4 ms·

How is he not directly responsible for his administration's statements and positions?

roc 17y ago
Indeed, we held Bush responsible for things that we know his administration was deliberately keeping out of his immediate purview for deniability reasons.
- GiraffeNecktie 17y ago
  Whatever this supposed "we" collectively did, it's still a linkbait title. Sure the buck stops at the president's office, but you can't say that person X supports some very specific activity unless they come right out and say it. However it is certainly fair comment to say that Obama, by appointing industry lawyers, has given tacit endorsement to the industry stance of harsh penalties.
  - mschy 17y ago
    it is certainly fair comment to say that Obama, by appointing industry lawyers, has given tacit endorsement to the industry stance of harsh penalties. No, it isn't. If I know that X laws need reform, I'll hire lawyers who are very familiar with X laws to review possible changes, their effects, and how they would use those laws, to try to avoid making a bad situation worse. On the flip side, if I want X laws strengthened, I'd still hire lawyers who are familiar with X laws, to figure out how to make them stronger, and plug the holes. As such, I'd contend that Obama's hiring of lawyers who specialized in IP tells us only that his administration is interested in gaining expertise in the application of IP law. That said, I tend to be a lot less outraged about politics than other HN'ers.
  - roc 17y ago
    So you're arguing that maybe he just doesn't care about the issue or the case? That's the defense? "No no, he doesn't support it. He's merely so disinterested in the situation that he doesn't have any idea, or interest in, the position his administration is taking on his behalf."
    - GiraffeNecktie 17y ago
      The administration does not take positions "on behalf" of the president. Obama is not the administration nor is the administration some kind of perfect reflection in every detail of Obama's innermost thoughts and desires. And verily it is possible that a sparrow falls from heaven without Obama knowing about it.
Retric 17y ago
There was a big scandal a few years ago for the administration interfering with federal prosecutors. Either they have independence or we have prosecution mixed with politics. An administration can publicly pardon people, but quietly squashing prosecution is a horrible precedent. That said, there is some degree of guidance possible as to the overall tone. However, that mostly works to increase the number of prosecutions in some area not eliminate them.

roc 17y ago

Indeed, we held Bush responsible for things that we know his administration was deliberately keeping out of his immediate purview for deniability reasons.

GiraffeNecktie 17y ago
Whatever this supposed "we" collectively did, it's still a linkbait title. Sure the buck stops at the president's office, but you can't say that person X supports some very specific activity unless they come right out and say it. However it is certainly fair comment to say that Obama, by appointing industry lawyers, has given tacit endorsement to the industry stance of harsh penalties.
- mschy 17y ago
  it is certainly fair comment to say that Obama, by appointing industry lawyers, has given tacit endorsement to the industry stance of harsh penalties. No, it isn't. If I know that X laws need reform, I'll hire lawyers who are very familiar with X laws to review possible changes, their effects, and how they would use those laws, to try to avoid making a bad situation worse. On the flip side, if I want X laws strengthened, I'd still hire lawyers who are familiar with X laws, to figure out how to make them stronger, and plug the holes. As such, I'd contend that Obama's hiring of lawyers who specialized in IP tells us only that his administration is interested in gaining expertise in the application of IP law. That said, I tend to be a lot less outraged about politics than other HN'ers.
- roc 17y ago
  So you're arguing that maybe he just doesn't care about the issue or the case? That's the defense? "No no, he doesn't support it. He's merely so disinterested in the situation that he doesn't have any idea, or interest in, the position his administration is taking on his behalf."
  - GiraffeNecktie 17y ago
    The administration does not take positions "on behalf" of the president. Obama is not the administration nor is the administration some kind of perfect reflection in every detail of Obama's innermost thoughts and desires. And verily it is possible that a sparrow falls from heaven without Obama knowing about it.

Retric 17y ago

There was a big scandal a few years ago for the administration interfering with federal prosecutors. Either they have independence or we have prosecution mixed with politics. An administration can publicly pardon people, but quietly squashing prosecution is a horrible precedent. That said, there is some degree of guidance possible as to the overall tone. However, that mostly works to increase the number of prosecutions in some area not eliminate them.