Politics Obama - Actually doing a good job?

The congressperson's role is TWO-fold.
Not only are they supposed to represent their district within the Congress.
But the reverse is true
They are there to as that district's representative to direct the best course of the nation all-together. (which Many often forget or they just want to get re-elected)

Why?
Because there is no way (at least back then) to have all people making all the decisions all the time...and spending all their time absorbing the info to do so.
So they vote to send someone...to do that for them. (and they can live their own lives)
In addition, the founding fathers didn't trust the masses...and their passion...or "questionable" individuals of some volume that made a portion of the masses.
They didn't trust a pure Democracy.
They studied what had happened in the past when this occured...it wasn't pretty.

So...even though we "could" do this today with our tech...I agree still with their decision.
I've seen scenarios where the masses vote...they did it for awhile in California...it didn't turn out well. Broke the Bank.
And no offense to some of my fellow citizens...I've seen the way you make decisions, sometimes it's scary.
Plus, when voting...few TRULY pay attention to the details and the subtleties of an issue...they don't know, they don't care, they don't have time.
So, you end up a large group of people voting on whim, spin or otherwise.

@Aceventura ...I think either you're tired or you're over-simplifying to make a point...or justify your rationale.

While it would be "nice" to have it all so simple.
It doesn't happen like that IRL...nor to I truly believe you think that.

The President's job focus is two-fold...Commander in Chief...(a politician directing overall policy of the military)
And Executive...executing the laws and directives of Congress...with the budget Congress gives.
And no, the President cannot directly go against the directive of the Congress. (there are "workarounds" or "pocketings" it...but not directly disobey)
Believe me, the Presidents WISH they could. (I've seen it in action...doesn't work so easy)

You want to blame someone, then focus your blame on the hornets nest of Congress.
Not to say the Prez or Supreme Court are perfect or blameless...but most of the clusterfuck comes from them.

Unfortunately, we hate Congress as a body...but still vote in our Reps. (oh no...it's not OUR guy... )

 

Well, it sounds to me that you look to the president as a kind of symbolic role more than any real representative role. You like to talk about leadership, and you seem to put a lot of stock in the value of presidential leadership, but, again, this seems symbolic more than practical, if you consider how the system actually works.

The president may "represent" the people, but just how representative is the president? (See below.)

What is the role of the president in the American presidential system? When you talk about effectiveness, you're talking about the executive right? Getting things done? I get that. But I'm talking about Congress here, and Congress has more direct/representative responsibility than the president in doing the work to get what the people want.

This isn't about how people are elected. It's about their responsibilities. Do you know what the president is responsible for and why? Do you know what Congress is responsible for and why?

I think it will be best to clarify what I mean by "most representative." Congress is the most representative body in America because it is up to Congress to, as you say, "handle the given conflicts of interest in a manner consistent with our Constitution." The president's role in this is limited. Much of the heavy lifting is up to Congress. If it were up to the president, Obama wouldn't have had the problems he's had with health care reform.

Congress is the legislature. When it becomes dysfunctional, there is very little the president can do about it.

Well, you and I only make up a tiny portion of one of several areas on TFP. We're not making decisions here that will affect many other members. Most members don't even know we're having this discussion. That's why it's a good idea to manage TFP keeping in mind that several members hate Tilted Politics. We don't force them to take it whether they like it or not. They actually have to opt in for them to even see it.

This is what I mean in the grander scheme of things. People have different wants and needs; fulfilling these wants and needs doesn't necessarily mean that others have to lose out completely (i.e., it's not always a zero-sum or all-or-nothing game), though I'll admit that you can't please everyone, nor should you.

Again, this is why Congress is the most representative. There will be winners and losers. The representatives in Congress need to keep doing what they must to serve their constituents. The low approval rating of Congress suggests to me that they aren't doing this well enough.

You can gripe all you want about Obama's leadership. I think the bigger problem is a dearth of leadership in Congress. It should be obvious.

 

Jobless Claims in U.S. Reach Lowest Level in Seven Years

Does he get credit?? Nope, no soup for Obama.
He only deserves credit for negative situations because he's not "leading", it's all on the job-creators.

Let's just hope the momentum keeps going, no matter who gets credit.
Then perhaps the "job-creators" will be forced to pay more and make "many hat wearing" positions less necessary.

Oh yeah...and perhaps they'd like to try "training" people again, instead of only getting "out of the box" employees.
They might be able to fill those voids they've been complaining about so much.

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Now, what Obama does get blamed for...goes overboard...so much so, that even some conservative leaning (RINO) outlets are noting it.

And why isn't he done yet??
He's not "leading"

 

I'm reminded of the sheer naiveté required to make the claim that Obama is the "worst president in history."

It's like they don't know what history actually means.

This is not even including the issue of taking an objective view of the state of affairs.

 

They are spouting words without meaning.
Unfortunately, there are many that listen and follow.
Fortunately, they are likely to have not thought of him highly anyway.

