People expect too much from presidents

[Anomalism]

Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush and so on. The president definitely shoulders responsibility, but they don't run things unilaterally. They cannot be everywhere and do everything at once. Their powers are quite limited.

 

[Blues Man]

That sounds like if no one can be blamed then no one is at fault.

The buck always stops at the top.

 

[Blues Man]

Presidents are always quick to take credit for anything positive that happens on their watch even if they had nothing to do with it so they should also have to take credit for all the crap too.

 

[Anomalism]

Presidents are always quick to take credit for anything positive that happens on their watch

Very fair point. That's the flip side of it and that's a dishonest thing to do. It doesn't make what I said any less true though.

 

[Blues Man]

Very fair point. That's the flip side of it and that's a dishonest thing to do. It doesn't make what I said any less true though.

All politicians are dishonest and we should treat them as such

 

[Anomalism]

All politicians are dishonest and we should treat them as such

Are we not also being dishonest when we blame them for everything?

 

[Montrovant]

That sounds like if no one can be blamed then no one is at fault.

The buck always stops at the top.

It may be easier to have a single person to praise or blame, but that doesn't mean it's accurate. There are 3 branches of government, not just 1. And government isn't in control of everything and shouldn't get credit/blame for everything.

All too often we see people here saying a president should get credit or blame for the state of the economy, for example, as if Congress has nothing to do with it, and more importantly, as if it's government rather than the market that's responsible for the economy. That sort of thinking occurs with many other things, as well. Look at how Trump gets blamed for the US Covid deaths as though he single-handedly made every decision across the country regarding the pandemic. Or Obama getting all the blame/credit for the ACA. Bush getting singularly blamed for our being in Iraq and Afghanistan. People too often put more on presidents than they should, IMO.

 

[Blues Man]

Are we not also being dishonest when we blame them for everything?

I have no problem holding the guy at the top accountable.

If we don't want to do that then we should do away with the president and run the country by a council.

 

[occupied]

American presidents have enormous powers compared to the heads of state in other western democracies. Using them unilaterally can carry a heavy political cost.

 

[LibertyKid]

That sounds like if no one can be blamed then no one is at fault.

The buck always stops at the top.

Disagree to a point. Depending on the situation, the POTUS might be to blame. In reality, the POTUS runs the federal government. For each of us, we live in states, where each as their own constitution, laws, legislation, etc. For us, the citizens, the POTUS election is important, but what should be more important is our own local and state elections. Unfortunately, the POTUS role has ballooned, importance, social guidance role has been inflated by the media. Part of that is poor education and training for citizens to understand how our government is ran.

That's why local voting has piss poor turn out. No one cares about their own local voting responsibilities. Bet you most American's can't even tell you who their local representatives are, mayors, governors, senators and congressmen are.

 

[Blues Man]

It may be easier to have a single person to praise or blame, but that doesn't mean it's accurate. There are 3 branches of government, not just 1. And government isn't in control of everything and shouldn't get credit/blame for everything.

All too often we see people here saying a president should get credit or blame for the state of the economy, for example, as if Congress has nothing to do with it, and more importantly, as if it's government rather than the market that's responsible for the economy. That sort of thinking occurs with many other things, as well. Look at how Trump gets blamed for the US Covid deaths as though he single-handedly made every decision across the country regarding the pandemic. Or Obama getting all the blame/credit for the ACA. Bush getting singularly blamed for our being in Iraq and Afghanistan. People too often put more on presidents than they should, IMO.

If a president vetoed something and then it was overturned by Congress I would agree with you but the second a president signs a bill into law he owns it.

 

[Anomalism]

It may be easier to have a single person to praise or blame, but that doesn't mean it's accurate. There are 3 branches of government, not just 1. And government isn't in control of everything and shouldn't get credit/blame for everything.

All too often we see people here saying a president should get credit or blame for the state of the economy, for example, as if Congress has nothing to do with it, and more importantly, as if it's government rather than the market that's responsible for the economy. That sort of thinking occurs with many other things, as well. Look at how Trump gets blamed for the US Covid deaths as though he single-handedly made every decision across the country regarding the pandemic. Or Obama getting all the blame/credit for the ACA. Bush getting singularly blamed for our being in Iraq and Afghanistan. People too often put more on presidents than they should, IMO.

Exactly. It's always refreshing to bump into reasonable posters.

 

[gipper]

Unfortunately the power of the executive branch is much too broad. It needs a significant reduction. Centralized power into the hands of the executive has been going on for decades and it has NOT been opposed by either the legislative or judicial branches.

 

[Blues Man]

Exactly. It's always refreshing to bump into reasonable posters.

Anything that the president approves is his responsibility.

 

[Anomalism]

Unfortunately the power of the executive branch is much too broad. It needs a significant reduction. Centralized power into the hands of the executive has been going on for decades and it has NOT been opposed by either the legislative or judicial branches.

I agree with limiting the president even more. These things have to be kept in check.

 

[Anomalism]

Anything that the president approves is his responsibility.

The president is blamed for things far outside the scope of your point here.

 

[Anomalism]

American presidents have enormous powers compared to the heads of state in other western democracies.

Maybe. It's still just one person in a multi-branched government that governs over 330 million people.

 

[JohnDB]

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

I'd about guarantee you that the president really doesn't know half of the people in his Administration.

And with so many people still in quarantine (self imposed or not) that too many people are paying too close attention to him and passing judgement on every little thing he does.
The more people vote the more they fight.
And the more people get disgusted with politics.
Joe Biden never had a chance...it's when the people are asleep at the wheel...that's when things get accomplished and with everyone paying too close of attention the President is hogtied from doing anything whatsoever.
Well he gets to sit there and look pretty. (Well not that pretty IMHO)

Just saying...
Next Fall is mid-term elections. Whole new Senate and Congress coming in and people are still fighting hard and heavy. I don't see this working out so well with all the fussing going on.

 

[mudwhistle]

Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush and so on. The president definitely shoulders responsibility, but they don't run things unilaterally. They cannot be everywhere and do everything at once. Their powers are quite limited.

Trump could do no right....and Biden takes a nap....thus cannot do anything wrong cuz he's blameless.

 

[Resnic]

Biden, Trump, Obama, Bush and so on. The president definitely shoulders responsibility, but they don't run things unilaterally. They cannot be everywhere and do everything at once. Their powers are quite limited.

So who is responsible then?

Anytime anything goes right the president is there to accept the applause even if they didn't have a thing to do with it.

The president is a mouth piece and s figure head. They are supposed to know what's going on, relay information from different branches to the people, make decisions, support the people and so on. For millions of people the presidents job is to be where they all look to.