, the most arrogant president in our history and the most ignorant president in our history does not get a pass and it really gripes my ass you wanna give him any less of blame. Get a clue. You want congress to be blamed, well no shit sherlock, they are, but Bush is in the middle every fucking time. You really should study on how much power this administration has (or claimed) cause it seems like you are clueless.

Start here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/cheney/

Then here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/

Then come back and tell me you think this president/executive branch has been held to "checks and balances". :roll:

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: Insomniator
People need someone to blame, and someone too complain about. The man 'in charge' is the scapegoat.

And to me this is the sad thing. The real people to blame have little to no risk of loosing their jobs. Congress has a lower approval rating then the president, and yet I can guarantee that 90% of them will be making a return this next election season. If we have a 9% approval rating, I would hope that 90% of congress would have just lost their careers in politics. Heck, I would settle for just 50% of them being removed from their seats this up coming election.

 

[Perknose]

So much of our present misery has flowed from the power grab/putsch attempted under the this administration's banner of the "Unitary Presidency" (no Congress or courts needed!) that it is impossible not to blame President Cheney and his lovable sidekick The Dub.

 

[woodie1]

Remember President Truman, "The Buck Stops Here."

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon

Originally posted by: Cogman

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Hmmm, how is he to blame for the economy? Lets see, pork is one. How about his 2004 RNC speech where he said "More Americans own homes now than ever before thanks to our policies". See the irony in that? Shall we continue?

He said that, but who made it happen? Did he draft, sign, and pass into law something that destroyed the economy all by himself?

How about the Iraq war? How many billions a month? How much rhetoric did he use to continue its funding? How about Homeland Security? The creation of another government entity. How many billions?

Who keeps giving him the bills that allow him to continue the war? Who created the bills the made homeland security? It wasn't the president. He may have suggested it, and really hope a bill would make it through congress so he could sign it, but ultimately congress is the one that it had to go through. That means our picks for congress men are just as bad if not worse then him. IMO they have more of the blame because it is their job to make these laws, not the presidents. If the president is doing their job, then they are failing.

He is still to blame even if only partly. So what is your point? Have you not seen people raise holy fucking hell on this board about dead beat congress? The problem of course (I take offense that you think we think its just the president, like you know better than anyone) is the power of the executive branch and its republican controlled congress. Do you think it will be any different with Obama? No! He will have congress and the senate democratically controlled and anything the little shit wants he will get. The whole fucking political system is fucking corrupt. But no matter how much you wanna lay blame at others feet the president has been in the middle, so for people to blame him would not be incorrect. The assumption that he is somehow less to blame because congress wants to suck his toes (and vice versa) is BS and covering the ass that needs to have a good amount of blame if not all of it. The most inept president in our history, the most arrogant president in our history and the most ignorant president in our history does not get a pass and it really gripes my ass you wanna give him any less of blame. Get a clue. You want congress to be blamed, well no shit sherlock, they are, but Bush is in the middle every fucking time. You really should study on how much power this administration has (or claimed) cause it seems like you are clueless.

Start here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/cheney/

Then here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/

Then come back and tell me you think this president/executive branch has been held to "checks and balances". :roll:

And there you go again, You are trying to shift all the blame onto him. Blame him all you like, it won't fix a thing. and whats worse is when you shift your blame to be completely on him, you loose sight.

Whats funny is how your post starts out partially blaming him (and no, Im not saying he deserves no blame) to saying that he need to receive all the blame. Its almost as if I can see you getting angrier and angrier with each keystroke.

Any power over vetoing a bill the president was given to him by an inept congress. and if 90% of them make a come back, then not even the best president in the world could make a bit of difference in how things are run.

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon

Originally posted by: Cogman

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
Hmmm, how is he to blame for the economy? Lets see, pork is one. How about his 2004 RNC speech where he said "More Americans own homes now than ever before thanks to our policies". See the irony in that? Shall we continue?

He said that, but who made it happen? Did he draft, sign, and pass into law something that destroyed the economy all by himself?

How about the Iraq war? How many billions a month? How much rhetoric did he use to continue its funding? How about Homeland Security? The creation of another government entity. How many billions?

Who keeps giving him the bills that allow him to continue the war? Who created the bills the made homeland security? It wasn't the president. He may have suggested it, and really hope a bill would make it through congress so he could sign it, but ultimately congress is the one that it had to go through. That means our picks for congress men are just as bad if not worse then him. IMO they have more of the blame because it is their job to make these laws, not the presidents. If the president is doing their job, then they are failing.