The only real problem is...the media still reports on it as if it has meaning. (being "fair" and all)

Actually, a good representation of the "balance" portrayed by the media, was a skit I saw on the new HBO show, John Oliver’s ‘Last Week Tonight’
He is noting what the actual percentage of representation would be on "climate change" debates.
Link


Now, if they'd only do that for ALL topics, including who's truly concerned about Obama and/or Washington.

 

This is excellent...and shows the man knows the need for subtlety.
Everything can't be solved with a hammer.

While I agreed with GWB's focusing on terrorism and the significance of it.
I disagreed in the long-run with his efforts on it...which were overkill.
And Obama too got trapped by the same thing initially.
It is a VERY scary thing...and they see things we do not everyday.
It is easy to overreact. (I'm sure I would have too.)

Hopefully we can move with more precision.
A hard thing to do when people are clamoring for "results", making our mark...and you're driving a HUGE vehicle.

The bad guys are out there, they ARE out to get you.
But how you respond is complicated...you cannot use a sledgehammer to crack this nut.

 

Great policy.
Now if we can only get Congress to adapt it...

 

When considering Obama's legacy, it would make sense to focus primarily on Congress during his tenure.

This article may help you understand why: Millennials are losing faith in the presidency. Good. - Vox

It's a starting point, perhaps.

 

Well, some will give credit when there is none...and others will not give credit when it's due.
So, everything is relative.

On another note, the flavor of the month. (excuse me, scandal of the moment...)

Frankly, I think Obama is playing the GOP and conservatives like Frank Underwood does on House of Cards.
Playing the long-game chessmaster here. He's getting more & more comfortable in his 2nd term.

It is the current distraction,
But for some reason, I'm seeing a scene like when Obama took the winds from McCain...or pulled past Romney.
(The GOP is charging at it instinctively like a raging bull to a red cape... There's a political cartoon for you.)

We just might see a turn-around for him and the Dems in the next election.
The GOP would be wise to be wary, play it cool.

I have a feeling conservatives will be pissed off more in the future, losing the game that is seemingly theirs to win.
But, then again...he's been pissing them off from the start.
How dare he??

 

Did Obama grow an aggressive obvious pair while no one was looking?? (well, we were distracted by all the spectacles floating around outside of DC)​

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Obama on Bergdahl deal: ‘No apologies’​

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Obama Says Putin Running Out of Time Over Ukraine​

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Well, this guy will do anything to piss off the GOP and the Right.​

How dare he show the "leader" material that we've been screaming for... ​

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In all seriousness, the opposition better watch out...I smell a storm brewin'...perhaps a Tsunami.​

I'd say it will build through the summer...slam in Sept....and leave another political wake in Oct. like Hurricane Sandy. ​

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President Obama will call on Congress to pass legislation that would let college graduates with heavy debts refinance their loans.

Frankly, I think its another trap for the GOP.
He's starting to act on things...not just to the benefit of his agenda and admittedly potentially for citizens...but also the timing is right before the elections.
Again, provoking the "bad guy" image of the conservatives.
Just like the GOP attempts to portray the Dems as weak spenders...the Dems do a good job of portraying the GOP as uncaring maniacs.

Which face believed is whomever spins it the best.
He knows their weakness well.
And that is...opposing ANYTHING he attempts or says.
If you know what your opponent is going to do...you can leverage it.

He's starting to tack against the wind, triangulation like Bill Clinton did vs. the GOP.
He's building the momentum...

 

Relevant:

Colleges are full of it: Behind the three-decade scheme to raise tuition, bankrupt generations, and hypnotize the media - Salon.com

 

Yep, that's been the way it's been lately...everyone fee'ing the public to death...not just the US, but Europe and otherwise too.
It's the new way of raising revenue.
Death by a 1000 cuts. (from the wallets of the public by volume...local, state, national and global...)

And you wonder why you always feel you don't have enough...
And you may...it's just the constant sensation of not being to put a finger on your budget exactly. (the trickle-up notion)

I'm hoping they'll be able to leverage the Consumer Protection Agency more & more, (and whatever similarly exists in other countries)
it's just that we have quite a few already entrenched mindsets, agendas and conflicts of interest.

My question...are the nations' Administrations (including Obama's) even aware of it
and are they going to smooth it out...or just support the status quo??
And if so, how fast?

 

As a followup - The middle class is even worse off than the numbers show

Now, I don't know how they do their statistics...but it would make sense that if one portion was so offset by comparison it would skew the results.
I just don't know why they don't do for multiple categories...not all together.

I'd also think we'd be intelligent enough to create new reporting.
But perhaps this has to be stipulated by the legislative branch...I wouldn't think so, but there are zany rules in govt.

Question is...are we going to do something about it?
Has it started already?

Problem is both Obama and other executives are poor in relaying what exactly is going on...or planned.
I mean, I understand that you can't do whatever, because of elections and opposition...but still, it's been ambiguous for some time.