Is the role of the President overrated in the present day?

[nxt1]

With all of the advisers, intelligence officers, experts in their fields, and other members of the executive branch today, is the true role of the President just to take the credit from those doing the real work, act more as a symbol than an actual decision and policy maker? With all of the advisers and experts, does Obama deserve the credit for capturing bin Laden, did the SEALs just ask for his approval to move in once they had identified bin Laden's location?

[shraby]

1. The military (that includes the SEALS) do nothing without the

go ahead of the Commander in Chief. The plans are presented to him and he thumbs up or thumbs down them after consulting with his advisors and getting the best info he possible can in order to make a decision.

[nxt1]

3. Exactly

They do everything and then ask him for the go ahead. Essentially a "we have a location on bin Laden can we move in?" Not exactly a killer decision right there

[TTUBatfan2008]

38. Here's the thing though...

They did NOT have 100% certainty that he was even there. Obama called it "circumstantial evidence." They weren't able to confirm via satellite images that Bin Laden was even living at the compound.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. No...

Because the president is ultimately the decider (to steal a word from Bush). They sink or swim with the final decision.

So they certainly need to weigh every level of their choice.

You've got to remember that often the advisers, intelligence offers and experts will come to five different conclusions. They're not always going to agree and certainly will offer their differing opinions.

It's why the president gets to decide.

[nxt1]

4. The President does

Have to bear the responsibility for whichever decision he does make, but for the most part the people he surrounds himself with come to a general consensus on the issues, or at the very least there is a majority opinion.

[emulatorloo]

16. You know as well as I do that Obama listens to all sides, and then makes HIS decision

It is his decision, not his advisors.

[Drunken Irishman]

27. But I don't know if they do come to a consensus...

Look at the bin Laden raid as an example. It's been reported there was a conflict of opinion within the WH. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a divide.

[demosincebirth]

28. ...and takes the heat.

[Trajan]

5. LOL .... Not very subtle .....

[Horse with no Name]

No........n/t

[Enrique]

6. it depends

if it's good, then the President has a primary role.

If it's bad, then the president is powerless.

[DJ13]

7. Apparently it is

If a President doesnt try to follow through on campaign promises theres always an excuse that he cant do it (or anything else) alone, that he has no power to exert the authority of his office if it might upset the status quo.

If thats the truth then the office is but a figurehead position.

[nxt1]

8. Would very much agree here

[emulatorloo]

13. Don't feed the trolls n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Only if you take idioms literally and ignore the real facts

Obama, in a material sense, is no more responsible for the success of operation against Osama last week than a corporate CEO is responsible for the success his company's best selling product. President Obama made it a priority (where Bush the Frat Boy did not), President Obama recognized good, actionable intelligence (instead of listening only to what he wanted to hear, the way the Frat Boy and the Big Dick justified invading Iraq based on what turned out to be lies) and gave the order to get the bastard (whereas Rumsfeld withheld chopper support at Tora Bora). President can take credit for using his resources and using them wisely. Had the Frat Boy, the Big Dick and other members their junta did as President Obama and his administration, they would have gotten credit for capturing or killing Osama a long time ago.

[treestar]

10. As opposed to what?

It is overrated by people who are obsessed with it and think it it all powerful.

But it's also ridiculous to claim he's just a figurehead.

[MichiganVote]

11. Head of the Executive branch of the government. Not exactly a light weight position.

[emulatorloo]

14. Self-Delete wrong place

[Demeter]

12. I would say the office is under-filled

with very ineffective, sold-out occupants who have not the people's interest in mind but only the Corporations.

[emulatorloo]

15. Re-read the OP: "does Obama deserve the credit for capturing bin Laden"

This is the big right wing meme these days,

[nxt1]

17. You are having a fun time commenting

I personally think he single-handedly does not, I think his cabinet, his advisers, his staff, etc. as a whole deserves the credit. I think we wrongly give it solely to Obama and I think even he would have it otherwise.

[kestrel91316]

21. I am unaware of a SINGLE PERSON who is giving Obama sole credit

and not recognizing that his very well-chosen staff also played a role.

Are you having fun?

[emulatorloo]

24. Wingnut websites claim Obama is taking full credit. But they are dishonest and make stuff up that

isn't true.

Rush Limbaugh said something similar too - but we all know he is a serial liar.

[emulatorloo]

22. Well first of all find me an instance of where Obama solely claimed credit

You won't find one.

Each time he credits

- the Navy seal team
- the cia

On the other hand I have seen this Fabricated Notion that "Obama claims all the credit" on several disreputable right wing website. These sites are best known for MAKING SHIT UP.

I have a feeling these same websites would be giving full credit to Obama had the mission failed. Think about it.

Now if you are very literal minded, of course Obama did not fire the bullet that killed Osama Bin Laden. On the other hand he is the Commander in Cheif and he gave the order.

[nxt1]

23. Re-read

It's a good habit. Never said he claimed credit said it is undeservingly given to him. Even said he would rather not take much credit for it.

[emulatorloo]

25. "Even said he would rather not take much credit for it."

What are you implying now?

