Reply #6: Traditionally, that is how presidents push their objectives.

[pa28]

I'm a little surprised too because Obama gave the impression he was going to be an activist for a change and a president in touch with the people. Once he was inaugurated it became apparent that his style was more technocratic and that he prefers operating the levers of power from inside the bubble to accomplish his goals.

The tension between the reality of this presidency and the hope is deeply woven into the division we see in the party at the moment IMO. On one hand you have the reality of President Obama, cloistered and involved in legislative minutia and on the other you have the President Obama many hoped for; a principled leader who willingly engages the public and makes the other side worry about populist consequences once he has swayed public consensus.

Ironically, once he finally wheeled out the "bully pulpit" and went to the public; once he explained the real world consequences of opposing his tax compromise plan he used his position of authority against Democrats. The bully pulpit worked just like it was supposed to. He convinced voters that they would suffer economic losses if the plan failed and politicians, worried about electoral punishment, were swayed.

Wow, I wish he would have searched around in the White House basement and found the bully pulpit earlier. He could have used it during the healthcare debate or even against extending tax cuts for the wealthiest.