Democratic Primaries

SomewhereInTheMiddle

(632 posts)

52. The power of the President

Reply to The Velveteen Ocelot (Original post)

Mon Apr 1, 2019, 01:06 PM

Apr 2019

I am undecided.

A big question I have is what is within the power of the president and how are the candidates talking about those things.

Healthcare for all. Free higher education. Higher minimum wage. These are all things that a president can lend their voice to, even propose legislation to Congress. But budgets and laws are within the power of the legislature, not the executive.

Our current president has found that out, much to his chagrin.

Foreign affairs, national defense, executive and judicial appointments, regulatory oversight - these are the powers of the head of the executive branch. These are the things a president can most easily impact. And again our current president is doing the most damage in these realms.

Too often I see candidates talk almost exclusively about budgetary priorities and programs they want passed. When I see a sitting senator or congressperson pushing these I wonder why they don’t push them from within the legislature.

I pay more attention to the discussion of the things that fall within a president’s purview.

Who among the current candidates is talking mostly about those things?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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I'm undecided. Convince me. [View all] The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 OP

nope bigtree Mar 2019 #1

Sorry, I didn't mean to bore you. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #4

no worries bigtree Mar 2019 #6

In my honest opinion, the most critical issues are.. at140 Mar 2019 #2

Thank you. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #7

She has the depth of knowledge and experience in senate having dealt at140 Mar 2019 #16

It's not our job to convince you SFnomad Mar 2019 #3

Wow, I guess I was barking up the wrong tree. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #5

If this is truly, honestly your intention ... read the threads in the forum SFnomad Mar 2019 #9

You don't have to participate. It's not mandatory Quixote1818 Apr 2019 #44

The OP wasn't just asking for "opinions". The title was ---- " I'm undecided. Convince me." SFnomad Apr 2019 #45

The OP is totally fine. I have seen "Convince me" threads since DU was founded Quixote1818 Apr 2019 #46

"In the future" ... don't try to lecture me. You're being quite hypocritical here n/t SFnomad Apr 2019 #47

The negativity is uncalled for. It's a valuable post for some; if not for you, no need to criticize. JudyM Apr 2019 #71

Who are you to tell me what is "uncalled for"? When negativity is dropped on me, I'll return it SFnomad Apr 2019 #77

Your loved one needs life and death surgery. Corgigal Mar 2019 #8

I agree that he's wicked smart and that's a great qualification. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #11

No idea. Corgigal Mar 2019 #13

I do, because I think folks in the critical rust belt states will relate well to him. femmedem Apr 2019 #32

I'd take the best surgeon. The one with the best history of outcomes for the surgery that I need hughee99 Mar 2019 #20

Klobuchar can sell, and sold question everything Apr 2019 #41

The negatives of another candidate are as important as the positives of mine... brooklynite Mar 2019 #10

Objective disadvantages are one thing, hit jobs are something else entirely. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #12

He's a former Governor... brooklynite Mar 2019 #21

Thank you. I agree that executive branch experience is very useful. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #24

Can I convince you to wait for the first debate? Blue_true Mar 2019 #14

We have a ton of great candidates. Qutzupalotl Mar 2019 #15

I like him a lot. Thank you. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #19

Oxford confers degrees as follows: First, Upper Second, Second, and Third (Very English) mobeau69 Apr 2019 #40

"Biden supporter because I know he can win" question everything Apr 2019 #42

great post Celerity Apr 2019 #43

Nicely done. efhmc Apr 2019 #53

Thanks, I edited my post. Qutzupalotl Apr 2019 #64

He's great! Byronic Apr 2019 #60

I could be misquoting him. Qutzupalotl Apr 2019 #63

He'd be right about president, wouldn't he? Byronic Apr 2019 #65

Bernie would be a much needed transformation-al President if nominated and elected. Uncle Joe Mar 2019 #17

Thank you. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #18

Agreed. RobertDevereaux Apr 2019 #39

Polls show he still is the most popular among young voters and we have to get them out in 2020. JudyM Apr 2019 #72

Buttigieg thinks so clearly he gets to the bottom of things. That takes applegrove Mar 2019 #22

The candidate has to be a pragmatist. question everything Apr 2019 #23

Thank you. Klobuchar is one of my Senators. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #25

I'm disappointed that in this large field her voice isn't getting heard. lostnfound Apr 2019 #35

I like Kloubuchar. BlueWI Apr 2019 #56

Watch and listen. NanceGreggs Apr 2019 #26

your eyes are getting heavy..... quickesst Apr 2019 #27

LOL! Whatever works... The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #28

little levity for the season quickesst Apr 2019 #29

.. Cha Apr 2019 #34

The most pressing issue not just to our country, but to the human race is global warming. RDANGELO Apr 2019 #30

I agree with Inslee on that. femmedem Apr 2019 #33

I agree. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #38

Check out the link below to a post I made a while back about Inslee. Persondem Apr 2019 #49

Thanks. I hope he gets more traction and can participate in the debates. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #51

I would also encourage a closer look at Inslee. BlueWI Apr 2019 #54

Pete is cool, calm, educated. Young California_Republic Apr 2019 #31

For me, it's the lack of negatives. thesquanderer Apr 2019 #36

Thanks, good point. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #37

Communication skills/charisma are everything marylandblue Apr 2019 #48

He is a very effective communicator. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #50

The power of the President SomewhereInTheMiddle Apr 2019 #52

That is an excellent point. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #55

It's implicit in all their proposals that we either marylandblue Apr 2019 #61

Concentrate on what is in their control? SomewhereInTheMiddle Apr 2019 #85

I'm still undecided. RLG Apr 2019 #57

Sorry. Learn to make up your own mind Downtown Hound Apr 2019 #58

I didn't ask for that. I asked for arguments and data in favor of candidates, The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #59

Any Sober, Dispassionate Analysis Concludes That Sanders Would Have CRUSHED Trump In 2016 corbettkroehler Apr 2019 #62

OK, but that doesn't answer my question. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #67

2016 IS Dispositive Of 2020 Because The Different Landscape Favors Sanders corbettkroehler Apr 2019 #74

Sanders is a victim of his own success. marylandblue Apr 2019 #75

Kyle Hill Maxheader Apr 2019 #66

Is he running? The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #68

No. Just wish full thinking... Maxheader Apr 2019 #70

I am leaning towards Beto in part because i have heard him in a small group Gothmog Apr 2019 #69

Beto is phenomenal at connecting with his audience and he is AnyDemocrat2020 Apr 2019 #82

Right now I'm supporting Sanders as he has set the goal posts on policy. rgbecker Apr 2019 #73

I love what a positive effect Sanders has had on the Democratic agenda AnyDemocrat2020 Apr 2019 #83

One word still_one Apr 2019 #76

The only thing that matters is winning the Swing States njhoneybadger Apr 2019 #78

Don't want to convince you, but Byronic Apr 2019 #79

can't tell who can beat prima donnie yet. pansypoo53219 Apr 2019 #80

Elizabeth Warren probably has one of the most pro-consumer and anti-corporate personhood AnyDemocrat2020 Apr 2019 #81

I hope eventually we can all get behind one of the many excellent candidates. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #84

Thanks for this this thread Ocelot! rgbecker Apr 2019 #87

I'm a Warren supporter and have voted for her now 2 times! rgbecker Apr 2019 #86

I'm hopeful that Mike Pratt moving on from Warren's campaign AnyDemocrat2020 Apr 2019 #88

Here are some great proposals from Beto Gothmog Apr 2019 #89

Good stuff. We really need changes in voting laws. The Velveteen Ocelot Apr 2019 #90