Democrats Are Living In Fantasy Land

I've never said a president should be able to do whatever he likes without fear of punishment.

Then what the hell are you talking about? You now agree that he should be prosecuted for criminal acts?

Overt and obvious ones. Not process crimes

Bad dog, no one is doing that. Quit your barking.

So?

In what sense does that change the fact that vexatious prosecutions as a political weapon have not materialised?

I hate to put it simply as this but I know no other way. United Kingdom is different from the United States. Americans are prone to believing and practicing "there is always tomorrow" rather than "let things go". thus I believe Americans are far more prone to using political weapons whenever they have political power.

I think you underestimate the human tendency to seek power just about anywhere.

I think you overestimate the human tendency to abuse power just about anywhere.

@Tracker can't abuse power because he is just a dog. If he goes rabid we just put him down like old yeller.

You feel politics is a game played by the decent?

are you threatening me? You don't have the guts to say yes and you know that is one reason that wordforge bans people.

There is nothing evil or bad per se about politics. It is the way things are done in a democratic society.

Ok, gentle observation about human nature, I'm not the first to make it but it's true all the same.

People aspire to achieve status, everywhere, at every level. Those who succeed aren't usually the best, or the brightest.

They're the most ruthless.

In any system.

Or persistent

I doubt very much that many heads of state, or governments, or corporations, or criminal gangs or any other significant branch of human power wouldn't present some interesting scores on a sociopathy test.

Yes, other qualities can factor in, intelligence, charisma, simply being the right person at the right time, but ruthlessness is pretty much synonymous with power and the achieving of it. It has to be, you're competing for something so many other people want so badly.

The reality is decent people don't have time to seek power because they are helping people around them who are in need.

That is a valid point. In regards to the U.S. presidency I think there are a number who were elected who where not seeking power for the sake of power.

Just off hand.

Eisenhower- he was basically already at the peak of achievement and popularity when he ran for president. He had voiced hopes that he would be nominated by both the Democrats and Republicans and thus be a "unity" candidate.

Carter- while you can question how competent or effective he ultimately was, I think he saw political power as an instrument to better peoples lives.

Ford-never actually sought the presidency and wasn't actually elected so I suppose he shouldn't be included here.

Obama- though I was never a fan of his I never felt that Barack Obama was all that power hungry.

Does doggie want tummy rubs? That's a good boy, now play dead.