# Do we need a businessman in the White House? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 23, 2012, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045 "2012-06-23T07:02:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/101 "2012-06-26T19:31:23Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > Show me where he’s even bowed a little (except to foreign dictators, I already seen enough of that) to get bipartisan support on anything. You mean like removing the public option from the healthcare reform bill because Republicans didn’t like it? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/102 "2012-06-26T19:33:15Z")
And keeping two high-level appointments from the previous administration; Ben Bernanke as Chairman of the Federal Reserve, and Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense. And appointing Jon Huntsman as Ambassador to China. ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/103 "2012-06-26T20:06:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You mean like removing the public option from the healthcare reform bill because Republicans didn’t like it? I think that’s really slicing it thin, with some opposition in his own party and republicans jumping on him hard he gets half a point for caving. RobotArm I’ll have to say not really. Keeping a few appointments and diplomatic slots doesnt fit with the “bending over backwards” to work with the GOP argument that was made up thread. I know I shouldnt be, but I remain surprised that there is anyone left to defend the president’s leadership style. It surely isnt what he promised Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/104 "2012-06-26T20:07:44Z")
All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us? ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/105 "2012-06-26T20:12:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > All right, but apart from the sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us? Obama is like the Roman empire? Hand me a bib and pass me the cup I want some of that. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/106 "2012-06-26T20:19:09Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > I think that’s really slicing it thin, with some opposition in his own party and republicans jumping on him hard he gets half a point for caving. > > RobotArm I’ll have to say not really. Keeping a few appointments and diplomatic slots doesnt fit with the “bending over backwards” to work with the GOP argument that was made up thread. Fine, name any Republican in the last twenty years who has done half as much as Obama has in terms of appointing members of the other party to high-ranking positions, or of implementing their policy ideas. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/107 "2012-06-26T20:20:49Z")
IntelliQ, your contention that Prez Obama and/or the Democrats in the House and Senate didn’t reach across the aisle enough for you or the Republicans is really off point as to this thread, which is supposedly about whether or not a businessman would make a better president than one without business experience. When a Republican such as Mitch McConnell says that the Democrats didn’t reach enough to satisfy him, to me that’s like the wolf complaining that the rabbit wouldn’t lay down in front of him. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/108 "2012-06-26T20:45:42Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > Obama is like the Roman empire? > > Hand me a bib and pass me the cup I want some of that. Pssst. Joke. _Life of Brian_? ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/109 "2012-06-26T20:56:09Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > Correction: It’s community _agitator_. > > Ahh yes the ever-moving goal post. If they’re down to earth they’re not smart enough. If the person is highly successful and earned a great deal of wealth they’re out of touch. (Unless of course they hang in marxist circles and race bait, then it’s ok to be wealthy.) > > Shit, I lost track of which traits you’re against and which one’s you’re for. Maybe it’s time to get out your bumper stickers so I can keep up. Here let me try to communicate with you, y’see, talkingpoint talkingpoint, and because talkingpoint, talktalkapointpoint? So like, talkingpoint, point. Clear now? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/110 "2012-06-26T21:09:48Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > Correction: It’s community _agitator_. **If only!** ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/111 "2012-06-26T21:10:28Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > IntelliQ, your contention that Prez Obama and/or the Democrats in the House and Senate didn’t reach across the aisle enough for you or the Republicans is really off point as to this thread, which is supposedly about whether or not a businessman would make a better president than one without business experience. When a Republican such as Mitch McConnell says that the Democrats didn’t reach enough to satisfy him, to me that’s like the wolf complaining that the rabbit wouldn’t lay down in front of him. 😃 No kidding. It snowballed after I rebuked the notion of democrats “bending over backwards” to please republicans. Now someone is trying to hand me a homework assignment on the 20 year history of presidential appointments. :-/ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/112 "2012-06-26T21:15:02Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > I think that’s really slicing it thin, with some opposition in his own party and republicans jumping on him hard he gets half a point for caving. Don’t forget that the Dem opposition, and most of the public dissatisfaction with Obama’s health-care reform package, exists because [it didn’t go far **enough.**](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/25/repeal-americans-health-reform-poll-finds/) > [@](#): > > A new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1. > > \ > > More than 30 million people would gain coverage in 2019 when the law is fully phased in, but another 20 million or so would remain uninsured. Bleakley, who was uninsured early in her career, views the overhaul as a work in progress. > > The poll found that about four in 10 adults think the new law did not go far enough to change the health care system, regardless of whether they support the law, oppose it or remain neutral. On the other side, about one in five say they oppose the law because they think the federal government should not be involved in health care at all. > > The AP poll was conducted by Stanford University with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Overall, 30 percent favored the legislation, while 40 percent opposed it, and another 30 percent remained neutral. > > Those numbers are no endorsement for Obama’s plan, but the survey also found a deep-seated desire for change that could pose a problem for Republicans. Only 25 percent in the poll said minimal tinkering would suffice for the health care system. ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/113 "2012-06-26T21:19:12Z")
> [@rogerbox](#): > > Here let me try to communicate with you, y’see, talkingpoint talkingpoint, and because talkingpoint, talktalkapointpoint? So like, talkingpoint, point. > > Clear now? Yes, thank you. I really enjoyed that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/114 "2012-06-26T21:21:07Z")
Wow, a thread talking about Romney’s qualifications for president has devolved into a discussion about how much the right wing branch of the SDMB hates Obama. How…shocking. ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/115 "2012-06-26T21:23:33Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Wow, a thread talking about Romney’s qualifications for president has devolved into a discussion about how much the right wing branch of the SDMB hates Obama. How…shocking. There’s likely to be daily repeats and similar spin-off episodes until November so dont worry about tivo’ing it. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/116 "2012-06-26T21:54:35Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > No kidding. It snowballed after I rebuked the notion of democrats “bending over backwards” to please republicans. Now someone is trying to hand me a homework assignment on the 20 year history of presidential appointments. :-/ No, someone is asking you to back up your opinions with some facts. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/117 "2012-06-26T22:08:00Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > There’s likely to be daily repeats and similar spin-off episodes until November so dont worry about tivo’ing it. You’re one of the biggest contributors of this spinoff bullshit, so I can think of an easier way to avoid seeing it besides just not turning my Tivo on. ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/118 "2012-06-26T22:10:17Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > No, someone is asking you to back up your opinions with some facts. Nope. You posed a question unrelated to anything I claimed. Then you expect me to dig into it. No thanks, it’s just not interesting or relevant. ---
**Author:** ![IntelliQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@IntelliQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelliQ)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/119 "2012-06-26T22:19:08Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > You’re one of the biggest contributors of this spinoff bullshit, so I can think of an easier way to avoid seeing it besides just not turning my Tivo on. Gee whiz, I was just trying to make light of the derailment which Im partially responsible. :-s (In my defense it’s sometimes difficult to stop the ball rolling in the wrong direction without coming off like Im ducking questions, like with the last guy who didnt want to let it go.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045/120 "2012-06-26T22:25:32Z")
> [@IntelliQ](#): > > Nope. You posed a question unrelated to anything I claimed. Then you expect me to dig into it. Obama has worked harder to reach out to Republicans than any Republican in my memory has reached out to Democrats. I say that counts as bending over backwards; something you said he didn’t do. So, yes, it is related to something you claimed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-need-a-businessman-in-the-white-house/626045.md?page=7)