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[Bagels]

"My president"? Sure.
But not just anyone can be the president...of my heart.

 

[Zona]

The President is The President regardless of my personal feelings about them. Even if I hate them with the burning passion of a thousand fiery suns it's a job title that they hold.

 

[J10]

Isn't that what it means to be part of a democracy? You can't just storm off in a huff if your pick doesn't win.

 

[Chezzymann]

I think a lot of people don't with Obama, considering 99% of the time people just call him "Obama" and not President Obama. I'm not sure if this is a normal thing though as I'm only 20. Maybe people have always referred to presidents with just their last name.

 

[InsaneZero]

There's really no point in thinking otherwise.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Yeah, I'm not a petulant child.

 

[TomShoe]

Yes, if only because I don't want to see the disgusting obstructionism by Congress we have witnessed over the last 4 years

 

[rpmurphy]

In thought, yeah. But honestly, there is not really any reason in my daily life where the phrase "my President" would show up in my vernacular. Like maybe if I were talking to a person from another country? Even then it doesn't seem likely unless for some reason I was arguing with them about whose President would win in a fist fight. If I were to meet the President in person, I'd address him as "Mr. President."

 

[bomma_man]

This is an odd concept. Seems very American. I don't think 'respect for office' features very highly in British politics, you're supposed to dislike the prime minister regardless of whether he's from the same party as you or not. Things wouldn't be normal if the Conservatives weren't complaining about Cameron or the Labour Party about Blair. I mean, obviously the Prime Minister is the Prime Minister in the sense that nobody is going to unilaterally declare themselves citizen of independent state of Fuck David Cameron, but disliking the prime minister is as close to compulsory as it gets.

Isn't that what the Scots tried to do?

 

[AdventureMike]

Yep. I stood by saying "Respect the office of the President" even when Dubya was there. I thought it was stupid for people to say "Not my president!" then and I think it's just as stupid when (quite honestly, a LOT of people that held the respect the office position during dubya) people say it now. Criticize them on the job they're doing? Sure. But don't play this other nonsense.

 

[DUFFMCWALIN]

I can only respect the office if the person in power is a good person.

So you've never respected the office? Fair enough.


Edit: for better or worse, the elected president is my president.

 

[120v]

in the bush years i honestly didn't consider him "my president"... my attitude was he was horrible, a liar, a piece of shit, ect ect. but in my defense i was younger then. also, he was the worst president in modern history

the obama years kind of changed my perspective a bit. seeing "my guy" get relentlessly bashed over every asinine thing made me think a little more objectively. so if the next president was jeb bush or somebody and they were fairly moderate and reasonable i'll be less quick to draw my knives. but with today's GOP it's kind of hard to imagine that kind of scenario being realistic

 

[speculawyer]

I've never considered any president to be "my" president. They are all just "the president". I don't own them or possess any control over them.

 

[DSN2K]

when you participate in an election you are acknowledging all candidates are viable to lead. Thats democracy.

 

[AdventureMike]

I think a lot of people don't with Obama, considering 99% of the time people just call him "Obama" and not President Obama. I'm not sure if this is a normal thing though as I'm only 20. Maybe people have always referred to presidents with just their last name.

Shorthand has always been used, but never with the undertone that is used when referring to Barack Obama. We said Reagan, Dubya, W, Bush, Clinton, whatever in addition to President "insert". People said it with a different tone than Obama though. They disrespect him a lot of the time.

 

[Paskil]

I voted against Scott Walker, several times now. He's still my governor.

 

[razznjazz]

I've often thought about this as most of my family bashes Obama endlessly.

It would be difficult, or near impossible, to have any national pride if our president was someone who seemed to reject minorities or minority rights. It's a little bit different than just a difference of views if someone is working to deny me my rights.

Listening to GOP drivel makes me miss Canada where conservatives there go "LOL I'm not that crazy!"

 

[Valhelm]

Yeah? Even if I disagree with his or her policies, the president is still the president.

 

[Strike]

If they're in office, then yes.