Dear Mr. President -- Why Don't You Have to Follow the Rules?
Posted: Saturday, April 18, 2009
by Nancy Daniels
Voice Dynamic
I think that being the President of the United States has to be the toughest job in the world; and, I acknowledge that mistakes will be made regardless on what side of the aisle you sit. What I don't understand is why your mistakes are not headline news as were those made by George W. Bush. The media never missed an opportunity to report on every faux pas of our former President. The media couldn't be slanted, could they? Somehow, I must have missed the headline that you, our President and a Harvard graduate, does not know that the Austrians speak German. Oh, silly me. My mistake. Of course the Austrians speak Austrian, just like the Canadians speak Canadian!
Rule #1 US protocol holds that "American presidents do not bow before foreign dignitaries, whether they are princes, kings or emperors."
Oh my goodness, Mr. President. You must have missed class on that day because I distinctly saw you bow to the Saudi King at the G2 Summit last week. Oh, you were bending over to reach his hand because you are taller than he is? I didn't know King Abdullah was one of the little people!'
Rule #2 Those who fight for the safety and protection of our country are on our side and do not pose a threat to America because they might have rightwing' leanings. Admittedly, chances are good that the majority of those who enter the military possibly do so as conservatives. [I would find it hard to imagine that our military is comprised primarily of those with a liberal mindset! The two just don't seem to go hand in hand.]
That Homeland Security now thinks our returning vets might pose a domestic security threat because they believe in our right to bear arms is absurd. Maybe we should just change the name to Homeland Insecurity.
Rule #3 As President, it is your responsibility to live up to the job of being President. The President should never carry a cell phone. While your security team may be confident that your blackberry is unable to be compromised, how confident are they about all those to whom you speak? How good is their security?
You are a spoiled man, Mr. President, and by using your Blackberry, you jeopardize my safety!
Rule #4 The American President attends church, synagogue, temple, or mosque regularly. I didn't know you were a CPE! Oh, of course, now I understand. By only attending church on Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter, you honestly never did hear Reverend Wright, did you?
Rule #5 Once elected, it is your job to surround yourself with advisors and cabinet appointments who have integrity. What? You didn't know that Geitner, your treasury secretary, is a tax cheat? What about Joe Biden? You didn't know that your Vice President is labeled in college textbooks as a plagiarist and a liar? Oh, I get it. You missed class on those days too. Sounds to me like you didn't do your homework!
Personally, Mr. President, I am stunned I would have thought that one who has been a community organizer for two years in Chicago would be much better at grasping the rules. Oh silly me, I forgot. You don't have to follow the rules which all our other Presidents vowed to uphold. After all, you are the president of the world.
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More comments"You don't have to follow the rules which all our other Presidents vowed to uphold"The other presidents didn't vow not to carry a cell phone, and there is no rule against the president doing so if the security services agree to it.With regard to integrity, Obama has certainly made some poor picks, but he is certainly not the first President to do that and broke no rule in doing so.When it comes to integrity, he seems to have more of that than the previous incumbant, who was arrested 3 times.There's no apparent rule at all in "Rule #2".If the things listed are amongst the best examples that can be found of Obama failing to follow rules, then I think that says a lot in his favour!"Rule #4" isn't a rule either. The President does not have to be religious at all, let alone be a regular at a place of worship."The American President attends church, synagogue, temple, or mosque regularly" - how many US presidents have regularly attended a mosque?Ben,I welcome your comments but the rules I listed are the common accepted practices for the highest office in the United States and have been in place for more than 200 years. (Aside from the cell phone)Regarding the cell, his use of his blackberry jeopardizes our security. If you would like to read the problems associated with the President carrying a cell, I suggest you do some research and see just how dangerous it can be for the American people as well as the rest of the world.Because Obama is Commander-in-Chief of our military, it is in his best interest to be supportive of our military and not label them as possible terrorists.And yes, in this country, we expect our President to attend church regularly if possible. That actually is and always has been the American way. The reason I added the mosque was because of Keith Ellison, a Muslim senator. Should he become President, I am confident that this man will pray faithfully every day and more so. He will need a mosque!Regarding poor choices, yes, they have all done so, but the parties in question then resign and move on. Geitner, a man who doesn't pay his own taxes, is our treasury secretary. When our economy is in such dire straits, why would one select a man to oversee our financial future who has cheated the government out of money he owes?This man should have stepped down as well as Janet Napolitan because she keeps putting her foot in her mouth, now saying that those responsible for 9/11 came into this country through Canada. Of course, Canada is upset with the US because those terrorists did not come into our country that way. America has always known that. Ms. Napolitano often speaks without thinking or knowing of what she is saying. Thus, this woman is doing a lot of back pedalling.Thank you for sharing your views,Nancy
Oooh, can you say sarcasm? I love this article. It sounds to me like you have a 'teflon president', nothing sticks to him. It just seems people are in so awe of him, that they can't see past it.I'm sure the honeymoon won't last forever.Oh, and by the way, I hope you can read my 'Canadian'. lolDavid,Thought you'd enjoy the 'Canadian comment!' I hope this country wakes up soon however because things look bleak down here.Thanks for your comment, Always enjoy hearing from you,Nancy
Nancy, anyone who does not follow reports issued by the liberal media will be in agreement with what you've written.I find it irritating, but predictable, that the American people did not bother to learn more about Obama before pulling the lever last November. I'm content to just wait and see where we are at the end of this four year term. I don't think there will be many surprises if we are to judge by the way things are going now.Good write!Grammy,I'm not content to wait because I am afraid the damage may be irreparable. That which has made this nation so great, is changing and I am frightened of our future.Thank you for sharing,Nancy
Good job Nancy!Thanks Beth,It is even more interesting to read the comments and see how many others are troubled as well.Nancy
Nancy, please see my new post!
