[SirCastor]

This is a pet peeve of mine. It bothers me when people casually use The president's name without his title.
"Obama's doing this"
"Bush did that"
"Well if Clinton had..."

Does this bother anyone else? I try always to use the president's title "President Obama is doing this...", and I do it because I think, by virtue of attaining that office, that person has gained at the very least the gain that title. Even if I don't like what the President is doing, don't like his policies, whatever, I give him that title.

[Dakar V]

It's a matter of speed and ease. President doesn't exactly flow easily from the mouth, and in an involved conversation, it just seems obstructive to have to use the term repeatedly.

And yes, in general, many of us are casual towards such things.

[Dork.]

I think in casual conversation (or in what passes for it on this forum), it is entirely appropriate to omit the President's title. Heck, it's entirely appropriate to call them "Bubba", "Dubya", or... well.... "Hopey" too!

I would hope that in news articles or in more formal communication, the title would be used. To do otherwise indicates a lack of respect for the person occupying the office. But every time I come here, I assume that nobody respects anyone to begin with, so it doesn't bother me.

Nicknames that exist solely to belittle the public figure, like using "Shrub" for "Bush", are more objectionable, but to be honest they say more about the lack of intelligence of the poster than anything about the postee. I don't quite remember whether "Bubba" fits into this category, or whether Clinton embraced it to the same extent that Bush embraces "Dubya", but I don't have a problem calling him "Bubba".

Heck, technically it's not even sufficient to say "President Bush" without inviting confusion. Just call him "Dubya" and everyone knows who you're talking about.

We could go further, though: "Hillary" is much shorter to write out than "Secretary of State Clinton", after all.

[SpaceMonkey]

The respect is accorded to the office, not the man. In professional journalism, at least, it is common for the president to be referred to as "Mr. Obama." When addressing Obama personally in his official capacity, he would be called "Mr. President," not "President Obama."

[kobi]

I try for the most part to type "President Obama" in my posts, as my respect is for the man and the office. When Bush was in office, I could have cared less about typing President in front of his name as he didn't deserve the respect in my opinion, as he didn't respect the office of the Presidency.

[Shaddim]

It must be from all the years of Presidential abuse. I can't remember very many times that Pres. Bush was treated with much respect around here, regardless of his policies.

That's not saying he was a great leader, but years of vitriol from many members has likely desensitized us. It would be a good idea if we could learn to calm down and remember that the President is just a person, and they're often struggling with very difficult situations.

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by kobi 

I could have cared less about typing President in front of his name as he didn't deserve the respect in my opinion

How timely, what a perfect example.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by SirCastor 

This is a pet peeve of mine. It bothers me when people casually use The president's name without his title.
"Obama's doing this"
"Bush did that"
"Well if Clinton had..."

It doesn't bother me any.
Then again, since they're not my presidents and are essentially "just another bloke" to me, I'll call them what I will - Obama shows up at my door it's "hey Barry", not "hello Mr President" (obviously after hiding my cash in case he wants to redistribute it).

That's the beauty of not being American, I guess - I don't have to afford any respect whatsoever to whoever's sitting in the Whitehouse.

There again, I don't bother giving any respect to the idiots running my country either.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Dork. 

I think in casual conversation (or in what passes for it on this forum), it is entirely appropriate to omit the President's title. Heck, it's entirely appropriate to call them "Bubba", "Dubya", or... well.... "Hopey" too!

I would hope that in news articles or in more formal communication, the title would be used. To do otherwise indicates a lack of respect for the person occupying the office. But every time I come here, I assume that nobody respects anyone to begin with, so it doesn't bother me.

Nicknames that exist solely to belittle the public figure, like using "Shrub" for "Bush", are more objectionable, but to be honest they say more about the lack of intelligence of the poster than anything about the postee. I don't quite remember whether "Bubba" fits into this category, or whether Clinton embraced it to the same extent that Bush embraces "Dubya", but I don't have a problem calling him "Bubba".

Heck, technically it's not even sufficient to say "President Bush" without inviting confusion. Just call him "Dubya" and everyone knows who you're talking about.

We could go further, though: "Hillary" is much shorter to write out than "Secretary of State Clinton", after all.

Where does "Black Jesus" fit in here?

[Dork.]

Well, a lot of people called Clinton "The First Black President", but even I think calling him "Black Jesus" goes a little too far....

[besson3c]

Well, I think it's funny...

Not cause I'm making fun of expectations, or Republicans, or Christians, just cause I picture some weird hobo babbling in earnest about how Obama is, in fact, Jesus, and that makes me laugh. I like hobos.

[subego]

I think it's also dependent on how much dignity is sown by the person in question, and to be honest, how good [edit: as in clever] of a barb it is.


Good barbs:

OwlGore
Slick Willie
Monkey (which is my go-to barb for everyone and everything)


Bad barbs:
Shrillary
B Hussein O (the point behind a barb is changing something)
****head


Not really sure where "Turdblossom", "Fredo", and "Brownie" fit on the continuum.

[Dork.]

"Turd Blossom" is the best political nickname, ever.

[Chuckit]

American tradition rejects the idea of treating our government members like royalty with special honorifics. It's appropriate to call him "Mr. President" if you happen to meet him, but that's pretty much it. He's not the King or the Pope; he's just the leader of the Executive Branch. You're no more obliged to call him "President Obama" every time you breathe his name than you are to call me Most Excellent Writer & Designer Chuck.

[hyteckit]

Doesn't bother me. Unless you are speaking directly to the President himself, then you address him by "President". Otherwise, omitting the title is fine for discussions on the forum.

[Shaddim]

but.. but.. I thought Obama was elected king or emperor, or whatever?

[Dork.]

I believe the word you're looking for is "caliph".

[besson3c]

I think I'm going to stick with Black Jesus, because I like that name.

[Shaddim]

I already know a black Jesus. His name is Jesus Riuz, he's from Costa Rica.

[Jawbone54]

Trying to make it mandatory to address the President in an extremely formal fashion is precisely what got John Adams in so much trouble.

We 'mericans are quite the informal bunch, ya know?

[Dakar V]

This should have been a poll.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Dakar V 

This should have been a poll.

Are you really a person or just some sort of weird MacNN AIM-bot set to reply the same way all of the time?

[Dakar V]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Are you really a person or just some sort of weird MacNN AIM-bot set to reply the same way all of the time?

This, also, should have been a poll.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

American tradition rejects the idea of treating our government members like royalty with special honorifics. It's appropriate to call him "Mr. President" if you happen to meet him, but that's pretty much it. He's not the King or the Pope; he's just the leader of the Executive Branch. You're no more obliged to call him "President Obama" every time you breathe his name than you are to call me Most Excellent Writer & Designer Chuck.