Why does Bush need to insist he is the "decision-maker"?

Great Debates
1

Once more, President Bush has stated that he is the decision-maker on Iraq.

I don’t quite get what he is trying to emphasize, except that he – not any of his supposed handlers – has primary responsibility for setting foreign and military policy. The other obvious implication is that any critics of his policy choices can, well, bugger off.

However, by repeatedly insisting that he is the “decider” (ignoring any mispeaking), it sounds suspiciously like somebody gravely unsure of his actual authority to decide anything. He sounds like a too-quickly promoted manager of a retail store or fast food joint in a weak assertion of his authority over the co-workers he now has to supervise. I can’t recall any prior president verbally emphasizing his authority in a similar way.

So, what is the politics, psychology, or other reason for him repeating that he is the guy making the decisions?

2

Because saying “I am Emperor For Life” is generally frowned upon? Because saying “Democracy - smemocracy; I’m the boss and so I get to do whatever I want” would sound infantile and petulant?

3

Because when he said “I’m the decider” it sounded awkward.

4

Because “I am the walrus” is copyrighted?

5

He’s attempting to say that he, and not Congress (or any of his other critics, but mostly Congress) is in charge.

Well, yeah, that too.

I always say he sounds like a petulant child, but I like your version too.

It’s been a while since a President was this unpopular.

6

“The Buck Stops here.”

Truman (not considered too controversial a politician) felt that it was the President’s responsibility to make the tough decisions. (Like dropping the bomb.)

It’s not always clear which is the best decision to make. You make the best one you can, with the advise and info available. But Humans fail at predicting the future with 100% accuracy.

However, the flip side is also true. You own up to the bad calls you make.

If the job were easy (or if the decisions were obvious), any schlepp could handle the job. Most Americans assume that the job of the Presidency is tough, and (hopefully) we vote on the guy/gal we hope is best suited to handle it from among the candidates presented to us.

7

I don’t really feel like debating anything about this, but this reminded me of two things:

The Peter Principle: ‘In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.’

And: That character on King Of The Hill that says stuff like, ‘You have to do what I say, because i’m the boss of you!’

8

I’ve never felt that Bush subscribed to that idea. One of the things that bothers me most about his administration is that they have an excuse for everything, and even when he admits something was fucked up - and it took years before he even admitted he’d ever made a mistake - he always assumes blame in the most indirect and off-hand manner possible.

9

OK, I’ll bite. I think it’s obvious: He’s making the distinction between his role as Commander in Chief and his authority to decide what tactics are used in Iraq and the role of Congress, which is to declare war and to vote on funds for the military. It’s not Congress’ role to micromanage the war.

I can’t explain why he sounds so stupid when he says stuff like that. :wink:

10

I was thinking that Bush feels that it is his role to make the tough calls.

I make no excuses for any politician today, when it comes to the flip side of that corrallary, as stated by me. IMO, almost all of them politicians will try to wiggle out of a bad call if they can. (Maybe I sound kinda cynical here. Good.)

11

He really, really wants “success” in Iraq and seems to think the “surge” will actually help. Congress is against the “surge.” The people are against the “surge.” The fact that W and nobody else is president is all he’s got left. Unfortunately, it might well prove to be enough.

12

Well, at least he’s not casting the blame on somebody else. He is, rather, denying that the blame exists at all. Whether that is better or worse is debatable.

13

I just hope that Prescott is slowly twirling his sodden corpse to China at the vision of what stupidity his progeny have wrought.

Except that I know said corpse would probably then set up a lemonade stand and charge double for the upside-down drilling set-up fees.

Deciders make deciderers.

14

Clearly, he is attempting to compensate for having a tiny penis.

15

I suppose it might also be a way to detract from critic’s comments that he’s a buffoon. He is the decider - a position which requires moral character and determination, a couple of the characteristics he aims to cultivate in his public image - while his staff provide him with counsel, advice and information so that he can make those decisions wisely.

16

I was thinking of working Truman and “The Buck Stops Here” into my OP, but I figured it was fundamentally different. Truman’s desk sign to me is a fundamental acceptance of ultimate responsiblity. It said that whatever happened in the administration, whoever else was blamed might deflect responsibility up, but he was the guy who ultimately had to take the heat.

Bush, on the other hand, seems to be saying as the guy that he can do whatever he damn well pleases, responsibility be damned. Somehow, it seems to be exactly the opposite of the sentiment that Truman was expressing.

17

Ah, okay. He does feel that way, and rightly so - which is why his declarations sound so weird.

18

Because it sounds tupher than, “I am a cunt.”

19

But he is, in fact, the eggman.

20

I mentioned that comment at work today, and after making sure that I wasn’t talking about the “decider” comment again, most agreed that he wanted to remind us that he is the boss. In case we forgot.

I’ll add that I am getting so sick and fucking tired of him asking what other plans there are. Plans and ideas have been presented ad nauseum and ad infinitum. It is obvious - apparent to the most dead parrot - that the only plan he will accept is his. Or perhaps Cheney’s.