Obama's Weaknesses

To be a leader is no easy task. You are faced with complex decisions that affect others wellbeing, and sometimes lives. The leader with the single most responsibility for others would be the President. Therefore, analyzing his decision regarding 9/11 are a very daunting task. However, from a managerial standpoint I plan to examine his strengths and weaknesses, the alternative resources he utilized, and decision-making strategies.

Barack Obama's powerful diction creates hope for the future of the United States with word choices such as “continue,” “shifted” and “ambitions.” Barack’s shift from informal to formal diction constructs an image of unity through the usage of simple, personal pronouns, such as “we” and “us.” The shifts from informal to formal and back appeal to the emotions of the audience because they feel as if Obama is talking directly to them. His allusions to the Bible are sentimental because when he says "the God given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness" he creates a bond between himself and his audience. His words have a motivating connotation that appeal to both logos and pathos. The way in which Barack Obama presents his ideas allows his audience to have confidence in him and his role as president.

Sreedhar Potarazu points out in his article “Obama's legacy is at stake” the future of the president’s mark on history. He wonders how, if the ACA doesn’t endure, the president will be remembered. Of course the first black president will always remain his honor, but as far as presidential achievements go where will Obama stand in the halls of American greatness? Potarazu is quick to point out other great leaders from our nation’s past and their noteworthy achievements in order to set a baseline of comparison for President Obama. The author even makes sure to mention such famous phrases as “Iran Hostage Crisis,” “Tear down that wall,” and “Read my lips” only to dramatically drive home the importance of a presidential legacy.

The president's State of the Union address, delivered annually, is an opportunity to reflect on the nation's accomplishments across the previous twelve months and its goals in the year ahead. When the address delivered following the confirmation of the president's second term, it is an even more significant opportunity to set a course for the term ahead. In the address delivered by President Obama on February 12 before a Joint Congress, the course that he set forth would be distinguished by its progressive nature and the president's new sense of a public mandate.

President Obama gave his last State of the Union address on January 12th of this year. Like so many of his previous speeches, it was filled with soaring rhetoric and stressed values all Americans hold dear, not just Democrats, while also focusing on values that Democrats hold more dear than Republicans. Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina gave the Republican response and that speech, although critical of the President’s approach, echoed many of his values, while still emphasizing values that Republicans hold more dear than Democrats.

With the 2016 election in full swing, millions of Americans have locked in their party of choice as November 8th approaches. The two candidates and the conversation surrounding them this year have never been more polarizing: Republican vs. Democrat, businessman against politician, man facing woman, and high-energy in contrast to calm and collected. Eventually, one will be chosen to hold the highest office in the country, and will give a speech, known as an inaugural address to talk about their intentions as president of the US. This essay will focus on two specific addresses, one from Ronald Reagan, and the other from Barack Obama. Even though inaugural addresses are somewhat far apart in the time each was given and who was presenting them, they are very similar in how they

Comparing the writings of the current president, Barack H. Obama, and the first and most iconic president, George Washington, is very intriguing. George Washington’s Farewell Address talks about his hopes for the future of the country but wishing to retire from presidency. Barack Obama’s inaugural address presents his hopes for changing the country during his presidency. The beliefs of our country’s figurehead have stayed relatively similar when it comes to factions and military usage but, in some cases, have changed drastically especially in terms of foreign relations.

The presidency of the United States has gone through a transformation in the ability to direct the nation and preform executive actions to help shape the country. Well renowed political sciencetist and author, Stephen Skowronek mentions in his book The Poltics Presidents Make, a presidents main priority is to be agents of political change who depend on prior presidencies to help guide their policy agenda for their respective term. Unlike Bill Clinton or other preemptive presidents, President Obama used his initial term to fix the ongoing problems from that of the Bush administration. He clearly put his ambitions for the nation aside just to combat what was at hand. Due to this, Obama is best categorized as a reconstructive leader who was chosen by the American populate to change the system put in place by the George W. Bush and to build a new political regime. Starting right from his campaign, President Obama fought to distance himself from the previous era that showed to be a major disappointment to the American citizens. Obama sought to make a new reconstructive period for the United States. Clearly not a “hard case,” President Obama has taken advantage of all his resources in the opening years of his first term in office in order to revamp the political landscape of America.

