Half a President

[cwo_ghwebb]

President Obama apparently wants to do only half of his job -- the part that is the most fun. And he's got his eyes on a higher position.

Barack Obama has been the number one topic of conversation among many of my friends and associates in London. His incompetence, narcissism and danger to the interests of the United States and its allies in Europe are startling people. I was asked "How does Obama view himself as President?" We happened to be sitting in a hotel which overlooked Buckingham Palace and suddenly the answer to the question came to me.

In the United Kingdom and many other countries with a parliamentary system there is a distinction between the head of state and the head of the government. In some countries such as Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom the monarch either a King or Queen is considered the head of state and with that office goes all the trappings of royalty. The mundane responsibility of running the government falls to the elected Parliament and their chosen Prime Minister.

Of the world's major democracies only the United States merges both functions into the office of President.

It appears that Barack Obama views himself as the head of state only. As such he cannot be bothered with the day to day responsibility of governance. He is, in his narcissistic world, above all that; thus he delegates the writing of the Stimulus, health care and other major bills to Nancy Pelosi, puts off any decisions on Iran and Afghanistan, appoints czars with power to spend and set policy and prefers to spend his time on television speaking to the huddled masses.

Half a president

I never looked at the Prez from this perspective but it rings true.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by cwo_ghwebb

Half a president

I never looked at the Prez from this perspective but it rings true.

The LAST thing Obama views himself as is 'just' the head of state. He gets involved with EVERYTHING, from autos to banking to community policing to being your doctor to international apologist in chief for things he has nothing to do with to 'sit down and lets have a chat' guy to pleading for the Olympics. Wait until someone has a leaking faucet; he'll become Barack the Plumber.

There isn't a head of state in world history who spent so much time getting involved in EVERYTHING. Heads of state are dignified and reserved. They are symbols. Obama is Action Jackson.

Granted, he doesn't do any of the heavy lifting but, he is there, from cry for help, to phone booth changing into super hero costume to standing tall over the problem declaring "I am here!" in pretty good shape.

[bcp (Premo)]

Its obvious that this Half a president is in reference to him being half white, as if only the white half can be smart enough to be president, and the black half being dismissed as just going along for the freebies.

this post has been reported as raciss

[SamSpade]

I have to admit that although I've heard the reference to head of state versus the head of government, I've certainly never understood the significance of it. Let me see if I understand - the head of state gets to attend international functions and behaves as the nation's ambassador and face to the world - but otherwise serves no serious function as to running the country?

Why would any nation need that in the first place? I can't imagine anything of significance, be it a state or company that has to make that distinction.

[Beta84]

That article is stupid. He gets involved with alot of stuff. It's not like he's on vacation more often than any other president in history. Somehow I think W's record will be hard to beat. Obama may not focus on what some of you prefer and may not do what you like, but that doesn't mean he's not working.

And anyone who buys into that "royalty and running the government merged" jargon is an idiot. People don't view the queen of england as the end all, be all...they look at the REAL head of state, aka the Prime Minister.

[chernmax (Premo)]

Originally Posted by bcp

Its obvious that this Half a president is in reference to him being half white, as if only the white half can be smart enough to be president, and the black half being dismissed as just going along for the freebies.

this post has been reported as raciss

He does live in Government subsidized housing!!!

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by SamSpade

Why would any nation need that in the first place? I can't imagine anything of significance, be it a state or company that has to make that distinction.

Nations didn't get that in the first place.
It evolved from the original monarchy and a desire of the people to self govern yet maintain their historic traditions

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by aps45819

Nations didn't get that in the first place.
It evolved from the original monarchy and a desire of the people to self govern yet maintain their historic traditions

So are the only democracies in the world with such a distinction, former monarchies?

Or is there another situation where a nation has a head of state and a head of government?

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Beta84

It's not like he's on vacation more often than any other president in history. Somehow I think W's record will be hard to beat.

Tot it up.

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by Beta84

That article is stupid. He gets involved with alot of stuff. It's not like he's on vacation more often than any other president in history. Somehow I think W's record will be hard to beat.

You know, every time this gets brought up, I go to the White House site and look at his agenda every time he was back at his ranch in Crawford, and everything points to day after day of being on the job, even while being "back home". When I read the daily logs, I think damn, hardly a "vacation" at all.

You know what might have hurt Obama and the Olympics? The sheer egotism of having to "sacrifice" flying over there. I'm sure the IOC felt *great* about such condescension.