The American political term bully pulpit was coined by Theodore Roosevelt, who was referring to the American presidency, at a time when bully was a slangy adjective meaning great. Today, however, the other sense of bully (one who is cruel or intimidating to weaker people) is usually meant, and bully pulpit refers to a public office from which one can have great influence, by bullying or otherwise. When someone says, for example, that the president should get on his bully pulpit to get legislation passed, they mean he should wield his influence in a forceful and intimidating way.
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