Reply #10: Do you have any idea what the press was like in TR's time?

[Bluenorthwest]

I don't think so. Because they were not a mouthpiece for the people or for the President anymore than they are now. This is why TR did not call the press 'the bully pulpit' but rather the office itself, the Presidency is the pulpit in question.
Obama said all through the campaign he intened to make use of the Bully pulpit, you know. He did not claim there was no more bully pulpit, he asked to be given it so he could use it. He got it, but he just does not know how to use it. It is not easy, no one should ask for a job that is one out of 300 Million and have any expectations of ease, in fact, it is derelict to seek such a job if you intend to make excuses and blame the sun in your eyes or some pundit with an audience of a few hundred thousand. If you do not know how to beat the forces that will be opposing you, you should not presume to ask to lead the United States of America. In fact, the idea of defending that office by claiming some cable nut job has a stronger platform nudges up toward the disrespectful.