It is sounding very much like the Lie making the rounds which tries to claim Obama did not want to go after bin Laden but was over-ruled by Panetta. I believe this nonsense was pushed by the former drug addict, Rush Limbaugh, as well

[nxt1]

26. I'm not implying anything

quit reading into everything I say. I said he does not wish to claim full credit for it because he believes that everyone in the administration deserves credit, not just him.

[Ikonoklast]

41. Couldn't read, too busy putting out the left-wing meme in response.

[JoePhilly]

18. The SEALS identified OBL's Location????

Bwahahahahahahha ....

Ok, come on ... who put you up to this??? Steve Doocy over at Fox and Friends???

I mean come on ... what IDIOT thinks that the SEALs pick their own missions.

Oh wait, wait ... this makes sense ... Bush blamed the same EXPERTS for 9/11 and took no blame for it at all.

Now, suddenly, those same experts are AWESOME and they get all the credit.

Here is an idea ... a crappy leader (like Bush) doesn't know who to listen to, and as a result, makes crappy decisions, like when he dropped the ball in Afghanistan and went into the Iraq Distraction.

Oh, btw ... enjoy your stay!!!

:rofl:

[kestrel91316]

19. Yeah, it's just a title anymore, doesn't mean anything. I mean, if a

BLACK MAN can be president, anybody can. The illiterate immigrant tomato picker down the road could do just as good a job.

Uh huh.

[Horse with no Name]

39. Good catch! n/t

[DevonRex]

20. Republicans think he should get less or no credit.

[MatthewStLouis]

29. No! President Obama put his arse on the line and he deserves credit for it!

If the operation had failed, he would've been roasted. (Just like Jimmy Carter was after the failed mission to extract the hostages in Iran.) You can split hairs all day trying to be philosophical over who should get what allotment of credit. If someone cooks a good meal for you: do you credit the chef? Or maybe you want to credit the farmer who grew the food. Or the workers who picked it? Or perhaps the truck drivers who hauled it?

I think your argument is petty. The republicans would have had George Bush sainted if he had caught Bin Laden. I would have at least given him credit for it. Especially choosing such a risky operation with high chances of failure. But...he didn't get him did he? He didn't even get him the "easy way" with smart bombs and missiles.

[craigmatic]

30. Depends on a variety of factors

mainly the balance of power in congress, personal temprament of the president, and type of compitence style the president uses. Corporations also have more influence than they're given credit for which further limits presidential authority.

[JTFrog]

31. No, but the role of troll is definitely underrated. n/t

[nxt1]

32. .?

[Marr]

33. The president is more plugged in and has more influence today than ever before.

Look at the mess caused by GW Bush's utter stupidity and incompetence.

[Swede]

34. Oh,you're thinking of the last President.

You remember that dolt,Bush,don't you?

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

35. The President appoints federal judges and Supreme Court justices

who serve for life, as well as members of his Cabinet (who appoint those within their offices), etc. In other words, the President has a huge influence of the direction the country is going, not only during his administration but for years and decades to come (why do you think John Roberts is so young?)

As much as we'd hate to admit it, much of politics is based on social relationships, and this is especially true in the case of international relations. Our President is the face of our nation, and during Bush's reign it was a face that was despised over much of the world. Obama has restored relations that Bush destroyed with his arrogance and ignorance -- remember his massaging the German chancellor's shoulders?

The President decides which is more important -- deficit reduction or creating jobs, continuing two (and maybe three) wars of no point, holding the rich to paying their fair share of the tax burden, etc. He inspires or discourages the citizenry by virtue of his words.

I think a good President can make a huge difference in this country. Unfortunately, IMHO FDR was the last one to fully embrace the principles of the Democratic Party.

[ecstatic]

36. Who did you think was responsible for the military doing intelligence work in Pakistan

in the first place? Do you think the military commanders just go wherever they choose? Google McCain's opinion on going into Pakistan back in 2008. Enjoy your stay!

[Blue-Jay]

37. Republican butthurt is fun to watch, isn't it?

[defendandprotect]

40. Our problems are with corporations and fascism -- and certainly not

with OBL who was never put on trial for the alleged crime --

In fact, we don't even really know the extent of the "crime" on 9/11 --

Were the buildings actually closed to workers at 7:30 in the morning?

Was there but one plane flown around the NYC WTC towers and then down to DC

to fly OVER the Pentagon while explosives were set off within the building

and on the lawn simulanteous with the fly over?

The WTC towers had to come down because of asbestos and the fact that the

towers were viable in today's market -- it was unsuitable space -- and among

many other problems hugely expensive to heat and cool.

DEMOLITION was NOT going to be permitted -- and scaffolding was going to have

to be built to bring down the towers just as they were put up -- one piece at

a time!! Think the owners were going to go for that?

More like Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld organized this -- Blackwater?

But, since we had 24 hour surveillance of Taliban/Al Qaeda even if we went for

that outrageous lie, we would have clearly known what they were up to beforehand!

[Ikonoklast]

42. What accomplishments would you attribute to G.W. Bush, then, using your own premise.

Since his entire administration was a complete and total failure, was it his fault, or the fault of his advisors?

Which would still be his fault because he listened to them.


Good Job on catapulting the current right-wing meme, however.

Enjoy your stay.

[democracy1st]

43. another dumb freeper!