--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As bad as the Obama administration is at…" description: "\"As bad as the Obama administration is at trying to legislate without legislators, all too often, Congress is responsible for handing them the 'pen and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/todd-young-6633_administration_as-bad-as-the-obama-administration-is-at_979699.jpg" --- # As bad as the Obama administration is at trying to… ![“As bad as the Obama administration is at trying to legislate without legislators, all too often, Congress is responsible for handing them the 'pen and phone.'” quote by Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/todd-young-6633_administration_as-bad-as-the-obama-administration-is-at_979699.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/todd-young-6633_administration_as-bad-as-the-obama-administration-is-at_979699.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/todd-young-6633_administration_as-bad-as-the-obama-administration-is-at_979699.jpg) > “As bad as the Obama administration is at trying to legislate without legislators, all too often, Congress is responsible for handing them the 'pen and phone.'” [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the Obama administration's reliance on congressional cooperation, suggesting Congress often enables executive actions by providing legislative tools. **In simple terms:** Congress helps the president act without new laws. Key Takeaway Recognize the balance of power and legislative responsibility. Themes politics government legislation Mood critical analytical Type political commentary policy analysis When to use this quote - budget negotiations - healthcare reform - foreign policy - environmental regulation - infrastructure projects Key Concepts executive power checks and balances policy making Questions to Reflect On - How can Congress assert more independence? - What safeguards ensure proper legislative oversight? A Different Perspective Political dynamics can shift, making accountability complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Congress Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-responsible-1688553/) [Legislate Legislators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislate-legislators-1937192/) [Legislators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislators/) [Legislators Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislators-congress-1937191/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pen/) [Phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [If we were left solely to the wordy wit of legislators in Congress for our guidance, uncorrected by the seasonal experience and the effectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-we-were-left-solely-to-the-wordy-wit-of-legislators-in-congress/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Congress is responsible for every major change in India](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-gandhi/congress-is-responsible-for-every-major-change-in-india/) [Sonia Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-gandhi/) > [As things are now, no one can tell to whom members of Congress are responsible, except that it does not often appear to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/as-things-are-now-no-one-can-tell-to-whom-members-of-congress-are/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Congress is responsible for everything and unable to do anything, hated by the public creditors, insulted by the soldiers and unsupported by the citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hawkins/congress-is-responsible-for-everything-and-unable-to-do-anything/) [Benjamin Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hawkins/) > [It is the lawyers who run our civilization for us -- our governments, our business, our private lives. Most legislators are lawyers; they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rodell/it-is-the-lawyers-who-run-our-civilization-for-us-our-governments-our/) [Fred Rodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rodell/) > [The impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-impious-presumption-of-legislators-and-rulers-civil-as-well-as/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The same things are best both for individuals and for states, and these are the things which the legislator ought to implant in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-same-things-are-best-both-for-individuals-and-for-states-and/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [I'm not a prejudice person, and I've worked with many male legislators and some have been excellent for us, so I'm not speaking against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-smeal/i-m-not-a-prejudice-person-and-i-ve-worked-with-many-male-legislators/) [Eleanor Smeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-smeal/) > [Let me make it clear: The Disbursement Allocation Program is not pork barrel. 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It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I'm going to do everything I can to get myself elected, but that's not enough. I'm going to try to help move the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-to-get-myself-elected-but-that-s-not/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Todd Young > [“Somewhere forward, somewhere in the future, the summer was locked in the snow. Waiting. More a promise, more a dream, than anything you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/somewhere-forward-somewhere-in-the-future-the-summer-was-locked-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [Promoting and protecting human rights internationally is not just a matter of principle or morality - doing so also serves our national security interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/promoting-and-protecting-human-rights-internationally-is-not-just-a/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [There is a responsibility as president to choose your words carefully, especially on foreign policy, and to speak as clearly as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/there-is-a-responsibility-as-president-to-choose-your-words-carefully/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [I think we need to prepare for the worst, and so I support energy efficiency measures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/i-think-we-need-to-prepare-for-the-worst-and-so-i-support-energy/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [“Did it matter that he was gay? 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Then he leaned forward and kissed him. Leigh groaned with release, as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/paul-lifted-his-hand-and-brushed-his-thumb-across-leigh-s-lips-then/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [We may not realize it, but a crucial step in building a healthy economy is helping people move from welfare to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/we-may-not-realize-it-but-a-crucial-step-in-building-a-healthy/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [In my experience, all Americans - Republicans, Democrats, and everyone in between - want roughly the same thing: an assurance that if they work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/in-my-experience-all-americans-republicans-democrats-and-everyone-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [This is an appropriate role for the federal government - to invest in basic research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/this-is-an-appropriate-role-for-the-federal-government-to-invest-in/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) > [As someone who took an oath to defend this country, I refuse to sit idle until the unimaginable occurs: Iran cheats or simply runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/as-someone-who-took-an-oath-to-defend-this-country-i-refuse-to-sit/) [Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) [Explore all 98 Todd Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. 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I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. 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