The 2008 presidential field at-a-glance

[skylark]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

If only presidents could serve three consecutive terms...

... then we'd have a chance at alienating the last three countries that give a bleep about America anymore?

... then we could ensure that global warming plus paralyizing national emergency services turns more major cities into disaster areas like New Orleans?

... then we could line the pockets of energy CEOs with additional tax cuts that our grandchildren will have to pay for while they're already contributing half their paychecks because we depleted our social security funds and had shitty health care and so aren't well enough to work?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by skylark

... then we'd have a chance at alienating the last three countries that give a bleep about America anymore?

... then we could ensure that global warming plus paralyizing national emergency services turns more major cities into disaster areas like New Orleans?

... then we could line the pockets of energy CEOs with additional tax cuts that our grandchildren will have to pay for while they're already contributing half their paychecks because we depleted our social security funds and had shitty health care and so aren't well enough to work?

I'm not a Bush fan, but please, do you even understand how government in the US works? Only one of the three things you've listed really has anything to do with the executive branch. (ETA: Well, I guess they have something to do with the executive branch, but it's hard to see why they wouldn't really be something congress ought to address, seeing as Congress makes laws and all. )

One the other hand, surely SECDomination was joking, right?

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I'm not a Bush fan, but please, do you even understand how government in the US works? Only one of the three things you've listed really has anything to do with the executive branch. (ETA: Well, I guess they have something to do with the executive branch, but it's hard to see why they wouldn't really be something congress ought to address, seeing as Congress makes laws and all. )

I don't think she's the one who doesn't understand how the US government works.

The President is the focal point of foreign relations and (unfortunately, in Bush's case) the "mouthpiece" of the US that other nations hear. The President's "interests" (big oil, the gun lobby, anti-everything groups) have, through him, unparalleled levels of access to power brokers around DC.

The President also appoints the head of each federal agency (so, the head of FEMA, for instance -- that would have a direct impact on that agency, its direction and its functioning)

Anyone who doesn't think (or doesn't know) that the bureaucracy creates and puts into play as many, if not more, policies than the Congress is believing what they're told and feeding the blindness most have about the system. Google books related to the bureaucracy and policy- or law-making to learn about what's sometimes referred to as the "4th branch of government." THAT, to me, is the most powerful part of who gets the top office. Sure, Supreme Court appointments are big, but they're out in the open. Everyone can follow Congress on C-Span all day. But who really tracks what's happening in the bowels of the Departments of Energy, Education, Labor, everyday? The # of political appointments in these organizations is astounding. And the effect these political appointments have on US policy is staggering. And for the most part, goes unnoticed and unchecked.

The Executive Branch is not just a 2-person + White House staff turnover. The tentacles go much, much deeper in the system. And this current bunch in DC definitely need their roots dug up and their tainted soil needs much tilling, IMO.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I don't think she's the one who doesn't understand how the US government works.

The President is the focal point of foreign relations and (unfortunately, in Bush's case) the "mouthpiece" of the US that other nations hear. The President's "interests" (big oil, the gun lobby, anti-everything groups) have, through him, unparalleled levels of access to power brokers around DC.

The President also appoints the head of each federal agency (so, the head of FEMA, for instance -- that would have a direct impact on that agency, its direction and its functioning)

Anyone who doesn't think (or doesn't know) that the bureaucracy creates and puts into play as many, if not more, policies than the Congress is believing what they're told and feeding the blindness most have about the system. Google books related to the bureaucracy and policy- or law-making to learn about what's sometimes referred to as the "4th branch of government." THAT, to me, is the most powerful part of who gets the top office. Sure, Supreme Court appointments are big, but they're out in the open. Everyone can follow Congress on C-Span all day. But who really tracks what's happening in the bowels of the Departments of Energy, Education, Labor, everyday? The # of political appointments in these organizations is astounding. And the effect these political appointments have on US policy is staggering. And for the most part, goes unnoticed and unchecked.

The Executive Branch is not just a 2-person + White House staff turnover. The tentacles go much, much deeper in the system. And this current bunch in DC definitely need their roots dug up and their tainted soil needs much tilling, IMO.

Right, but bureaucracy isn't limited to the executive branch and the problems you bring up didn't start with Bush.

Does the Federal Government stink? Absolutely.

But you can't in any way absolve Congress or Presidents before Bush for the issues you bring up, nor can you reasonably expect that these issues are going to dry up and go away with the election of anyone still in the race (or anyone in the race at any point, really).

Do you really think that if we elect Clinton or Obama the issues you describe will go away? Really? You think government agencies were squeaky clean under Clinton? Really?

As I said before, I'm not even a Bush fan; I think he's one of least effective Presidents in a long time, but don't go nuts assigning blame to him for things that were only marginally within his control. He was President, not God.