What’s the value of the bully pulpit? It’s whatever the presidents makes of it.
How can the president devalue it? By using too often and too casually. It can be very useful in a national emergency, assuming it has not been cheapened by inappropriate uses earlier.
Obama is too self-centered to preserve values not directly tied to his own self importance. The POTUS is important, but not by acting like an aspirant. It’s not about preening, it’s about governing. The power invested in the president is unequalled, which means that nobody can make mistakes as big as the president can.
Remember, this power was delegated by the electorate. If there is not enough checks and balances against presidential excess, zeal and hubris, we still have the power of the ballot in 2010, and 2012. Join the tea parties if you feel the administration does not know how and when to hold its horses.
