Limits of power.
brianlux
Posts: 42,055
It amazes me how often I hear someone berate President Obama for not doing enough, or not doing this or that as if one person really has that much power. I just shake my head in disbelief that so many think one person calls all the shots.
Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks this way:
I think that once you become president, the first thing you realize is that you can't do shit. I envision them getting the new president [in this case, Obama] in a little round room and letting him know that he has no power and will do what he is told, just like Bill Hicks said, years ago.
-Willie Nelson, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I die, p. 122, William Morrow, 2012
Henry Rollins says something similar here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiWHBn1O_6I
We saw your want sheet aaaaaaaaand you're not gonna get it.
Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks this way:
I think that once you become president, the first thing you realize is that you can't do shit. I envision them getting the new president [in this case, Obama] in a little round room and letting him know that he has no power and will do what he is told, just like Bill Hicks said, years ago.
-Willie Nelson, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I die, p. 122, William Morrow, 2012
Henry Rollins says something similar here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiWHBn1O_6I
We saw your want sheet aaaaaaaaand you're not gonna get it.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
But I thought that everything gone wrong was Obamas fault?
The problems in Egypt....Obamas fault
The fires in Idaho....Obamas fault
The current economic situation in America...Obamas fault
The 3 black kids shooting the white college student...Obamas fault
Detroit's Bankruptcy....Obamas fault
Hurricane Sandy...Obamas fault
George Zimmerman not guilty...Obamas Fault
A-Rod using PEDS...Obamas fault
and on and on it goes
:fp:
...as it was stated frequently while Bush lead.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
If what Brian says is true, that one man doesn't have the power some attribute to him, why would it have mattered?
If what Brian says isn't true, and that one man does have an incredible amount of power, how much of what has happened around the world the last few years can be blamed on President Obama?
The president has the power to do a lot of things, this president, like many others, chose not to do something different on a lot of things I honestly thought he would. Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden, drone strike policies, Guantanamo bay, he could have done many things differently but didn't
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
Who :?:
More or less what I was going to post.
-
He defends the drone strikes, he defends blindly supporting israel, he defends these things we often think he wants to change, but because he is 'only' the president and he does not have the power to do so?
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Obama is not even speaking what's 'right', let alone doing what's 'right'.
How free is he to speak his mind? I'm sorry to sound so skeptical- I just really do wonder about these things.
The President is never free to speak his mind. he has to weigh everything he says publicly very carefully.
As for defending drone strikes there is nothing wrong with defending what you think is right.
And where Israel is concerned it is widely known that Republican presidents have always been much more supportive of Israel.
But what is "right"? In both examples you give, drones and Israel, there is neither a consensus nor a definitive answer as to what is right.
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
But when what you think is 'right' is shown, proven to be wrong, showns to do more harm than good, and you still defend it and support it like Obama does with drone strikes and Israel.
Sorry, but that's just not good enough.
Obamas admin prides itself in saying about how pro israel they are, and how they have done more for Israel than whoever else.
Giving Weapons,money and support for Israel when Israel continues to take over Palestine, silence when Israel breaks law after law, human rights violations...
Don't forget that every single President, both democrat and republican,from Truman all the way up to and including Obama have done the same thing.
Killing innocent people and taking land that is not yours, 'wrong' (actions)
Not taking what does not belong to you, and not killing innocent people, 'right', (things?)
(You get my point eh? I gotta run, but I'll try and pop back in here later on post more)
I don't necessarily disagree, I am just saying that both drone strikes and support for Israel are both such hotly contested issues that what is "right" is not easy to say.
"...I changed by not changing at all..."
Then they all were corrupt, and we are idiots for election after election voting for them without holding their feet to the fire and 'demanding' that our leaders do the 'right' thing(s).
sounds so very simple & actually makes sense to me
420 trillion americans disagree & will be voting gw number III
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
We surely need to reboot the system. I would like to see more of an emphasis put on decision making by committee. Why all the focus on one person? It makes more sense to have a committee of people committed to making the best decisions about important matters. But maybe I'm just too idealistic.
if you believe the president knows all & controls all, you are sadly mistaken
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
back to work monday morning stocking produce with a calm heart beat w/ blood pressure 120/80
thank you
"Hear me, my chiefs!
I am tired; my heart is
sick and sad. From where
the sun stands I will fight
no more forever."
Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
No gov't decision is made without a committee. What kind of pens they buy go through an approval process...
The president is given power by law. Whether secret groups have some sort of say as implied by hicks (one of my favorites by the way) is irrelevant because by law the president CAN make a difference and has a lot of power.
They, including Obama, choose NOT to make major changes for whatever reason they have...Presidential support for Gay marriage is a huge thing, so would be eliminating support for Israel in the UN. One was relatively easy to do, the other is hard...he chose the easy way out unless he truly believes that the Palestinian people are getting what they deserve and are being treated justly.
Campaign promises are empty. This could be the reason why Presidents seemingly all change and gives rise to a conspiracy like you talk about Brian, They make promises they have no ability or the intention of keeping making it seem like they were this idealistic super human who was beaten into submission. it could have been that the speech where they make promises was written by someone else for effect and not the true feelings of the candidate.
They lie, that is why I supported a guy like Paul Wellstone, I didn't agree with all his politics, but he said what he did. And people like him are more important to get into and keep in office than a guy who pretends to agree with you every 4 years.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
Much of what he wants to do gets shot down by the GOP.
Obama is nothing but a scapegoat. At the same time, even if he did want to make change, that change can not get done when Congress refuses to compromise and act like adults.
Congress? :fp:
I do not recall exact forum names. It would be nice to have that ability and strength of remembrance.
I do recall the pattern. Bush's fault and that pattern continued into the fifth year of obama admin.
...their constituents approve of their performance.
And we keep voting the same people in.
One
If PRO is the opposite of CON
Then PROGRESS must be the opposite of CONGRESS!!
:shock:
I would like to know how many congress people uphold 70% of their platform?
One line wonder
Well he is a president not a king.
Through executive orders and executive direction he can make a lot of change, he has let me down in many areas.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan