McCain's Leadership Problem

Nothing exemplified Senator John McCain's inability to lead America so much as his recent comments to Michigan residents facing a one state recession and a significant decline in jobs. Contrast McCain's response, "those jobs aren't coming back," with the sunny optimism of Ronald Reagan. McCain only offered people the standard line about more community college training, an increased unemployment entitlement and some amorphous new jobs we've been hearing from politicians for years in areas confronted with high unemployment.

Forget that government has rarely if ever created a new job for someone that didn't require tax increases for others and was often wasteful spending, there is a distinct difference between what people expect to get, and what they need to hear from leaders who go off to distant Washington to supposedly lead on their behalf.

I'm not claiming the Federal government could or should solve all of Michigan's problems. Mostly, the people, government and business community of Michigan have to solve those problems themselves. But what people require in the interim is a more elusive commodity we commonly call hope. It's importance in people's lives should not be under-estimated. McCain's approach pulled it right out from under Michigan residents that heard him, which is likely why he soon changed his message. 

Michelle Malkin reminds us of another significant problem in leadership from which McCain suffers.

Not all of us have forgotten how the short-fused Arizona senator cursed good-faith opponents in his own party (“F**k you!” and “Chickensh*t” were the choice words he had for Texas GOP Senator John Cornyn during a spat over enforcement provisions).

While Senator McCain's incredible story of survival as a POW is well-known and is to be respected, we know little if anything of the very short time he lead a squadron of men, the only real example of leadership, or semi-executive status he touts on his resume. There's quite possibly a reason for that.

While the Senator may indeed have many fine qualities that enabled him to survive his POW ordeal and sit in the Senate picking fights for decades, genuinely effective leadership does not appear to be among them. And that alone makes him wrong for the job of leader of America and the Free World. To some extent, former President Jimmy Carter tried McCain's so-called straight talk approach, which in reality is far from that. That experience resulted in the Democrats being throw out of the White House and seen as unfit to lead America for years.

Senator McCain may well be focused and effective when it comes to particular areas of legislation he has involved himself with in the Senate over years, even if many of them are in fundamental disagreement with the Republican base. But what he has not shown over those same years is the ability to understand and positively impact the motivations and actions of others. At the end of the day, what really is leadership if not that?

Comments

[BobInStamford]

So, is he supposed to lie? Like your stuttering hero and his 935 Iraq lies. Quite a leader you deadenders have there.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_go_pr_wh/misinformation_study

[Fred Beloit]

OK, you moronic a-- h---. For the thousandth time:

"PRESIDENT CLINTON VIDEO, December 16, 1998 Sadaam has nuclear arms, poison gas/bio weapons.
PBS.org ^ | February 7, 2004 | the eagle has landed

Posted on 02/07/2004 11:31:50 AM PST by TheEaglehasLanded

PRESIDENT CLINTON: Good evening. Earlier today, I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces. Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors.

Their purpose is to protect the national interest of the United States, and indeed the interests of people throughout the Middle East and around the world.

Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons.

I want to explain why I have decided, with the unanimous recommendation of my national security team, to use force in Iraq; why we have acted now; and what we aim to accomplish.
TOPICS: Announcements; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government"

[chris]

Settle down, geriatric trailer-dweller. The cowardly former cheerleader lied, cost America billions and still can't get the 3rd world natives in line. Payback comes in November. Enjoy the sunshine.

[el gordo]

BobInStamford - Did you ever watch The Sopranos? There´s this scene at the end of one of his shrink sessions.

Tony Soprano: "Sometimes what happens in here is like taking a shit."
Dr. Melfi: "Ok. I actually like to think about it as a childbirth."
Tony Soprano: "Trust me. It's like taking a shit."

I believe this perfectly illustrates your attitude when commenting on this blog.

[Wahoo Willie Sez:]

"Settle down, geriatric trailer-dweller."

Fred, I'm kinda with the school kid here. You're trying to make your case to someone who thinks it is better to live under mommy and daddy's roof than to own her own trailer and whose sense of right and wrong very likely mirrors her ability to be unable to discern being misinformed and lying to people. And then there's boob, known child of privilige who thinks work is something his dad's Mexican gardener does.

See them for what they are Fred. If Michael Moore had told them that Saddam actually had a few, theater only, WMD's then they would be all for this costly war. None of the real, common sense resons to stay out of that quagmire would matter....they'd be with you among the hawks man. That really is how simple they are. So dont let them upset you and stop trying to educate them.

[Ms Snarky Doucher]

Thank you so much, Mr. Sez, for your kind words to Mr. Beloit. I can see him now from my window. He is pounding some fence posts in with his bare hand. I think it is called a downward right cross motion. I just have the feeling he will calm down when he goes back into his mansion and sees your kindly words.

[BobInStamford]

Wow, the patriots sure are testy today. Cheer up, you still have wars to win and a candidate to pick!! There's the grinning Scientologist, the Hero of 9.11, an earnest preacher with Jesus and Chuck Norris on his side and an irritable little old fellow who appears to not be the most sturdy. I'm sure one of them will do JUST FINE come November. He will simply ride the wave of CONSERVATISM that is sweeping America! And about those wars, the brown people are sure to just give up and go home to pound rocks or weave rugs or whatever it is that they do. You'll see!

[el gordo]

Sure, BiS, as opposed to a one-term senator and her wife, a half-term senator and yet another senator, the Republican party only has people with real achievements and executive experience. They must lose! They must!

[Fred Beloit]

Say, Boob, did you know the disbarred and impeached perjurer and former president is making himself look the buffoon in the mad quest to make his wife the files misplacer the next president. Is it possible to find a more laughable spectacle on the planet than this red-faced lothario?