--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No president has looked this impotent…" description: "\"No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives.\" — Tony Snow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/tony-snow-12687_power_no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-th_2146684.jpg" --- # No president has looked this impotent this long when it… ![“No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives.” quote by Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/tony-snow-12687_power_no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-th_2146684.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/tony-snow-12687_power_no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-th_2146684.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/tony-snow-12687_power_no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-th_2146684.jpg) > “No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives.” [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A president’s authority can appear weak when constitutional limits are challenged. **In simple terms:** Presidential power can seem impotent. Key Takeaway Recognize checks on executive authority. Themes politics constitution authority Mood analytical critical Type explanatory political When to use this quote - legislative hearings - court rulings - media scrutiny - public protests Key Concepts Separation of powers executive privilege political accountability Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms protect presidential powers? - How does public perception affect executive strength? A Different Perspective Political bias may color interpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [Presidential powers are not exercised by a body or group. The Constitution vests 'all executive power' in one and only one person - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/presidential-powers-are-not-exercised-by-a-body-or-group-the/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [“Article II creates an office, President of the United States, that remains a kind of inkblot onto which generations of Americans have projected their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-epps/article-ii-creates-an-office-president-of-the-united-states-that/) [Garrett Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-epps/) > [Not a season passes without new disclosures showing Nixon's numerous attempts at criminal use of his presidential powers and in fact the scorn he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-woodward/not-a-season-passes-without-new-disclosures-showing-nixon-s-numerous/) [Bob Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-woodward/) > [Like Odysseus, the President looked wiser when he was seated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/like-odysseus-the-president-looked-wiser-when-he-was-seated/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [I wanted the influence. In the end I wasn't very good at being a president. I looked out of the window and thought that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wanted-the-influence-in-the-end-i-wasn-t-very-good-at-being-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“president his daily briefing. He concluded by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed." "OH NO!" the President yelled. "That's terrible!" His staff sat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fagr/president-his-daily-briefing-he-concluded-by-saying-yesterday-3/) Fagr > [“The President looked out of his window. He was not very happy. “I worry about Bill, Hubert, Henry, Kevin, Edward, Clem, Dan and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/the-president-looked-out-of-his-window-he-was-not-very-happy-i-worry/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) ## More by Tony Snow > [George Bush has become something of an embarrassment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/george-bush-has-become-something-of-an-embarrassment/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [We've got to rebuild human hearts - and persuade people that hope isn't just possible, but essential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/we-ve-got-to-rebuild-human-hearts-and-persuade-people-that-hope-isn-t/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [The real sin with Social Security is that it's a long-term rip-off and a short-term scam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/the-real-sin-with-social-security-is-that-it-s-a-long-term-rip-off/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [The art of being sick is not the same as the art of getting well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/the-art-of-being-sick-is-not-the-same-as-the-art-of-getting-well/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [The United States spends more money on African aid than any nation on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/the-united-states-spends-more-money-on-african-aid-than-any-nation-on/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [In many cases, a bout with sickness stretches your soul, opens your eyes, and introduces you to a world of unimagined grandeur, possibility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/in-many-cases-a-bout-with-sickness-stretches-your-soul-opens-your/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [When it comes to federal spending, George W. Bush is the boy who cant say no. In each of his three years at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/when-it-comes-to-federal-spending-george-w-bush-is-the-boy-who-cant/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [The secret of learning to be sick is this: Illness doesn't make you less of what you were. You are still you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/the-secret-of-learning-to-be-sick-is-this-illness-doesn-t-make-you/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [George W. Bush broke a mold four years ago: Even though he lost the popular vote, he governed as if he had won by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/george-w-bush-broke-a-mold-four-years-ago-even-though-he-lost-the/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [You're young and you're bulletproof and invincible. But never underestimate the power of other people's love and prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/you-re-young-and-you-re-bulletproof-and-invincible-but-never/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [If you disaggregate, things fall apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/if-you-disaggregate-things-fall-apart/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [When politicians rush to fix things, it's a sure sign that either the intended patient is dead or fully healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/when-politicians-rush-to-fix-things-it-s-a-sure-sign-that-either-the/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [Many people don't give a rip about politics and know as much about public affairs as they know about the topography of Pluto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/many-people-don-t-give-a-rip-about-politics-and-know-as-much-about/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [Sure, science involves trial and error. Scientists refine theories each day. But as they do, they help us grasp more clearly the wonders of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/sure-science-involves-trial-and-error-scientists-refine-theories-each/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) > [Pet lovers know that animals sometimes understand us better than we do, and the annals of human sin and desire provide plenty of stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/pet-lovers-know-that-animals-sometimes-understand-us-better-than-we/) [Tony Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) [Explore all 53 Tony Snow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/) ## More Power quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [For us who are now in power, we need to be challenged to serve the people and ignore our own egos and personal interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangari-maathai/for-us-who-are-now-in-power-we-need-to-be-challenged-to-serve-the/) [Wangari Maathai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangari-maathai/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [Next to the assumption of power was the responsibility of relinquishing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/next-to-the-assumption-of-power-was-the-responsibility-of/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/do-not-pray-for-tasks-equal-to-your-powers-pray-for-powers-equal-to/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [Politics is about power. It is about the power of the state. It is about the power of the state as applied to individuals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-rudd/politics-is-about-power-it-is-about-the-power-of-the-state-it-is/) [Kevin Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-rudd/) [Browse all 17,893 Power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and prerogatives.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Snow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-this-long-when-it-comes-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Power" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-this-long-when-it-comes-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/tony-snow-12687_power_no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-th_2146684.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/tony-snow-12687_power_no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-th_2146684.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/tony-snow-12687_power_no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-th_2146684.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No president has looked this impotent this long when it comes to defending presidential powers and…” — Tony Snow", "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": "Tony Snow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-snow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No president has looked this impotent...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-this-long-when-it-comes-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-snow/no-president-has-looked-this-impotent-this-long-when-it-comes-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 } } ] } ```