--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That distinctive presidential conduct is…" description: "\"That distinctive presidential conduct is now gone forever, banished to the snows of yesteryear by Barack Obama. From the beginning of his presidency to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/john-podhoretz-4983_barack_that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is_593363.jpg" --- # That distinctive presidential conduct is now gone forever… ![“That distinctive presidential conduct is now gone forever, banished to the snows of yesteryear by Barack Obama. From the beginning of his presidency to the present, he has spoken specifically and in unprecedented fashion of Republicans as his rivals, his stumbling blocks, the primary cause of his…” quote by John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/john-podhoretz-4983_barack_that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is_593363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/john-podhoretz-4983_barack_that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is_593363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/john-podhoretz-4983_barack_that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is_593363.jpg) > “That distinctive presidential conduct is now gone forever, banished to the snows of yesteryear by Barack Obama. From the beginning of his presidency to the present, he has spoken specifically and in unprecedented fashion of Republicans as his rivals, his stumbling blocks, the primary cause of his troubles.” [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Podhoretz argues Obama’s rhetoric turned Republicans into adversaries, eroding bipartisan conduct. **In simple terms:** Obama framed Republicans as enemies, harming cooperation. Key Takeaway Beware of political language that deepens division. Themes politics communication partisanship Mood critical concerned Type analytical political When to use this quote - campaign speeches - legislative negotiations - media commentary Key Concepts rhetoric polarization leadership Questions to Reflect On - How does labeling opponents affect governance? - Can civil discourse be restored? A Different Perspective Such framing can entrench hostility and stall policy progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Presidency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidency/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republicans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans/) [Rivals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivals/) [Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snow/) [Stumbling block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumbling-block/) [Yesteryear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yesteryear/) ## Related quotes > [ I think that is also something he \[Barack Obama\], in the beginning of his presidency, he couldn't really explore and couldn't show. He had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/i-think-that-is-also-something-he-barack-obama-in-the-beginning-of/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [I think that President Obama is beginning to realize that a lot of his plans have backfired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-krohn/i-think-that-president-obama-is-beginning-to-realize-that-a-lot-of/) [Jonathan Krohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-krohn/) > [ \[Left\] are very hesitant to criticize \[Barack\] Obama, but that is beginning to change. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/left-are-very-hesitant-to-criticize-barack-obama-but-that-is/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [Today's unions are less Mobbed-up than those of yesteryear to be sure, but they're hardly above tactics that would be considered intimidating and coercive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/today-s-unions-are-less-mobbed-up-than-those-of-yesteryear-to-be-sure/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [But where are the snows of yesteryear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-villon/but-where-are-the-snows-of-yesteryear/) [Francois Villon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-villon/) > [“If we are going to revisit the past, let us go there only to learn from our past mistakes, and not to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-we-are-going-to-revisit-the-past-let-us-go-there-only-to-learn/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Eomer said, 'How is a man to judge what to do in such times?' As he has ever judged,' said Aragorn. 'Good and evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/eomer-said-how-is-a-man-to-judge-what-to-do-in-such-times-as-he-has/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [I have no interest in returning to yesteryear. I love the conveniences and delights of today's time. I wouldn't go back if I could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-have-no-interest-in-returning-to-yesteryear-i-love-the-conveniences/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [It's a real enigma why people are so averse to real free market capitalism even now. Here we are, in the century that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-sobran/it-s-a-real-enigma-why-people-are-so-averse-to-real-free-market/) [Joseph Sobran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-sobran/) > [Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community, and it is my responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/heroes-are-not-giant-statues-framed-against-a-red-sky-they-are-people/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [I am just...wondering, where is the glow of yesteryear? I'm wondering where the heroes went. Gosh, I don't know how long ago they left.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-mccall/i-am-just-wondering-where-is-the-glow-of-yesteryear-i-m-wondering/) [Tom McCall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-mccall/) > [For the multiculturist/diversity crowd, culture, ideas, customs, arts and skills are a matter of racial membership where one has no more control over his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/for-the-multiculturist-diversity-crowd-culture-ideas-customs-arts-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [where are the snowdens of yesteryear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/where-are-the-snowdens-of-yesteryear/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Love is spontaneous and craves expression through joy, through beauty, through truth, even through tears. Love lives the moment; it's neither lost in yesteryear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-is-spontaneous-and-craves-expression-through-joy-through-beauty/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [The people who are always hankering loudest for some golden yesteryear usually drive new cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/the-people-who-are-always-hankering-loudest-for-some-golden/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) ## More by John Podhoretz > [The great mystery is why robots come off so well in science-fiction films when the human characters are often so astoundingly wooden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-great-mystery-is-why-robots-come-off-so-well-in-science-fiction/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [The