It's scary how some here lack the basic understanding of U.S. government...

[Drunken Irishman]

Yes, you can rightfully blame Obama for his appointments to the FCC that brought upon the potential of internet changes. I believe that's fair game. However, some people are taking it a step further - acting as if Obama should step in and block the policy change himself.

He can't do that.

I've even seen people say the FCC, DEA, CIA and NSA are part of his cabinet.

They are not.

The federal government is set up in a way for a reason. The FCC, the Federal Reserve, FBI and other agencies are independent of the U.S. government, and the Executive Branch, for a reason - they don't want a conflict of interest. Obama doesn't have much say when it comes to issues involving those agencies because he lacks the power to have that influence.

Ironically, those who are demanding he do something also attack the GOP for pushing the idea that Obama ordered the IRS to audit conservative groups. We know that's bunk because it's overreaching his power. Well, this would be no different - and it's not like this is new. Look at how Kennedy clashed with the FBI (Hoover) and wanted to dismantle the CIA. But often those organizations are their own government, running things without approval from Congress and the President. But it's also no different than the Fed. When Janet Yellen wants to raise interest rates or trim their stimulus, she doesn't need permission from the President or Congress and, regardless of what some think, the President shouldn't interject because he has no authority there.

Back in 2012, during Obama's reelection campaign, the right-wing blogs pushed the narrative that Ben Bernanke was trying to help Obama win reelection by announcing, in September of that year, $40 billion worth in asset purchases. The idea was that Obama pushed him to do that to help bolster stocks and offer further economic recovery.

That's why it's important to have a wall between the Executive Branch and other agencies independent of the federal government - because then the president doesn't look like he's gaming the system to help him politically.

Remember the hubbub over the BLS supposedly cooking the jobs report in October of 2012? Yeah - that was trash too. But what DUers are pushing is basically the same idea. Basically, demanding the President exert authority that isn't there to push an agenda they agree with.

Then they suggest he should fire 'em. Well, let's remember the FCC is more than just one man. It's got a committee and that committee votes on the changes. So, just firing Thomas Wheeler wouldn't do anything - he'd have to turn around and fire the entire committee and then appoint new members (that would have to pass Senate confirmation). But beyond that, the President can't just fire people willy-nilly - there has to be cause. Just disagreeing with their decision isn't cause enough. This is put in place so the President doesn't use his power for political retribution and fire someone entirely out of revenge or spite - like Nixon did his special prosecutor during the Water Gate trials (though, to be fair, that was a tad different).

There are rules in place for a reason. What DU is advocating just doesn't make sense. He can't force the FCC to do what he wants and he can't just fire 'em for not listening to him. Sadly, if you want to fault him, it's for making the appointments in the first place. But beyond that? Not much more he can do.