Barack Quote by Jon Stewart
![“Everybody thought Barack Obama was going to [inspire people] when he came to Washington, but, you know, the Senate seems like the place where smart people go to die.” quote by Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ff/jon-stewart-455_barack_everybody-thought-barack-obama-was-going_738803.jpg)
“Everybody thought Barack Obama was going to [inspire people] when he came to Washington, but, you know, the Senate seems like the place where smart people go to die.”
About This Quote
Source Television: The Daily Show, 2009
The Senate is viewed as a place where talented individuals become ineffective, contrary to expectations of inspiration.
In simple terms: Senate stifles smart people.
Key Takeaway
Seek institutions that value impact over tenure.
Themes
politics
disillusionment
institution
leadership
effectiveness
Mood
cynical
skeptical
Type
political
satirical
When to use this quote
- government service
- political activism
- career planning
- public speaking
Key Concepts
bureaucracy
political stagnation
career disappointment
Questions to Reflect On
- What changes could make legislative bodies more dynamic?
- How do we keep talent motivated in stagnant environments?
A Different Perspective
Reform may revitalize institutional purpose.
![“You can be disappointed but only if you thought [Barack Obama] was something that he said he wasn't!” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d3e/bill-ayers-1848_barack_you-can-be-disappointed-but-only-if-you_1138424.jpg)
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![“The details of what [Barack] Obama was going to do to the American health care system didn't matter. All that mattered was whether or not Obama was going to get it.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f65/rush-limbaugh-28_barack_the-details-of-what-barack-obama-was-goi_804241.jpg)
![“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. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
![“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. And we announced during the tour last week that we have gotten more than 60,000 jobs, and we're well on our way to just crashing that goal out of the…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83d/michelle-obama-518_barack_the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-c_15651.jpg)
![“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 ground, in fact one of the Republican criticisms is he's got thousands of Americans there. We just don't call them troops on the ground, we don't admit to it. But…” quote by Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/juan-williams-7909_aggressive_i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-pos_17086.jpg)
![“It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president [Barack Obama] has consistently said - which I agree with - is that we will support those who take the fight to ISIS. That is why we have troops in Iraq that are helping to train and build back up the Iraqi military, why we have…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1e/hillary-clinton-51_agree_it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-thi_19737.jpg)
![“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 wheeled by her son waving a big American flag, and then seeing a guy with his baby in his arms saying, "I didn't want her to miss tonight! I wanted to be able to tell her!" And…” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/806/bill-ayers-1848_able_it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the_20409.jpg)
