The primary role of the president of the United States is executive. Within its limited grant of authority Congress passes laws and the president, as the chief administrator, makes certain the myriad federal agencies apply those laws. In select areas (including foreign policy which will not be discussed here) the president is responsible for setting the course of the country. The legislature can control the financing for such operations, and attack presidential initiatives in other collateral ways, but generally, the White House gets to steer the boat on certain issues. How to deploy the Coast Guard, where to setup new post offices, what sort of adjustment to the CPI is needed for federal pensions- these are all presidential decisions.
But too many of the GOP candidates have been defaulting to a disturbing response, when asked how they would react to such questions.
Be it about the threat of terrorism in the United States, the Fed's balancing of inflation and unemployment, or selecting a Supreme Court nominee, the refrain from the GOP of late is "let's check with the experts."
Only two candidates, it appears, have enough faith in themselves to make choices without first lining up a fall guy.
Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich are the only GOP choices who have not, at one time or another, cowered behind chimeric advisers as cover in the event one of their decisions backfires.
An informed president will take the counsel of experts seriously. But when it comes time to make a decision, citizens should be confident that their president is responsible and not deferring to a group of unknown, unaccountable advisers.
Perhaps the reason it has become so popular to shield oneself behind unseen and easily sacrificed experts is that this is a time of difficult decision making.
A candidate willing to go against popular will because they believe such a choice is best for the country, is laudable. This is, after all, a republic not a democracy. However, taking cover behind experts is a cop out. Too often in the past decade the White House has given the excuse that a president was mislead by experts, as if this absolves the Oval Office of responsibility for a poor decision.
Voters should seek out candidates who are willing to make their own decisions and face the consequences of those actions. Paul and Gingrich have been consistent in stating that their view of the presidency does not allow for clever hiding behind advisers.
Just one more thing to consider when getting ready to vote.
That and the fact that Bachmann wore a flag pin in this evening's debate. If there was ever any question about her love of America, it's gone now. Oh, and Santorum sang the entire national anthem. So he's a good American too.
But too many of the GOP candidates have been defaulting to a disturbing response, when asked how they would react to such questions.
Be it about the threat of terrorism in the United States, the Fed's balancing of inflation and unemployment, or selecting a Supreme Court nominee, the refrain from the GOP of late is "let's check with the experts."
Only two candidates, it appears, have enough faith in themselves to make choices without first lining up a fall guy.
Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich are the only GOP choices who have not, at one time or another, cowered behind chimeric advisers as cover in the event one of their decisions backfires.
An informed president will take the counsel of experts seriously. But when it comes time to make a decision, citizens should be confident that their president is responsible and not deferring to a group of unknown, unaccountable advisers.
Perhaps the reason it has become so popular to shield oneself behind unseen and easily sacrificed experts is that this is a time of difficult decision making.
A candidate willing to go against popular will because they believe such a choice is best for the country, is laudable. This is, after all, a republic not a democracy. However, taking cover behind experts is a cop out. Too often in the past decade the White House has given the excuse that a president was mislead by experts, as if this absolves the Oval Office of responsibility for a poor decision.
Voters should seek out candidates who are willing to make their own decisions and face the consequences of those actions. Paul and Gingrich have been consistent in stating that their view of the presidency does not allow for clever hiding behind advisers.
Just one more thing to consider when getting ready to vote.
That and the fact that Bachmann wore a flag pin in this evening's debate. If there was ever any question about her love of America, it's gone now. Oh, and Santorum sang the entire national anthem. So he's a good American too.