How hard or easy do you really think the President's job is?

An effective President has to be somewhat of a polymath. They need to be up to speed on a wide variety of subjects, to the point that they can speak extemporaneously on them with confidence on the latest up to the minute info.

And,they need to speak about it in a cogent manner in detail, not in an off the cuff way.

Then they need to carry out a consistent policy on matters. And through it all, a decent President bears in mind that people’s lives and livelihoods are affected by just about every decision.

I bet Obama wishes he had been a pharmacist. His time in office must have been more frustrating than trying to wipe your ass with a shoestring.
Every step he tried to take he was dragging republican idiots all the way . When people talk about him not being a good president, I can only assume they are detached from reality, like most Republicans. The likes of Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck crow all day about how he’s a communist, Marxist, racist, secret Muslim terrorist, and I’ve actually heard him called the anti christ (seriously. )
If I were him I would feel like my last 7 years would have been better spent slamming my dick in a door.

Short answer, it’s really hard if you actually want to make changes for the betterment of humanity. For someone like Trump, he’d probably love it, until he got bored with it…

That’s it. I’m voting for zenvelo. All hail the chief.

If you look at photos of any president over his one and especially two terms—Obama is the most recent example—you have to believe it’s tougher than hell. A helluva lot tougher than Donald Trump’s egotistical little brain can fathom.

I can’t even imagine. The decisions he makes affect an entire planet. The secrets he has to keep.

It’s a tough, frustrating, grueling gig. I wouldn’t want it. @zenvelo left out one detail from an excellent summary which I believe should be emphasized. And that is that beyond any other single individual, Potus has influence on the disposition of trillions of dollars, where it goes, who gets to keep it, who forks it over. He holds the power to build or destroy both fortunes and careers.

…he also has the most powerful bully pulpit on the globe. Imagine Trump with THAT!

It’s a rough job and it’s worse on those who have had it recently because we keep electing slick willies who know how to talk but are short on knowledge, skill and intestinal fortitude. Time to stop electing lawyers and career politicians. Let’s put some real spike in our punch by electing some hard hitting, scientists, engineers or doctors in office.

Obama is the best president of my lifetime.

I’m not sure I can say the same, but then you are very young.

I was born during the Eisenhower administration, and I concur with @Dutchess_III.

It is the only job where a man goes from age 35 to age 70 in only eight years.

Well I was alive when Roosevelt (Franklin) held sway, but even born in your era, I might hesitate. I suspect very much that with time, the pendulum will swing to point at LBJ, though conservatives struggle mightily to slap Reagan’s name on everything (except the federal prisons which owe him immeasurable gratitude in overflowing their occupancy limits.)

It’s difficult under the best of times. Under times like this, it is overwhelming and burdensome. Look haw Obama, Bush 43 and Clinton aged while in office.

I’m going to go with Clinton on who was the best president of my lifetime, followed by Reagan. Clinton and Reagan both dealt with opposing Congresses and they owned them. Obama has been pretty much frozen and hasn’t been able to do much since the Democrats lost control.

This is not to say that I LIKED Clinton and Reagan. I was opposed to most of Reagan’s policies and many of Clinton’s. But there is no denying they were effective Presidents.

I just ran across an interesting relevant quote.

Adlai Stevenson was twice the Democratic nominee for President, in 1952 and 1956.

He initially refused in 1952 and he later said, “I just didn’t feel that I had any God-given powers to figure out the solution to coexistence with the Soviet Union and all our other tremendous problems,”

Most never realize the extent of coverage that one must encounter during a term or two. Trust issues. Over-reliance. Secrets. Intel. Actions to decide that are each a lost cause or result in death. Partisan crap. Horrible secrets necessary and passed down. Faith in humanity, a questioning of motives, gains and losses. The changes with one’s person and intent with the changes brought about by experience and time. Disgust for some while maintaining in good standing due to necessity and need. The losses. Critics, haters, judgements, incorrect assumptions never to be reversed nor addressed. And the sick gut fear of making a dramatic or tragic err in judgemental decisions. Helplessness and sometimes bitter disappointment at losses one thought sure to bring about as positive improvements. An invisible bullseye on their person for a crackpot or group to aim for physically.
Those going strong towards becoming President have to be insane along with a thick skin and possess great strength and knowledge when to dig their heels in- and when to let go. Smarts, ego, ruthlessness and knowledge of a bit of everything. No doubts.
No thanks.

self edited

A president is like the figurehead on the bow of a boat: he/she has no control over where the ship of state goes, but wherever it goes he/she is the first to arrive on the scene.