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September 30, 2009

The President's Other Republican Problem (as in his ego and the republican quality of this country)

Topics: Political News and commentaries

Jay Cost has an important piece on Obama's delusions and the trouble he is having in keeping his ego within the boundaries of an office that fundamentally reflects the republican quality of this country.

[...] It is difficult to nail down precisely what "republicanism" means. It has had different meanings in different places at different times. In the United States, it conjures up the notion of self-government: the people are capable of ruling themselves, and the authority of the leaders derives from the consent of the governed, rather than some aristocratic pedigree or superior position in life.

[...] Ironically, the sense that the President is no better than any of us is a major reason why the office is so powerful, or at least why it can be. A President who appears to be of the people, rather than above them, can more easily rally them to his cause, thereby forcing the Congress to do as he likes. It is not coincidental that the first stirrings of the modern, powerful presidency can be seen in the administration of Andrew Jackson, who was thought by his opponents to be the leader of a mob.

Since he emerged on the national stage, Barack Obama has not been the model of American republicanism. This was the case during the campaign, and it continues today. Juxtapose the simple respectability of the White House with these images taken from the Obama-Biden campaign website.

Read it all ...

H/t - Shawn Macomber

Posted by Abdul at September 30, 2009 2:42 PM

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