Why are there so many people who refuse to show respect for the office of the President of the United States?

Question

. . .or any other elected office.

Anyone who has held the office of president has earned the right to to be addressed as such. Referring to "Clinton" or "Bush" is simply showing disrespect for the office and demonstrates contempt for our government.

President Bush and President Clinton should be addressed as such, regardless of the level of support you have for them or their party.

Why is it so difficult for some people to demonstrate respect for anyone with whom they disagree?

Why must there be so much animus and hubris displayed? Why is there such a proliferation of pugnaciousness on this site?

Answer 1

There is a definite trend toward disrepect of authority figures, from parents to religious figures to politicians. People seem to feel they are more important when they can put down someone who is actually important and worthy of respect.

Another trend is to feel guilty about polluting the environment by people who act shameless.

Answer 2

When addressing a sitting or retired President you would always say Mr. (and some day Mdm.) President. In casual speak about the President to others, informal references are acceptable. But I also think you may be confusing respect for the Office with respect for the man. President George W. Bush is historically one of the most unpopular Presidents this country has ever had, and it's not just because of the Iraq situation. With his own disrespect for the Office and his overt and covert abuse of powers he has earned the disrespect he gets. That said, one can still respect the Presidency without respecting the person who holds that position.

Answer 3

I have great respect for the office of President and the formidable power inherent in the position of "leader of the free world." However, I have little respect for Bush, who's proven to be little more than a warmongering, crony-supporting, religio-fanatical demagogue. I'll refer to Bush in the respectful manner you deem mandatory at such time as you refer to Fuhrer Hitler with the reverant tone you seem to think any national leader deserves. A man should be respected on the merits of his actions, not the position he won because of who his daddy is.

Answer 4

i think if the presidents actually deserved the respect, they would be given it.

i dont think its so much a lack of respect, but instead it is showing just what the office means now... just about nothing. people cant view the person in office as a good, moral leader. i was (am) all for clinton, but i also understand why people had such a huge problem with him. as for bush, he wont ever earn a president in front of his name, he cant even earn a capital "B" from me.

did you find thesaurus.com for your last sentence, or something?

Answer 5

I find it hard to respect someone who has no compassion
for those less fortunate. Katrina victims, wounded soldiers,
the millions without health care - I could go on.
Another reason is the patriot act - any president who has
to make a law to give himself that much power, must
be trying cover up something or protect himself from
bad decisions.
The thing I really question is validity of the 2004 election.
The whole thing was just too shady.

Answer 6

It would seem that everyone is in denial. Their addiction is now for the 2008 elections so they can boot out one administration for another they think will do better...I suppose.

I don't disrespect the office of this administration, nor any other that has been in there. Just the immorality of one, that time.

It just seems like people keep digging and digging, and digging....until all they find out about a person is 'how it was when they were younger' and then triple the BS they're trying to lay down. Like saying the President is an alcoholic and a cocaine user. How infantile can people possibly be.

GWB got stopped and had a DUI, so now he's an alcoholic. Show me all of these people out there that DO NOT DRINK and throw them out of the room and you'll see how things in here calm down. GWB never used Cocaine. Oh, yeah, and he's also a 'draft dodger' because he wasn't in service full time, but was in the Air National Guard. Ohhh, how terribly shameful. What these idiots don't realize is that when GWB was in the Guard, he wasn't called. It just so happens for Iraq they were short handed, (thanks to BC's military cuts) and the government needed the National Guard to go.

These people will never make much sense, so don't even waste your time. They'll only give you BS answers.

Answer 7

You hear republicans say all the time, "I support Bush's war on Terror," or "Bush wants to fight the terrorists overseas, not here." Saying "President" in front of the name has absolutely zero effect on how much respect you have for the Pres. Stop being an eccentric idiot. If you say "President" in front of Bush's name in all conversation, which I doubt you do, then you must be a pretty boring person to listen to because of how drawn out and repetitive your talk must be. Think, fool. It doesn't matter if you say President in front or not.

Answer 8

Love the sinner hate the sin.
That is an old one my granny use to say. I have respect for the Office but I do not respect the current individual that rewrote the basic elements of Freedom that our fathers and mothers fought so valiantly for.
Any that served before, well that is history, now is the time.

Answer 9

I think respect is a two way street, and a lot of Americans don't feel all that respected by Bush.

Answer 10

oh well its so nice and patriotic what you say, but bush and clinton are humans and i think every human must be treated the same way. may i also remind you some politicians even like and want to be called by their first name.