Regarding the term "Bully Pulpit"--I don't think it means what you think it means

[Hekate]

"Bully for you!" is an archaic positive term used by Theodore Roosevelt. It expresses approval. (My mother occasionally used it, only in her case it was slightly sarcastic.)

TR's favorite phrase was "Bully!" meaning "Fantastic!" http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/20/messages/1090.html

So when TR said that the White House was a "bully pulpit" he meant it was a terrific platform to advocate an agenda. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_pulpit

He didn't mean he was going to throw his weight around and run roughshod over everyone else. "Speak softly and carry a big stick," another of his favorite phrases and taken from a West African proverb, meant a tactic of caution and non-aggression, backed by the ability to do violence if necessary. www.answers.com/topic/big-stick-diplomacy

I've been meaning to write this out for a long time, because so many in GD and GDP wonder why Obama doesn't use his "bully pulpit" to browbeat the opposition and generally kick ass. This is why.

Hekate

[uponit7771]

1. Some would like to see Obama go down to the senate floor and punch Liberman in his mouth

...and those same people think that will change Liberman and Nelsons minds on they way the vote.

[HughMoran]

6. Won't change their vote, but admit it - you've thought of doing the same thing

I have to admit that I have.

Lieberman = low life scumbag who deserves nothing less

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

21. Make a damned fine pay-per-view event....

Obama could finance his 2012 campaign with a $19.95 pricetag to watch him kick the living shit out of Lieberman.

[Ken Burch]

7. I'd like Obama to fly to New Haven on Air Force One

And punch all the insurance company CEO's who OWN "Always Say 'No' Joe" in the mouths. And deliver some groin kicks as well.

I'd be glad to do it if he won't, though.

[MurrayDelph]

10. It doesn't have to be Obama.

I would be happy if ANYONE did.

Yes, it would be wrong, as violence does not solve problems (end of legal disclaimer), but on a Karmic sense
there is no one in the Democratic caucus more deserving of a boot to the head.

[donheld]

26. I'd pay to watch that.

[pnwmom]

2. K & R. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

3. "Inconceivable!"

(I'm not disagreeing with you, I think it's an interesting theory. But one good Princess Bride quote deserves another. ;) )

[Hekate]

5. LOL!

:rofl"

[MercutioATC]

4. Did anybody really think it meant "bully" as in to browbeat?

I thought the "good position" meaning was universally understood.

[KittyWampus]

9. I had no idea! Fun Fact O' Teh Day.

[ruggerson]

8. I've never seen anyone use it as you describe

People know what the bully pulpit is, and thosoe that have advocated that it be used on specific issues have used the phrase correctly.

[KittyWampus]

23. you've never heard "bully for you!" as a phrase?

[Romulox]

11. The OP is the only misuse of the term I've ever seen. Any link to misuse on DU?

Or is this one of those things that "they" are doing? :shrug:

[Hekate]

14. Here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7333732

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7332153

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7332482

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7330899

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7293381

and one by someone in GD on Ignore

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=96803

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=60576

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=90471

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=89685

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=81414

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=88624--used correctly, for a change

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=87848

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=77502

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=83331--also used correctly

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=78340

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=75184

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=78339

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=79803

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=72349--ditto

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=77814-- ditto

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=74445--ditto

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=76484

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=70863

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=72145

and 17 more hits

[ima_sinnic]

15. in the 1st link, poster says, "his power to use bully pulpit has not been effectively used at all"

that is the only place where the term "bully pulpit" appears in that link.
How is that "misused"?

I don't have time to click all your links, but am wondering whether you think simply saying "bully pulpit" means it is "misused" or that posters don't know what it means.

what I'd like are examples of where Obama did use his bully pulpit on behalf of legislation completely benefiting We The People and/or the Rule of Law and not corporate profits.

[Romulox]

24. I checked the first link. The phrase is not misused. I think *you* may be the one who is confused.

:shrug:

[Romulox]

25. I checked the second link. Neither is the phrase misused there. You're either confused

or dishonest. :shrug:

[Jenny_92808]

12. I couldn't agree with you more Hekate!

[ima_sinnic]

13. "a terrific platform to advocate an agenda"---we totally understand that

when is it going to happen?

