October 29, 2007

Respect for the Presidency

This is a fully-loaded post title. What does having respect for the position of presidency mean? If you notice, President Bush is extremely careful not to denigrate any former President, and is extremely gracious and complimentary when he meets with President Clinton. This is contrary to the actions of many other former Presidents who are quick to throw these men under the bus in order to rise their historical ranking. Once retired, President Harry S. Truman refused to make money off of his prestigious title. While President Clinton is making millions off book sales and speaking engagements, Truman refused either. President Bush recently stated his inclination to go on a similar speaking tour once he retires; the only problem might be getting the gigs. Or does respect mean being careful not to abuse Presidential power? Well, we haven't had one of those in a while. So, it comes down to which of these characteristics of respect do YOU respect the most?
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