In 2008, Barack Obama delivered his speech “A More Perfect Union” in hopes of addressing the racial segregation in America. His goal was to connect with the American people on a topic that was close to home for most. By doing so, he gained a sense of trust among the American people and appealed to many potential voters. Senator Barack Obama’s trustworthy and relatable character; followed by logically explaining America’s calling for change; and a final emotional connection to the reader and their everyday struggles, demonstrated his passion for America and his desire to build an emotional connection with every single citizen.

In between Rebekah’s bookends laid out all of Obama’s ambitions and national priorities for the year. It transitions into burdensome situation that American workers are facing like how to provide childcare for employed women and the working class’s demand for a rise in the minimum wage. It discussed Obama’s proposal for free community college so “student debt doesn’t derail anyone’s dreams.” From there, the address shifted into the deliberation of updating cyber-security based on recent worrisome events. The centerpiece of the president 's address was the democratic tax proposal that increases the capital gains rate on couples making more than $500,000 annually to 28 percent. From there, the address segued, into the topic of humanity rights, and the increasing warmer temperatures in the environment. Finally, the address returned back to the underlying grand themes of America and its people. Obama managed to present these main points of his agenda without resembling a grocery list; the successful utilized pattern allowed for smooth transitions throughout.

When describing the current state of the USA, very little positive language would be used. The more standard response would be one including an overall negative, and debt describing language. As seen in Barrack Obama’s 2014 State of the Union Address, the president of our nation seemed to completely disregard the actual “state” of the union by simply stating that, “The state of the union is sound”. This short, vague, and contradicting statement seemed to be blow up the anemic progressions our nation has made during Obamas presidency. It is safe to say that the description of a “sound” nation did not make a connection with many Americans. It left people with more of a sense of confusion to what the actual situation stands to be. That situation, the current state of our union, would more appropriately be described as upsetting. Especially when being described by the current president of over five years who promised to better our nation. Gary McCoy’s drawing depicts the not so serious response to Barack Obama’s humorous statement to the current state of the union, and poses the argument that his remarks no longer send a sense of promise and hope, but more of something to just roll your eyes at.

The modern presidency has in a sense become a double-edged sword in that presidents have become beneficiaries of anything positive that can be attributed to government, but also can be blamed for anything bad occurring in society. Quite simply, the modern president has become the center of our political system (The Modern Presidency, 2004). The men who have dealt with this double-edged sword known as the modern presidency have often walked a very fine line between effectiveness and ineffectiveness, but all have attempted to use their power in one way or another.

President, Donald Trump, in his Inaugural Address establishes and presents the goals of his presidency to the people of the United States. Trump’s purpose is to promise the American people change by acknowledging the flaws of the current system and providing specific solutions. He adopts a motivational and comforting tone to address the people in need of hope and an accusatory tone to refer to the old administration, both of which result in the people believing in change and in the concept of making “America Great Again.”

The President is the voice of the nation, defining who we as a people are and who we will become in the eyes of our allies and the rest of world. (Morone and Kersh 2013)Some presidents were loved and still hold much affection by the American people but accomplished very little while in the oval office. Others improved the economy and made the right decisions and are almost forgotten by history. So how does one achieve presidential greatness? I argue that a president must create a new “political order” in order to achieve greatness. In other words, he must create new institutions, interests, and ideas or reform the current institutions, interests and ideas that shape a political era. (Morone and Kersh 2013) .

On September 11, 2001 the American nation was shaken with news of a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center towers in New York City. Fear and panic commandeered the spirits of American citizens as they awaited to hear if their loved one had perished, if another attack had been planned for somewhere else in the United States, and how their nation would rise from the ashes to face another tomorrow. Not only had their nation been attacked, but also the true measure of their freedom had been questioned. In times like these, the American people put their faith in their president. They rely on his leadership to instruct them on what to do next. This essay explores the context surrounding