Nancy--Do you know how disruptive it is to have the President attend your worship service? Can you begin to imagine the gawkers, onlooker, gatecrashers, security checks, parking issues, and other issues that divert the congregation's attention from its prime purpose--the worship of God and adoring and praise his presence? If you had been following closely, you would know their are six or seven Washington's churches that the Obama's are interested in and like any new to town family, they are carefully, thoughtfully, patiently deciding which church is the best fit for their faith. This makes sound sense to me. I don't believe that those who "come early" are treated or judged by God differently from those who "come late." And here, I refer not to faith, as the parable does, but in the speed of the decision and the discrenment by which it is meet.The blackberry, well known and well published, has no one connected to national security wired into it. Can't he call his wife and say, "I love you"? Do you really think he will be talking national security to friends, venting about the morning secret briefings, or his cabinet meetings that day? And as you know, every administration with the exception of the current one has had wide, extensive leaks which resulted in one case in which an agent was killed. I don't think the blackberry is the source of our nation being at-risk, but rather the turf fights, egos, power grabs, ineptness, CYA actions, and grand theories that have been the source of war, assassination attempts (Cuba, Chile), mis-conduct, equipment mal-functions, intelligent failures and spies and traitors since the republic's beginning. Spoiled? I say the man deserves a modicum of comfort. The office is a big enough box that I believe he is right to fight its isolationist tendencies that leading to creeping misjudgments.Patience, the Obama family, who have planted a garden, attended summits, worked on a variety of issues, are in prayer with a number of pastors (the New York Times recently published interviews with seven), who receive calls for input and have prayed with the President. I, for one,am glad that his family isn't grandstanding in selecting a church when they obviously feel the delibrate approach is best. Among the churches being considered are Congregational, Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches in differing neighborhoods. There have also been discussions with the pastors. I know it has taken me 3 years to select the new church I am about to join. I don't think 3 months is a long time. And when you are President, attending a church actually changes the worship atmosphere so much that it is hard to have that important sense of reverence and awe that those deeply connedcted to God cherish. I applaud his plodding, and can cast no stones or judgement about the speed of his walk. I only pray that God orders his steps.Walter,Thank you for your thoughts.The churches in D.C. are more than familiar with attendance by a President or high government official. It happens all the time.My question is how one selects a church without attending it to see what it is like? I would never join a church without being there and witnessing its service. Getting to know various ministers is not like seeing it and hearing it.Regarding his Blackberry, it is a danger. (Read Chris Soghoian's article entitled: Obama's Blackberry Brings Personal Safety Risks.) Incidentally, the President has a land line at his disposal everywhere at all times.Walter, I see this man changing America to something that we will soon not recognize and it frightens me.Nancy
I agree with you, there is protocol when in the office of President of the United States of America. Thanks for saying all this so eloquently.Lorrie,Thank you for your supportive comment. I had a feeling I was going to step in it when I submitted this one!Nancy
How sad we've come to this. I only wish he could read this article.Dear Anonymous,I wish the entire country was aware of what is happening to this great country.Nancy
when he and mrs Obama travel abroad,they reap renewed respect for a depleted view of America;when The Duke and Duchess of Hazard,traveled,leaders snickered at them and at all of us.This new green untried President may stumble and blunder,but hes only trying to undo the foreign policy damage afforded us by the former so called administration.When a child stumbles and falls,you dont kick at him,you help him up.Paul,I suggest you read John Bolton's Surrender Is Not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations. It is quite eye-opening about how the rest of the world views -- and has always -- viewed America.Thank you for your comments.NancyI am a "hawk",at heart,about America,and will find and read "Surrender is not an option";thank you.I simply wanted to make a point about Obamas comparative wisdom and grace and charm with foreign leaders in light of the Bush-Chaney blunders that crippled our foreign policies ,in the last eight years ,before Obama even stepped into the spotlight.Whats really at the heart of all this right-wing distress?Republicans cannot accept that hes a Democrat who has been in office only 100 days and that they and their hawkish perceptions about the world, are no longer in controlling power.
I think you've addressed some interesting points, Nancy. As the days unfold, it seems Obama is doing more things he said he wouldn't. This hasn't escaped the notice of his supporters, they're just not saying anything about it. Instead, they are attacking those who are pointing out the error of Obama's ways, hoping to divert attention away from what Obama is doing. There is always a day of reconing; however, and this will not occur in a vacuum.Dear Anonymous,Actually, Obama is doing exactly what he said he would do. No one was listening, however, because they were too intent on the glorification, deification, and 'Hollywoodization' of this man.Nancy
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