exit polls suggest that after a relatively disappointing first term, Obama managed to reassemble almost all of his 2008 electorate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-exit-polls-suggest-that-after-a-relatively-disappointing-first/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [For Obama to save himself, he should be thinking about the example of an unlikely Republican predecessor: Richard Nixon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/for-obama-to-save-himself-he-should-be-thinking-about-the-example-of/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Your race and gender don't change, but you can choose to change your political affiliation at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/your-race-and-gender-don-t-change-but-you-can-choose-to-change-your/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Imagine his delight after it 'leaked' that he will propose raising taxes on the wealthy by $320 billion over the next 10 years, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/imagine-his-delight-after-it-leaked-that-he-will-propose-raising/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Robots have a rich and storied history in movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/robots-have-a-rich-and-storied-history-in-movies/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Aside from being bad sportsmanship - Romney basically said Obama won by cheating - he was displaying the same obtuseness about the wants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/aside-from-being-bad-sportsmanship-romney-basically-said-obama-won-by/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [There is a new conservative establishment in America, made up of those who claim to be the anti-establishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/there-is-a-new-conservative-establishment-in-america-made-up-of-those/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [As the Republican nominee, it was Romney's job to find a way to speak to some of those groups of voters and offer practical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/as-the-republican-nominee-it-was-romney-s-job-to-find-a-way-to-speak/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Memories of the last nine years have turned Ground Zero from a site of horror, to a reminder of grief, to an occasion for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/memories-of-the-last-nine-years-have-turned-ground-zero-from-a-site/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Some candidates need to say provocative things that make noise to break through the media muffle and get themselves noticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/some-candidates-need-to-say-provocative-things-that-make-noise-to/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Let us now praise Barack Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/let-us-now-praise-barack-obama/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [All non-incumbent campaigns promise hope and change, but Obama took the promise to a new level of absurdity. He suggested that a vote for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/all-non-incumbent-campaigns-promise-hope-and-change-but-obama-took/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [By the time Obama came into office, Washington had already agreed over a period of a few weeks to a $700 billion government infusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/by-the-time-obama-came-into-office-washington-had-already-agreed-over/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [The defense of ObamaCare's constitutionality relies mainly on the truism that everyone is sure to get sick at some point in their lives, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-defense-of-obamacare-s-constitutionality-relies-mainly-on-the/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) [Explore all 104 John Podhoretz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) ## More Barack quotes > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The big story today, Barack Obama was accused of insulting Sarah Palin when he criticized Republican policies by saying, you can put lipstick on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/the-big-story-today-barack-obama-was-accused-of-insulting-sarah-palin/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [ It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president \[Barack Obama\] has consistently said - which I agree with - is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-think-what-the-president-barack/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ It wasn't \[Barack\] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the-feeling-on-the-ground-it-was/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [I don't think that we really know a whole lot about Barack Obama at all that you would really call distinctive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-mcwhorter/i-don-t-think-that-we-really-know-a-whole-lot-about-barack-obama-at/) [John H. McWhorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-h-mcwhorter/) > [Just like Barack Obama, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and now I am a reluctant groom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/just-like-barack-obama-my-views-on-gay-marriage-have-evolved-and-now/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [In public, Barack Obama's giving the simple version of his beliefs for the mass public. In private, he can discuss it at a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/in-public-barack-obama-s-giving-the-simple-version-of-his-beliefs-for/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) Browse all 1,672 Barack quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That distinctive presidential conduct is now gone forever, banished to the snows of yesteryear by Barack Obama. From the beginning of his presidency to the present, he has spoken specifically and in unprecedented fashion of Republicans as his rivals, his stumbling blocks, the primary cause of his troubles.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Podhoretz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is-now-gone-forever-banished-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Barack" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is-now-gone-forever-banished-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/john-podhoretz-4983_barack_that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is_593363.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/john-podhoretz-4983_barack_that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is_593363.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bf/john-podhoretz-4983_barack_that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is_593363.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That distinctive presidential conduct is now gone forever, banished to the snows of yesteryear by Barack…” — John Podhoretz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Podhoretz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That distinctive presidential conduct is now...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is-now-gone-forever-banished-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/that-distinctive-presidential-conduct-is-now-gone-forever-banished-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```