2006-09-26 11:27:06 · 20 answers · asked by Sabin 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
absolutely...he was chosen to lead with our best interests in mind. WE are his employer(s). WE pay his salary. He is OBLIGATED to listen to our concerns and what we want. He is the President and we are the board of directors.
2006-09-26 11:29:49 · answer #1 · answered by DEP 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Of course not. The President is elected by the people, and they expect him or her to provide leadership and to make decisions based on the philosophy that he or she presented during the election campaign.
If Lincoln had tried to govern via polls, slavery would have continued until a stronger leader became President and took action.
The people's opinion matters more than once every four years, of course, and every politician pays some attention to polls, regardless of what he may say. However, we don't have a pure democracy (where all citizens vote on every issue), which would be totally impractical. Instead we have a republic, which means that we democratically elect leaders and give them the responsibility of leading our government and our nation.
Incidentally, the opinion polls are not as lopsided as you probably think (based on your question). Polls are pretty evenly split on whether Iraq was a mistake in the first place. And polls indicate that the public is strongly opposed to an immediate withdrawal, or even to setting a specific date. We can wring our hands over the human cost of the war (on both sides), but realistic people know very well that bailing out now would be irresponsible to the Iraqi people and to future generations of Americans.
2006-09-26 18:39:41 · answer #2 · answered by actuator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not, the Presidents job, and what he swears to do in his oath of office, is to protect the constitution from all foes domestic and foreign. That is the function of all branches of government, including the military. There were no polls when this country was founded, an elected official owed his constituents not just his industry on their behalf, but his judgment, and he failed them if he denied them either. Bush's problem is not his bad judgment, by electing him a second time we made it clear we wanted that, but that he has violated his oath of office by claiming (in a bald faced lie) that his oath was to protect the people, and then using that lie to justify becoming, himself, the enemy of the constitution he had actually sworn to defend. It shouldn't surprise anyone, he's lying about his oath the same way he lied about Iraq's involvement in 9/11 and about their supposed weapons of mass destruction. Those lies cost Tony Blair the Prime Minister ship, Bush faces no penalties at all. He'll retire and live comfortably off the tax payers for the rest of his life, basking in what he'll believe is the glory of a job well done, while U.S. troops continue to die for him.
2006-09-26 19:23:15 · answer #3 · answered by rich k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No the presidents job is to LEAD the American People. There were presidents LONG before there were Polls.
2006-09-26 18:29:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
His job is to protect the American citizens and homeland. Public opinion flows with the wind. A true leader sticks to his convictions which is exactly what Bush does. Don't believe everything you read, hear or see in the mainstream press.
2006-09-26 19:40:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is because the people come first but the President and his administration often put $ first. That doesn't always work when the American people elect someone else or a different party the second time.
2006-09-26 18:32:00 · answer #6 · answered by Got pretzels? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No it's not. We elect the President to lead the country, not to count votes a la American Idol and proceed with the winning vote...
2006-09-26 18:34:25 · answer #7 · answered by norcalirish 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
The role of the executive branch is to enforce and apply current law. This should be based solely on existing law, and current policy.
At best, some areas of foreign policy are within executive discretion.
The role of Congress is to listen to the people, specifically their constituents, and enact laws in a representative capacity.
2006-09-26 18:29:12 · answer #8 · answered by coragryph 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. You can get polls to say anything.
There is nothing in Article II of the U.S. Constitution that makes the President accountable to polls, opinions or surveys.
2006-09-26 18:37:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, that's what Clinton did, but it isn't the job of the president. His first duty and is to keep the citizens safe from outside harm. That is the first duty of all areas of government.
2006-09-26 18:33:54 · answer #10 · answered by Mike N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, he knows things the public does not so why should he base his actions on the opinions of the misinformed?
And yes, there are many things the public should not ever be made aware of.
2006-09-26 18:34:58 · answer #11 · answered by joe b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