Why do we need to support the president?

[RICHARD]

I said this before.

The president is the guy that 'drives the bus'.

I don't care for him but, I do support the office he represents and think he can do the job.

If, at some point, I don't like the direction or the places that the bus travels, I have every right and intention of getting off it at the next stop.

Of course, there will be the 'BUSHBASHERS' who will look at my feelings as being hypocritical-but I find their opinions as pertinent as the last square on a TP roll during the flu.

Onward, through the fog!

[Karen]

Because he was duly elected, it is our responsibility to support the president, out of respect for the office. This does not mean we cannot disagree with individual opinions or policies or actions. But the majority of our fellow Americans elected whomever is in office, and we - as participants in the democratic process - need to respect their decision.

You need also to realize that your own senator and representative are in office to serve you - much of what the President does is subject to approval by the House and Senate, so you can contact your representatives in Washington on particular matters you feel strongly about.

[Grace]

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.

[Edwina's Secretary]

To me...the problem is what does the word "support" mean in this context?

Similar to "Support Our Troops". I do support our troops. I pay my taxes that pay for them. I hope every day that they will come home out of harm's way.

To me that is "supporting our troops."

So perhaps to "support the president" is to pay your taxes and hope he is successful? And not in harm's way?

Nothing in either statement suggests I cannot criticize, complain, or even carp!

[RICHARD]

To me...the problem is what does the word "support" mean in this context?

You have a problem with the terminology?


Gee,
You didn't bring up the word hypocrite, I am confused.

[Lady's Human]

Let me preface this by stating that I didn't vote for President Obama, and I find many of his proposed programs questionable at best.

HOWEVER........


It is entirely possible to support a leader and disagree with them. I hope he uses the public support he has at the moment to truly move the country forward away from the partisan sniping, towards a constructive discourse between factions.

Sniping at every decision a leader makes because you dislike them accomplishes nothing. Offering constructive comments and keeping communication lines open accomplishes more in the long term for all parties involved.

A former Battalion Commander summed it up best to our staff one day, (soldier talk removed to keep things family friendly)

"If you're going to (complain) about something, bring me an alternative. Otherwise I'm going to ignore it."

Far, far too much of the discourse over the past two decades has been tainted by complaining for the sake of complaining.(Shrub did this, Klintoon did that, ad nauseum) That needs to end, or we're going to get nowhere.

[K9soul]

It probably means different things to different people. For me, to support a president or someone in authority is not to kowtow and agree with everything they say and do. It means I consider him my president, that he is not my enemy but on "my side," that I include him in my prayers, and wish no harm on him. That I don't disagree just to disagree. That I speak of him with respect and not mockery. To me that is what it means to support my president.

As an aside, as much as I disagreed and was upset at a lot of things Bush and his administration did while in office, I found it in deplorable taste that some of the crowd at the inauguration boo'd him. I'm not saying people didn't have the right to do it, but I found it petty and disrespectful of not only Bush but also of Obama and the spirit of his message of unity.

ETA: I think the president and officials CAN make decisions and take actions that causes support to falter. This post is simply what it means to me to say I support the president (whether I voted for him or not). A president can take actions that cause him to lose support, i.e. Nixon.

[Edwina's Secretary]

You have a problem with the terminology?


Gee,
You didn't bring up the word hypocrite, I am confused.

As you said...

It was better to leave an ill mannered person alone, than it was to correct the situation.

[RICHARD]

As you said...

WTF?

That's a left wing media trick, quoting ill mannered people talking about ill manners on a thread about ill manners.


That makes me ILL.