When I read this quote from President Obama this morning:
“I neglected some things that matter a lot to people, and rightly so: maintaining a bipartisan tone in Washington,†he told reporters in a brief question-and-answer session aboard Air Force One as he returned from a 10-day trip to Asia. “I’m going to redouble my efforts to go back to some of those first principles,†he promised.
my immediate reaction echoed Inigo Montoya: that does not mean what he thinks it means.
A “first principle” is an axiom. You cannot put on or doff a first principle at will. I think he meant, simply, principle.
I believe that the clearest way to infer what a person’s principles are is by his or her actions. I think the president has made his principles pretty clear over the last several years and they have nothing to do with bipartisan tone.
My complaint about our presidents over the last several decades is that they do not appear to have solid principles. What did the last four presidents want to accomplish with their presidencies? I honestly have no idea.
“A “first principle†is an axiom. You cannot put on or doff a first principle at will. I think he meant, simply, principle.”
I’m reminded of something Plato is said to have asked his students in the Academy: “Are we arguing to first principles, or from first principles?”
“My complaint about our presidents over the last several decades is that they do not appear to have solid principles. What did the last four presidents want to accomplish with their presidencies? I honestly have no idea.”
Very interesting. Reagan clearly, whether you agreed with him or not, had a world view. he did not mince words, or leave you wondering.
Bush I was a caretaker. (In part why he lost.)
Clinton just wanted to BE President. Sort of a Mick Jagger thing. A pragmatist, although filthy, politician. (In part why he won.)
Bush II I somewhat disagree. I think the “ownership society” was a real goal. But his entire presidency was defined by an external event (9/11) and a foreign policy event by choosing (Iraq) so reforming Social Security was a hopeless task.
On Obama I disagree. For all my ranting about Obama – I think he is incompetant, misguided and ineffective – I do have to say you know where he stands.
I agree on Reagan. I never voted for the man—he was too bellicose for me. But I believe he did want to accomplish something.
I’m not as sure as you apparently are about George W. Bush. I think he gained a mission while in the presidency rather than being driven by his principles to one. I think “the ownership society” was a campaign slogan rather than a real goal. What in his life previous to the presidency or after it suggests he has tried to accomplish it?
I’m increasing concerned that President Obama’s objective is to be in the history books. That’s not a principle; that’s an affectation.
“I never voted for the man—he was too bellicose for me.”
Heh. You know me; that wouldn’t be a problem, with all due consideration to the office. Some more plain-speak seems a good thing to me.
“I think he gained a mission while in the presidency rather than being driven by his principles to one.”
With respect to the war and 9/11, agree.
“I think “the ownership society†was a campaign slogan rather than a real goal. What in his life previous to the presidency or after it suggests he has tried to accomplish it?”
I think that’s unfair. He did propose SS reform, but dropped it quickly when it was obvious he didn’t have the political capital. Not one for banging head against wall.
As for pre-Presidency – he was a businessman, what do you want? As for post – they all go write a book. What would pursuade you, he go pound nails into shacks parading as homes?
It sounds very human to me. You can hold what you think is (or what you want to be) your first principle in your mind, but be distracted by any range of issues. It’s reason versus emotion. It’s spirit versus flesh. I’m sure the Freudians had a name for it.
The economists try to make their math work by saying that there is no contradiction, that there are only “revealed preferences,” but I don’t think that’s the way the mind (or the world) works.
And naturally I think what you think Obama reveals is colored by your reference point(s).
(you’ve displayed “revealed preferences” lolz)
I voted for Reagan twice. He campaigned on balancing the budget and cutting down debt. He failed miserably.
Steve