Thanks for the reminder of what is NOT happening. Advocacy of Dawn Johnsen? Advocacy of single payer, or AT LEAST a "public option" (which Obama also called a "government option")? "Fierce advocacy" of gay rights, of a repeal of DADT & DOMA?

so far, among the most conspicuous "advocacy" is for expansion of the president's right to deem whomever he wants a "suspected terrorist" so as to strip that individual of even legal status as a human being--exactly the way slaves were legally regarded. The Obama administration has "been in office only 11 months," yet it has had time to prepare an argument for THAT. That's the kind of thing to which effort is being devoted, not to reinstating of habeas corpus, but to further shitting on it and ensuring that nobody in his administration will be charged with war crimes either.

Oh, there was also that Obama administration concerted effort to CHALLENGE a court ruling of same-sex benefits for federal employees--again using our taxpayer dollars to fight the very things for which he was a so-called fierce advocate.

Yes, WHEN is the "bully pulpit" going to be used? Or would that not be "bipartisan"? I guess that would mean actually taking a strong stand on something and making a case for it--you know, ADVOCATING--using political capital of the office of president of the US, with 60% voter support of a mandate for change.

At least 2/3 of voters were for "a public option," if not outright single-payer--the fierce advocate was nowhere to be seen when Max Baucus negotiated our rates with the insurance companies behind closed doors (after his slick "promise" that "all voices would have a seat at the table" or some such total bullshit) and the teabaggers took over the message, monopolizing the airwaves and simply confusing the average voter--Obama had an instant response team during his campaign to squelch rumors and disinformation, but could not make a similar effort to ensure that the people would understand his vision of reform and make a case for a public option.

I guess he also used his "bully pulpit" when advocating for--what? behind closed doors with pharmaceutical companies--this was after he cunningly gave lip service to how "transparent" and "free of lobbyists" his administration was going to be.

Not sure what the purpose of explaining the "bully pulpit" was to US, maybe you need to send your OP to Obama--he's the one who needs to get a clue about using it.

[boppers]

16. The pulpit HAS been used. It HAS happened.

Using a pulpit doesn't mean that change happens, only that somebody has talked about it.

It doesn't mean that someone has been a bully about a topic.

Obama talked about DADT from the pulpit, about a public option, and pretty much everything you mention.

Having the pulpit doesn't mean he, or us, get everything we want.

The US is not a dictatorship.

[ima_sinnic]

18. he used it alright, but not in the way We The People need

it's already been well established that it doesn't mean "bullying"--why are you trying to distort the message? (how surprising! NOT)

[harun]

17. While that may be what TR meant, I fail to see why it has any

relevance to what we are advocating today.

Is the President somehow restricted to TR's ways? Of course not.

We want Obama to kick ass and get done what we want. Better now? Just because Teddy meant "Fantastic" doesn't mean shit to me.

[ChiciB1]

19. I Think The Use Of "Bully Pulpit" By Many Has Simply Been a "Plea" By

so many for him to do what he said he wanted to do. To get down in the trenches and "fight" for "we the people!" Using the phrase is just easier than writing it all out!

So Du'er's should perhaps NOT use the term because the implication isn't what FR meant, but to some who don't research like you, may only use it for "effect." I could be wrong with this analogy, but I myself have wondered where his "bully pulpit" stance was missing.

So now I'll just say, quit dissing the left, and get out there and FIGHT for your base! Show us you care, and restrict Rahm from negating us and taking us for granted! There WILL be those who will NOT vote for him again unless there is a stronger effort to do what he promised! We don't expect everything to get done right NOW, but we DID expect him not to dismiss some MAJOR issues and NOT do a Flip-Flop!

And please don't ask me to go into the many issues he seems to have reversed on. There have been many posts pointing this out already, and over and over too!

[Clio the Leo]

20. Beside the fact that if we'd wanted a "bully" in the common sense...

... we'd have voted for John McCain and that Palin woman.

I voted for the President because I believed he was going to take a different approach to governing .... less testosterone, more dialog .... and that's what I got.

I feel for those who believed he'd suddenly flip a switch when he walked into the Oval and become someone he's not.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. Sorry, teach, but having been to 7th grade I know what Bully

Pulpit means and where the term comes from. I have not expected any browbeating, but specifically the use of that platform to advocate (fierce advocate style) for the agenda he ran on. He himself specifically used the term Bully Pulpit when he promised to do just that. Speaking for myself, I expected him to do what he said, and use that Bully Pulpit. And sorry, but I know the historic meaning of Bully.
Both Obama and myself understood the term when he used it. Obama used it during the campaign, in very specific ways. He has yet to follow through with the use of that platform as he promised. Maybe he still will. But he has not, and he did promise to do so, actually he promised to use that Bully Pulpit 'without hesitation'. He has hesitated. But we shall see if he delivers in the end.