Tag Archives: President Obama

On being “woke”

Posted on December 21, 2019 by hessd

This is President Obama, at an Obama Foundation event this last October. The man makes so much sense. There is this sense [among some young people] that the way of me making change is to be as judgmental as possible … Continue reading →

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Black Quarterbacks

Posted on January 29, 2016 by hessd

How do blacks act? I think that is a genuinely stupid question. I wouldn’t put it in this essay at all if I didn’t hear it on the radio most days.  Ordinarily it isn’t said; it is presumed. Last weekend, … Continue reading →

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The President as Cherrypicker in Chief

Posted on November 22, 2014 by hessd

The Constitution identifies the President as the Chief Executive.  He is Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.  Since the President is the principal source of major congressional considerations, he is often called the Chief Legislator.  It was not until President … Continue reading →

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President Obama Doesn’t Get It

Posted on November 8, 2014 by hessd

This essay is going to wander into some disreputable places, so let me start with the easy stuff.  First, I’ve been blogging for several years now and I have learned that “President Obama Doesn’t Get It” is a better headline … Continue reading →

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Deciding to go to “war”

Posted on August 27, 2014 by hessd

Today, I want to consider how we go to war. We need to consider why “war” has those quotation marks around it. And, more crucially, I want to consider how we don’t go to war.  As Americans, we seem to … Continue reading →

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Speak softly and carry on with your shtick

Posted on April 20, 2014 by hessd

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) lectured Secretary of State John Kerry recently on the Obama administration’s conduct of foreign policy.  One of McCain’s heroes, he said, is President Theodore Roosevelt, who is identified with the maxim, “Speak softly and carry a … Continue reading →

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First, Apologize

Posted on March 2, 2014 by hessd

I just finished spending some time with the latest New York Times/CBS poll and I have to tell you, I’m discouraged.  It is not that there is not information in the poll to gladden the heart of any liberal Democrat—that’s … Continue reading →

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The Five Big Issues in Supreme Court’s Current Term: Presidential Power

Posted on October 16, 2013 by hessd

This is the fifth and last of a series of posts on the issues that Adam Liptak has identified as prominent on the agenda of the Supreme Court in its current session.  Liptak listed campaign finance, abortion, affirmative action, prayer and … Continue reading →

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Why We Shut the Government Down

Posted on October 3, 2013 by hessd

Today is the third day of the shutdown of the federal government.  This would be the result of a tantrum on the order of “I’m going to hold my breath until I turn blue” if there were only one government … Continue reading →

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The President Should Be Free to Choose a Response to the Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria

Posted on September 6, 2013 by hessd

That title is my thesis.  I’m going to make the best case for it I can, then I’m going to read that case several times and see if I am still willing to go along with it.  I will say, up … Continue reading →

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