As the 2015 general election approaches, he is increasingly confronted by necessarily divisive choices about policies, spending plans and aggressive, left-wing union bosses.
But the economy didn't rebound, and Mr. Obama, beset by crises and absorbed in negotiations on Capitol Hill, never did get around to making a sustained public argument for his most divisive policy choices.
Economic portfolios will be divisive, and his choice of foreign minister will send an important signal about relations with the wider world.
Mr. Obama's nomination of Thomas E. Perez, who has racked up record discrimination and housing claims as head of the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department, generated criticism from some Senate Republicans who called him a divisive and political choice.
On the divisive issue of school choice, Mr. Franks sides with conservatives, favoring vouchers, at least on a pilot basis, to allow families to use government money to send their children to public or private schools.
Known as arrogant and divisive, Quinn was an unpopular choice among some fans, but Golisano didn't care: Quinn knew how to knock heads and cut costs.
The American inclination to reduce large public choices to their divisive essence revealed itself almost immediately after Brennan said that he was stepping down.
The American inclination to reduce large public choices to their divisive essence revealed itself almost immediately after Brennan said that he was stepping down..
In the current, divisive climate around women's choices in childbirth, it's easy to take the step forwards from conjecture to another layer of guilt and pressure on women to do better or risk the future of the human species.
What strongly held beliefs and values would influence your choice of medical treatment?" Divisive family conflicts and unwanted medical interventions can be avoided when people specify their wishes, he said.
