What is a president for? An eloquent answer

Today's commentary is more of an indulgence than comment really, but when we invited Governor Jerry Brown to be on "Face the Nation," I couldn't help but think back to a morning in 1979 when California's young governor was thinking of challenging a sitting President for the Democratic nomination .

A kid with a lot of almost-red hair sat down with him on a log in the hills above Sacramento and talked about why he would want to do that.

"Let me ask you, what's your assessment of the first half of the Carter presidency, as you kind of put it there?' asked Schieffer. "Do you think the president has been a good manager as he said he was going to be during the campaign?"

"Well, I don't think presidents function as managers, they should function as a leader," replied Brown.

"We don't think of Churchill or DeGaulle or Roosevelt as managers of the White House or of the government, but rather as strong individuals who stand clearly for a particular vision about their countries, and can set themes and priorities and inspire people to follow their leadership.

"And in those terms, obviously, we've seen over the last few years, drift, confusion and a good deal of lack of confidence," Brown said.

I still like Jerry Brown's concept of what the presidency ought to be - but Jimmy Carter got the nomination.

Later, of course, he lost the presidency to Ronald Reagan.

My one disappointment that day was that Bachelor Brown was linked romantically to singer Linda Ronstadt in those days and I had hoped to meet her!

As the interview concluded, I realized someone had been eavesdropping behind a tree, but when I went to investigate she disappeared into the woods - and we never found out who it was . . .

[fantomas4]

I have a far more brief and less eloquent, albeit more thruthful, answer. A paperweight in a suit.

[maistir]

What is the California Governor for? Finding $15B to fix the budget deficit.

[raymailhot]

This is the democrat way. Michigan removed its dependency on democrats and within one year the turn around is amazing. Michigan is even working towards removing the corruption from wayne county and detroit!

[slatep]

A President is supposed to lead his/her country to a better and more prosperous future.

In order to become a true President Obama would have to repeal Obamacare, stop apologizing to the leaders of countries who are our enemies, prosecute those responsible for the downfall of our economy, stop signing agreements with countries like Afghanistan; pledging financial support to a leader we already know we cannot trust for 10 years after our troops pull out of there, stop trying to destroy the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,restore our troops right to pray, restore "CHRISTMAS " trees to the White House ( this past Christmas letters were sent to people who have been making absolutely beautiful handcrafted ornaments for decades to decorate the numerous trees, but this year they were uninvited to submit ornaments with any reference to traditional Christmas themes), someone who is so ignorant he would ask out troops to pay for their own health insurance (to help the economy) and saying he didn't know there were so many selfish people in the US when they declined, had all items pertaining to Christian religion remove from display in front of or in public buildings, told the Russian President he will be "able to be a little more flexible after he is re-elected".................

This is not an anywhere complete list of the number of ways Obama has attempted to bring us down.

He also has big plans to destroy the US if he is re-elected.

It's up to us to elect our next "leader".

Think before you vote.!!

[bigmanfrommaine]

Typical claptrap from a poor soul who has had his mind warped by FoxNews.

[taewolf]

Amen, big man!!

[bcpats]

So well put.......... and have to wonder about (so-called)bigmanfrommaine, who wrote - - - "Typical claptrap from a poor soul who has had his mind warped by FoxNews."
Obama has indeed tried to do and in some cases done the things mentioned by "slatep". One doesn't have to listen to Foxnews to find out these things - - look around, be observant... GET REAL ! ! !

[pbaird2]

President Reagan was a leader and definitely not a manager; this is as it should be. President Obama is a leader, although many may find his direction not to their desire; this is also as it should be. We are a nation of many "special interests"; the GOP claim the Democratic Party panders to special interests but the GOP also panders to their special interests: gun lobby, oil lobby, banking lobby, drug manufacturer lobby, physicians lobby, et al. If we are honest, all of us have our special interests; the object in a democracy is to attempt compromise with all special interests in an effort to ensure no one's interests are disgarded. A democratically elected president cannot be a manager; we have professionals to do that for each president based upon the "leadership" of that president. A good manager can take any direction and make it work.

[TimeToEvolve]

Both Reagan and Obama are moderate Republicons (they are war hawks that pander the giant corporate desires above the needs of the American citizens).

That being said, as bad as our entire country has been corrupted by big corporate money, Obama has been able to get some good things accomplished although there is certainly the necessary watering down of everything to satisfy the corporate Mafia bosses.

[foo8259]

A President is a figurehead -- nothing more. Got a beef? Take it to the Congress!

[slatep]

Don't waste your time.!!

You'd get further taking it to Mickey Mouse.

For almost 12 years; Congress has gone stone deaf when it comes to what their constituents want.

Obama and his czars want one thing and Boehner and his partners in crime want another and "never the twain shall meet".!!!

[MagnaCartaUK]

President, Prime Minister, Chancellor, or whoever is charged by (in theory), the people to administer the nation for them, is increasingly a mere pre-packaged shop window. In your country, and also mine and others, the public has little or no direct influence over determining the course our nations take. Where are refendums on important issues? Bankers can cripple our economies as governments are petrified they'll take their services elsewhere. They're allowed to hold nations hostage - with everything from funding defence expenidture, health, education, Policing and protection from crime, environmental protection, pensions, employment, all put in jeopardy to the extent where many are left to suffer from the consequences. Governments are over-influenced by corporate interests .... did you vote for a seasoned, experienced politician to act on your will, or that of greedy, money-obsessed corporate interests for whom you neither voted for, nor who have the nation's interests at heart. Political leaders of any kind are totally detached from their peoples. Where I live in Britain we also have the odious E.U., whose unelected, unaccountable leaders try to directly interfere with our sovereignty. It seems we all reolve around money with everything else a poor second, and are left work and suffer to maintain the comfort of the select few. Yet history has shown that those who, however carefully, abuse the trust and expectations of the public merely fuel a contempt that leads to long-lasting unrest. In that, and however secure they feel, they will only have themselves to blame, with the great danger that - in Europe at least - extremist politics are increasingly appealing where mainstream politics fail to deliver. Regardless of leader, or how very carefully their public image experts try, the public aren't fooled as they were these days - and that sceptics, could include you personally at some future point. Who wants that?

[MagnaCartaUK]

Lol, it appears I need to take as much care as I advocate if the last two sentences of my speech are anything to go by. Please excuse the lack of coherence - in fact please ignore the last two incoherent sentences. I normally do better than this abysmal effort. Apologies.

[joe1022joe]

Obama's raison d'etre is to blame Bush for everything under the sun including that fact that his dog has fleas. Obama is an embarrassment, but I don't really blame him. I blame the people who voted for him. There are a lot of hustlers who would like to be President. Obama's success is four part his color, one part his knack of sounding as though he might actually know something and five parts affirmative action. This receipe won't produce a President of any value - and it didn't.

[fitstshu]

Negative people live short lives. I have known many. Have a nice day!

[NinthSt78]

Your commentary here is one of the best ever. An interview on a log with Ronstadt tunes in mind is hard to top. She was so cute and had such good songs, I bought ALL her records. Of course my hair was a lot redder and longer too back when they still had big V-8's for my lead foot.

[TimeToEvolve]

Unfortunately, since the mental midget Reagan, the President has become a figurehead for the United Corporate States of America. They are puppets for Exxon and Chevron, AT&T and WalMart.

From the tragic free trade agreements they have signed to declaring invasions and occupation for oil, they just do what they have to do to protect the Top 1%. And now you know why we are in the current mess we are in.