He is still to blame even if only partly. So what is your point? Have you not seen people raise holy fucking hell on this board about dead beat congress? The problem of course (I take offense that you think we think its just the president, like you know better than anyone) is the power of the executive branch and its republican controlled congress. Do you think it will be any different with Obama? No! He will have congress and the senate democratically controlled and anything the little shit wants he will get. The whole fucking political system is fucking corrupt. But no matter how much you wanna lay blame at others feet the president has been in the middle, so for people to blame him would not be incorrect. The assumption that he is somehow less to blame because congress wants to suck his toes (and vice versa) is BS and covering the ass that needs to have a good amount of blame if not all of it. The most inept president in our history, the most arrogant president in our history and the most ignorant president in our history does not get a pass and it really gripes my ass you wanna give him any less of blame. Get a clue. You want congress to be blamed, well no shit sherlock, they are, but Bush is in the middle every fucking time. You really should study on how much power this administration has (or claimed) cause it seems like you are clueless.

Start here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/cheney/

Then here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/

Then come back and tell me you think this president/executive branch has been held to "checks and balances". :roll:

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How about his 2004 RNC speech where he said "More Americans own homes now than ever before thanks to our policies". See the irony in that? Shall we continue?[/quote]

Actually Bush was hogging the Glory those were Clinton Policies. That he merely allowed to continue.

The problem of course (I take offense that you think we think its just the president, like you know better than anyone) is the power of the executive branch and its republican controlled congress.

So since it was the Republican controlled congress that was the problem, that would mean it should improve since 2006 when the Dems took control?

Your I hate Bush Mantra does no good for you or the country. Some day you will see that.
I disagree with Obama and often Bush as well but the maddog hate of the left in MHO is both vitriol and unproductive.

 

[NoStateofMind]

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[NoStateofMind]

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[Cogman]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
...
They are equally at fault and the anger comes from you thinking he deserves less blame.
...

I would disagree (obviously) Only by kicking out the current congress can anything be changed for the better. Because a vote for you congress man counts a lot more then a vote for president, you make a bigger difference by voting for a good congressman (and encouraging others as well) then you do by voting for a good president.

They are equally at fault and the anger comes from you thinking he deserves less blame....

If there is such a thing as less blame then yes, I think he should be getting the same amount of blame as congress. The fact the congress gets less blame then him is whats screwed up.

I would be content with equal blame.

...Scratch my back I scratch yours? HELLO!? ...

Other then the fact that its been a one way back scratch. With the president just giving them laws and they sign almost every one of them because it looks popular at the time.

 

[Brainonska511]

What's with all the Bush apologists tonight?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: woodie1
Remember President Truman, "The Buck Stops Here."

Exactly. The job of President is to take the blame. Or the credit as the case may be. That's what it means to be the leader.

Yaknow, that sign on Truman's desk, with the attitude behind it, is probably a big reason why history looks back on Truman favorably now, when he was extremely unpopular when he left office (literally comparable to GW).

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Cogman

Sorry, my mistake, I construe stuff like this "How idiotic can one be to think such a thing?" as being attacks directed at me. But I guess they are just to everyone else so I really should just ignore half your posts. Sounds good to me.

:laugh: :thumbsup:

 

[ranmaniac]

Congress is practically illegitimate if the approval ratings are correct, but where are the millions of disgruntled people marching on Washington? It's just like office politics, there are always the majority who whine, bitch, moan, and complain, but when it comes time to actually ante up and do something about it, rarely anyone lifts a finger. The person who ends up speaking truth to power ends up made an example of, like the Japanese proverb "The nail that sticks up will be hammered down."

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Cogman
If there is such a thing as less blame then yes, I think he should be getting the same amount of blame as congress. The fact the congress gets less blame then him is whats screwed up.

Bush deserves most of the blame for the Iraqi war not congress. Congress voted to give Bush the authority to wage war, Bush made the choice to do so.

Bush also deserves the blame as Commander in Chief (and Mr. "Mission Accomplished") for approving how the war would be fought and for how little planning was done for its aftermath.

His own incompetence in directing the people he commands has killed more Americans than 9/11 and cost us a trillion dollars.

I don't hate him, but I do regret the damage he is personally responsible for causing this country.