# The Imperial Presidency **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 24, 2015, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736 "2015-01-24T06:02:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/41 "2015-02-07T06:57:51Z")
I was going to point out that it’s not Obama that does this. It’s the security officers. And of course the OP made the same point. I have this memory that they managed to really tick off the English press during the Bush 43 administration, by basically bringing in a heavily-equipped military company (or maybe battalion) for a state visit. When Obama visited my area, I remember seeing not only the obvious Treasury agents, but servicemen with small military vehicles at vantage points just in case. And I can understand it, I guess, but it bugs me, too. Granted, my part of the central US is exactly where one would expect a bunch of yahoos to try and attack Obama, if anyone were going to do so in force. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/42 "2015-02-07T07:01:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > [snip] So what we have is an office of the Presidency that isn’t even supposed to be first among equals. He works for us. Everyone he sees is literally his boss. In that sense, he’s the lowliest person in the country. But psychologically, most people need to see him as The Leader. But he’s not, speaking strictly legally. He’s a glorified clerk, faithfully carrying out the laws passed by Congress. But psychologically, most Americans view the President as equivalent to a monarch, albeit supposedly restricted by the laws of our land. [snip] I both agree and disagree with this. The President is not supposed to be an _autocrat._ The office, however, is designed to be an elected _constitutional monarch._ Not above the law, but empowered to enforce it against those who would raise arms in rebellion. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/43 "2015-02-07T07:05:26Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Are you suggesting that, 1) an extra few hours on a plane is a meaningful difference, and 2) the attendance of POTUS is, with no disrespect to our neighbors, no more important that the leaders of Mexico and Canada? Despite what many seem to believe, the USA is not, in fact, either geographically in Europe nor part of the European Community by most standards. There are plenty of reasons that Obama could have for not showing up at that event, ranging from not being invited to being under the weather to having a prior family commitment. It’s really not that much of an issue. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/44 "2015-02-07T07:12:09Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > I both agree and disagree with this. The President is not supposed to be an _autocrat._ The office, however, is designed to be an elected _constitutional monarch._ Not above the law, but empowered to enforce it against those who would raise arms in rebellion. A monarch, at least any monarch with more than symbolic power, has legislative powers. The President is an executive only, charged with enforcing the laws passed by Congress. He is closer to being a clerk than a monarch, at least legally. The reality of human nature is that humans want a leader, and since the office of the Presidency is vested in one man, he’s the leader. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/45 "2015-02-07T07:15:18Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Yes – he could have gotten away with being addressed as “Your Highness” or something, it was all new. And yet, they stuck him with the title, “President of the United States” instead of “the Mighty Protector” like he wanted. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/46 "2015-02-08T16:19:14Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > It would indeed have been a security nightmare. However, he should have sent the Secretary of State to represent him. Even if that was impossible due to travel logistics, he could have sent the Attorney General, who was already in Paris. Not doing at least that much was inexcusable, not because of any domestic politicking, but because it was seen by international opinion as a snub of the French. It would not have been a security nighmare. That’s just complete nonsense. He didn’t go and didn’t send anybody of prominence because he didn’t want to. It was another example of his “bad optics” or as us normal folk would say, he fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/47 "2015-02-08T20:18:05Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > normal Debatable. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/48 "2015-02-09T01:08:18Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Debatable. Well the White House seems to think they screwed up. [Quote:] ([http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-embarrassed-by-lack-of-top-level-figure-at-paris-march/2015/01/12/9bf74b02-9a9e-11e4-96cc-e858eba91ced\_story.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-embarrassed-by-lack-of-top-level-figure-at-paris-march/2015/01/12/9bf74b02-9a9e-11e4-96cc-e858eba91ced_story.html)) “I think it’s fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday. So what’s up with that jayjay? Are you saying the White House fucked up by saying they fucked up? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/49 "2015-02-09T01:26:07Z")
“I think it’s fair to say we should have sent someone with a higher profile” is not an admission of having “screwed up.” It’s a far lesser level of “should have done.” Seahawks passing from the one yard line? Screw up. Obama not going to France? Matter of opinion, and by no means a “screw up.” ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/50 "2015-02-09T01:33:28Z")
Boy that is some tortuous logic to arrive at the conclusion that an admission of error is not an admission of error. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/51 "2015-02-09T01:37:25Z")
I’m saying I DON’T FUCKING CARE AND NEITHER DOES ANYONE WHO ISN’T A FREAKING WINGNUT! Jesus Christ, when are you people going to seek help for your Obama Derangement Syndrome? The man can’t fucking breathe without someone in your goddamn looney bin criticizing him for it… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/52 "2015-02-09T02:02:45Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’m saying I DON’T FUCKING CARE AND NEITHER DOES ANYONE WHO ISN’T A FREAKING WINGNUT! Jesus Christ, when are you people going to seek help for your Obama Derangement Syndrome? The man can’t fucking breathe without someone in your goddamn looney bin criticizing him for it… So the White House is occupied by FREAKING WINGNUTS? Are you really going to try to spin something the President already admitted was a mistake? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/53 "2015-02-09T02:15:01Z")
Fuck it. Nuclear option engaged. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736/54 "2015-02-09T02:45:17Z")
You got nuclear fallout in my peanut butter! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-imperial-presidency/710736.md?page=2)