Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

1st Baron Lytton of Knebworth

In 1989 Russia held contested elections for the first time since the 1917 revolution. Numerous incumbent party leaders lost.

Honore Gabriel Victor Requiti

Obama was a President who believed deeply in the concepts of checks and balances and separation of powers. He did not punish members of Congress who opposed him by closing federal installations in their state of district, not giving government contracts to companies in his district and in the case of member of his own party who were “recalcitrant” supporting opponent in primary elections and failing to support in general elections. Presidents Nixon and Johnson used these techniques particularly effectively. As a result they pushed their legislative programs through Congress very effectively. All other modern Presidents have done this to one degree or another, but Obama did not. He believed that pressure on member of Congress should be limited to persuasion and public debate moving public opinion. Many seasoned politicians and political observers however thought that this was Obama’s biggest weakness as a President. Lyndon Johnson did not have to actually punish many member of Congress, as his willingness to do so was well known and thus few opposed him when he called or met with them and “gave them the treatment.” But Congress knew that Obama had taken punishment and retaliation off the table, and many opposed him including member of his own party.

Soon he had the power of a dictator but he didn’t force his will on the vast majority of the Cubans. His decrees made all the wealthy and the cronies of the dictator Batista outraged and most of them left Cuba. He was a dynamic demagogue and the people handed him dictatorial powers which he did not reject. He was so popular that he was the only leader in the Americas who would give 4 hour speeches and move through the streets without any bodyguards until the United States and dissident expatriates tried to assassinate him. With all that popularity, none the less he would not allow open criticism of his regime and jailed many political opponents. So he indeed became a dictator but never needed the machine gun to maintain power.

He was asked if he supported President Donald Trump, whose first 100 days was in the view of most political analysts, historians and many politicians--almost all Democrats and even many Republicans to be one of the worst on record. His popular approval rating was the worst after 100 days than any other President since support polls had been started. Kasich had stringly opposed Trup in the 2016 election. His answer reflected his view that al should support whatever president was in office even thought they might at the same to be very critical and opuitspoken about his weaknesses and failings. The President is everyone's President even though he may not act like it.