Obama discovers what leadership isn’t
In an interview for "60 Minutes" President Obama discusses the shellacking Democrats suffered:
President Obama tells "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft that one of the reasons the electorate has become disenchanted with him was his failure to properly explain his policies and persuade people to agree with them.[...]
"You know, I think that over the course of two years we were so busy and so focused on getting a bunch of stuff done that we stopped paying attention to the fact that leadership isn’t just legislation. That it’s a matter of persuading people. And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone. And making an argument that people can understand. And I think that we haven’t always been successful at that," Obama replied.
So, he’s at least figured out what leadership isn’t. But there isn’t indication that he’s figured out what it is. And he certainly doesn’t understand that the problems he and Democrats have suffered isn’t a problem of communication, but policy. This is a classic example of denial.
~McQ
Oh good. For a second there, I was worried that he’d gotten the message…
Let’s see if President Obama can explain this clip and why it should still be believed.
If he can manage that, he deserves to be re-elected … or made “King of the World”
Once again when grading this adminstrations’ performance, it is unsurprising to note:
Leadership – Not Observed.
So I guess those painkillers are working. Or at least short posts with a nice cut and paste are manageable.
I’d say he has about 6 months to come up with something to show he will triangulate. Otherwise he won’t. I am still not 100% sold that he won’t, under pressure, do so. Politicians like to be liked. Then again, he’s never really run against opposition.
Chicago politicians don’t really worry about being liked. There are plenty of people you can buy to fill that void if you need it filled.
As it is Barack doesn’t really need it filled, he likes himself enough to compensate.
Yup, good drugs. But typing with one hand is a b*tch.
They gave a new pain killer, Nucynta. Great pain killer w/none of side effect of codine.
Hell, the side effects are half the fun…
What’s the reaction to a couple bottles of beer?
Yeah, his arguments so far have been SO esoteric and SO intellectual and SO complicated. I mean, who outside of a
lecturerlaw professor could possibly understand such complicated arguments as:“Change we can believe in.”
“If you like your doctor or your health insurance, you can keep them.”
“It will save or create jobs.”
“I inherited this problem.”
“I won.”
/ sarc
Seriously, what will he do to make his arguments easier to understand? Write them in crayon? Print comic books showing The Dear Golfer stopping John Boehner as he tries to snatch food from an old person or stab to death a sick child in a hospital bed?
What an arrogant pr*ck.
Notice also the pronoun choice: “we”. When there’s any credit to be claimed, it’s “I” / “me” / “my”. But when it comes to admitting blame, it’s “we”, which means “somebody else”.
Bah.
I return to the idea of Obamic Tinnitus.
http://hindenblog1.blogspot.com/2010/10/burn-no-howieits-called-obamic-tinnitus.html
We all suffer from this constant, annoying whine in our heads. We adapted by just tuning it out.
People know when they are being lied to…eventually for some, immediately for others.
I know when President Obama is lying because he’s a politician, and he’s talking. Dead giveaways, those…
But…
politician to the tenth power X
talking to the tenth power =
lying to the hundredth power in the case of this regime
If he really had tried to persuade people and bring them together, and forcefully set a tone in favor of that kind of thing in the Democratic party, the Democrats very likely would have done better.
However, what Obama means by “persuasion” is “calling them names until they get out of your way”, which isn’t persuasive. The only way he knows to bring people together is to rally them to gang up on a scapegoat, which is divisive, particularly when the scapegoat happens to be half the damn population.
“what Obama means by “persuasion” is “calling them names until they get out of your way”,
Preferred names – “Racist” or “Stupid”
Retardo – [W]hat Obama means by “persuasion” is “calling them names until they get out of your way”, which isn’t persuasive. The only way he knows to bring people together is to rally them to gang up on a scapegoat, which is divisive, particularly when the scapegoat happens to be half the damn population.
Excellent points! The whole “rally them to gang up on a scapegoat” is one of the only two things he learned as a “community organizer” (the other being how to spend other people’s money).
But what if the voters are too dumb or frightened or angry or something to be persuaded?
It’s not like Obama has been chained to his desk all this time, working his slim elegant fingers to the bone on behalf of our great country, and never going on television to talk about what he was doing and why.
New plan – to appear on local community cable television programming and spread his message like a true leader, going out and talking to the people.
Expect such spectaculars as -
“Dog Grooming” with President Obama
“Frisbee Golf!” with President Obama
“Town Council today” with President Obama
“How to set up a Teleprompter” with President Obama
If that fails he’ll move into the Home Improvement networks, and if need be, appear at your local Lowes or Home Depot for those clinics -
“Building a Bird House with President Obama”
I wonder if he’ll bust this one out during his concession speech in 2012? He’s a 1-termer. He’s already backslid OH and FL back to the GOP, and he’s going to lose some of those upper midwest states as well
Buh-bye Baracky
And that’s PRE-Reapportionment electoral votes, and we all know which states are losing and which states are gaining….
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Lawsy! Peggy Noonan doesn’t prick the Obama bubble; today she slashes it with a scalpel:
too bad she supported him in 2008, stupid bitch.
Sometimes a scorned lover is nastier than an outright enemy. I think Peggy is finally realizing just how conned she was, is mad at herself (at some level) for being conned, and is ready for some payback. Good. She beat around the bush about Obama’s failures far too long.
It appears so. I do watch with interest for the reactions of other Obamaphiles, well-known and in my personal circles, as Obama “swirls down the drain.”
Speaking of leadership…..Pelosi is going to go for Minority Leader again!
Thank you god.
Really, now let’s just hope they elect her!
With Reid and Pelosi in place, it will be harder to not let the Republicans emulate the 2007-2008 Democrats .. in power in the House but it’s not their fault if anything happens .. everyone knows it all happens in the White House, not the House.
Below is a link to a NY CBS web page with Obama going on about how he sometimes failed to make “an argument that people can understand.” His current excuse in other words. But what was interesting is that the comments ran 98% negative, and quite scathing.
Not only have Obama’s policies been rejected, a large number of Americans find him condescending and insulting. I don’t see how Obama comes back from this. It seems clear he is only going to keep making things worse.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/05/obama-acknowledges-failures-says-leadership-isnt-just-legislation/
When Obama or the Senate threatens to veto one of the GOP’s bills, they need to have Boehner give an Obama speech or two right back at him, word for word. Repeal of Obamacare? They drove the car into the ditch. We’re down her sweating and pushing! They’re drinking a slurpee!”
Several years ago, I gave some advice – 10 points – to a young Brit considering a career in the “Forces.” Point #10 was my definition of leadership.
10. Leadership is giving your subordinates everything they need to accomplish the mission – support, resources, persuasion, information, direction, reward, punishment, encouragement and loyalty. Their failures are your responsibility.
Obama might take a 90 day vacation and go through an Officer Candidate School then take a platoon leader tour in Afghanistan.
Nice!
I’d be curious to hear from others here, especially those with military experience, how they think Obama should pull up his socks as a leader. (Not that there is any danger of Obama heeding such advice.)