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Showing Original Post only (View all)What the hell is Barack Obama's presidency for? [View all]
A few days after John F Kennedy's assassination, Lyndon Johnson sat in his kitchen with his key advisers working his first speech to Congress. It was the evening of Kennedy's funeral Johnson was now president. The nation was still in grief and Johnson, writes Robert Caro in The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Passage of Power, was not yet able to move into the White House because Kennedy's effects were still there.
He had been a hapless vice-president; now he had to both personify and project the transition from bereavement to business as usual. In the midst of the cold war, with Vietnam brewing, the Kennedy administration had been trying to get civil rights legislation and tax cuts through Congress. There was plenty of business to attend to. Johnson's advisers were keen that he introduced himself to the nation as a president who could get things done.
For that reason, writes Caro, they implored him not to push for civil rights in this first speech, since it had no chance of passing. "The presidency has only a certain amount of coinage to expend, and you oughtn't to expend it on this," said "one of the wise, practical people around the table". Johnson, who sat in silence at the table as his aides debated, interjected: "Well, what the hell's the presidency for?"
<snip>
Barack Obama has now been in power for longer than Johnson was, and the question remains: "What the hell's his presidency for?"
<snip>
He had been a hapless vice-president; now he had to both personify and project the transition from bereavement to business as usual. In the midst of the cold war, with Vietnam brewing, the Kennedy administration had been trying to get civil rights legislation and tax cuts through Congress. There was plenty of business to attend to. Johnson's advisers were keen that he introduced himself to the nation as a president who could get things done.
For that reason, writes Caro, they implored him not to push for civil rights in this first speech, since it had no chance of passing. "The presidency has only a certain amount of coinage to expend, and you oughtn't to expend it on this," said "one of the wise, practical people around the table". Johnson, who sat in silence at the table as his aides debated, interjected: "Well, what the hell's the presidency for?"
<snip>
Barack Obama has now been in power for longer than Johnson was, and the question remains: "What the hell's his presidency for?"
<snip>
Interesting piece: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/23/what-is-barack-obama-presidency-for
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Same as the British Prime Minister position. Blair has become immensely richer. It's The Way.
WinkyDink
Feb 2014
#34
I heard "gold or lead" about the proposition given to new federalis in Mexico by the drug cartels
yurbud
Mar 2014
#110
If the Republican Party (as a brand) is dying it has nothing to do with the Democrats.
Boomerproud
Feb 2014
#68
And appointed many of them to positions of power which the people threw them out of.
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#94
What are you talking about? They were dead in 2006 and 2008. Now they're in charge again
Doctor_J
Feb 2014
#75
if by that you mean that it has moved the party Tea Bagger-right...
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
Mar 2014
#114
Don't you think if Obama thought he could get universal healthcare or Medicare for all passed
kelliekat44
Feb 2014
#27
Yes, they blamed your insurance company, never said you don't deserve relief.
uppityperson
Feb 2014
#66
I still don't agree. I blame politicians taking massive cash from insurance companies
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#82
My health insurance premiums raised every yr, as did deductibles and copays, until the ACA kicked in
uppityperson
Feb 2014
#83
both parties are taking too much corporate cash, it is corrupting public policy
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#88
that's why we need pragmatic voices, not conservative ideas from 1980 squating in space
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#97
Agree - Obama/Democratic Party hasn't built brand trust, middle class left behind
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#60
We win the initial conflict in most wars we fight but then we try to rebuild the nations ...
spin
Feb 2014
#80
nope, the original plan they had was going to be worse, they switched this year, best they could do
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#41
Did you seek an alternative to your corporate plan on the healthcare.gov website? n/t
Tanuki
Feb 2014
#71
I don't own the company where I work which is rather huge with many thousands of employees - however
pragmatic_dem
Mar 2014
#117
Exactly!! Using the financial meltdown as excuse to NOT do healthcare reform
Pretzel_Warrior
Feb 2014
#4
ACA for one. To hasten the downfall of the repubs is another. Endorse marriage equality.
uppityperson
Feb 2014
#5
Oh give it a rest. Let's see health care reform, civil rights reform, Lily ledbetter act, climate
okaawhatever
Feb 2014
#6
First and foremost is was to protect the Banksters from prosecution. Then is was to advance the
Vincardog
Feb 2014
#8
if i had a penny for every bitter clown who insists everyone who disagrees with them is a paid
dionysus
Mar 2014
#113
Guess who said this? "...in fact it’s a Republican idea and Governor Romney at the beginning..."
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#22
I don't understand your point - are you saying Obama lied about health care? Romney signed it right?
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#31
Thank you. I also agree I am very clear. Unfortunately, I can't offer you the same complement. -nt
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#47
I don't think I can vote for Obama in 2016, sorry. I just can't. Does that make me a hater?
Electric Monk
Feb 2014
#56
I'm tyring to put his campaign promises and assertions about NAFTA and spying
pragmatic_dem
Feb 2014
#73
The same Lyndon Johnson that gave us the worst conflict in American history?
Drunken Irishman
Feb 2014
#35
To get formerly sane Dems to support union-busting, Heritage Care, torture, KXL, TPP
Doctor_J
Feb 2014
#38
The writer should have made note why Johnson didn't run for re-election in 1968
BumRushDaShow
Feb 2014
#62
It's for asking whether or not the Obama presidency is any use to the left wing
sibelian
Mar 2014
#120
Just like anyother Presidents Job, kicking the can down the road for the 1%
wocaonimabi
Feb 2014
#102
To ensure that the powerful remain in power and to expand that power wherever possible.
Egalitarian Thug
Feb 2014
#106
He could have answered his own question if he looked at the monthly jobs chart. nt
stevenleser
Mar 2014
#115