How much power does Pres Obama have? And 3 other questions...

[uppityperson]

How much power should a president have?

How much power does congress have?

How much power should they have?

[LWolf]

1. Not as much as people think he does, but more than he should.

Congress? They have the power to write legislation. I don't think the issue is how much, but how they use that power.

Currently, I think the power of both Congress and the WH is being abused.

[uppityperson]

2. "I don't think the issue is how much, but how they use that power."

I agree with what you write abut both, and thank you for answering

[uppityperson]

26. I MADE A MISTAKE and too late to edit, SHOULD have written just President, not Obama

Sorry for yelling here but trying to get this high enough in the thread so maybe people reading it might notice. Thanks.

[branders seine]

3. If one listens to the apologists here, he has no power.

[uppityperson]

4. 2nd answer.You do not answer but c/o other Duers. Do you have an answer for me beyond that?

" If one listens to the complainers here, he has total power. "

See, that doesn't do much to answer my question, does it? Do you have an answer to any of them?

[branders seine]

6. read the Constitution.

it answers all three simultaneously.

[uppityperson]

7. And, in your opinion, how much power does the Constitution give them in reality?

[branders seine]

9. Since Reagan, almost dictatorial powers

They can declare anyone they wish a "terrorist" (a completely undefined term), wiretap them, rendition them, torture them, disappear them...

They can send us to war, and need only Congress's approval of their budget for it.

If the leader of their party, they can influence apportionment of party election funds.

They can address the people directly in a way no other politician can.

They can force Congress into session and force them to stay in session.

They can introduce legislation themselves.

If you're trying to weasel Obama off the hook for his Administration's repeated failures, because he is powerless, it won't work.

[uppityperson]

11. So Pres has dictatorial powers and Congress none?

No, I am not trying to "If you're trying to weasel Obama off the hook for his Administration's repeated failures, because he is powerless". I am not a fan of dichotomous thinking.

[branders seine]

13. Nixon attempted to create an Imperial Presidency. He eroded some Congressional powers.

Reagan took it further.

The Bush's took it even further.

[uppityperson]

15. How much power does congress have? How much should they have?

How mush should president have?

[branders seine]

17. They should reassert their Consitutional authority.

They alone get to declare war. they alone contol the purse strings. They alone enact legislation.

[uppityperson]

18. Indeed they should. Checks and balances are there for a reason.

[uppityperson]

25. I MADE A MISTAKE and too late to edit, SHOULD have written just President, not Obama

I was wrong, too late to edit, will try to put this up higher also.

[kenny blankenship]

8. I think you have hit a nerve!

[treestar]

10. No that's false

If one listens to the foot stompers here, he had monarchical powers or thug like powers. The ones bush claimed to have.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. The veto gives him/her lots of power.

The ability to write legislation gives congress lots of power.


The answer to how much power for both is: More than their corporate masters allow.

[DailyGrind51]

12. The President can threaten to withhold funds from states of recalicitrant legislators,

it he has the cojones to do so. Unfortunately, President Obama chooses to remain "Mr. Nice Guy".

[rug]

14. Hard to tell. He never put it to the test.

[Cleita]

16. In the Constitution, there was supposed to be checks and balances

between the three branches of government so that they had equal power. :shrug:

[timtom]

19. Barely a groatsworth.

[JFN1]

20. How much power does MONEY have?

That is the real question...

[rucky]

21. Should be equal balance of power

weighted slightly in favor of Congress

[uppityperson]

22. Because Congress is multiple people who may check/balance each other?

Where pres is one person?

[rucky]

23. More direct representation.

So, yeah.

[uppityperson]

24. I agree with that. There is a reason we have layers of gvt

thanks for the answer