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Have any of you ever been in a leadership position in your lives? And, if you have:
Yes, multiple times.
Have you ever had to answer to stakeholders in your leadership that hated you and worked to undermine your leadership at every turn?
I once spearheaded a campaign to lead a group which basically had 3 separate groups which were all at odds with each other. I wouldn't call it hate, but I would consider them to be generally less than constructive. Keep in mind though, that most people who are leaders deal with others who are representing themselves. The people in Congress are representing their constituents and are right to do so, regardless of what anyone believes the "common good" is.
Had to deal with powerful forces who could move you out of your leadership?
Yes, they're called voters. My first leadership position was as an assistant to the leader of a group. I ended up running against the leader and won. Then I ran against the leader of the organization, and won, mostly because people knew that I would act as a leader to rein in the power which the position possessed. For example, I got term limits for leadership positions approved, and used my own seat of power as an example for others who might have otherwise been unwilling to vote for such an issue. They didn't want to lose their own positions via term limits, but they salivated at the prospect of gaining a seat that I was unlikely to lose had I run against them.
Had to form coalitions of groups that may not approve of what you're doing?
It's called compromise. You don't always get your way, regardless of how much of a mandate you think you possess. As a leader, you need to recognize the value of different points of view and try to come to a consensus which benefits the most people when you can, and use your leadership to make bold steps forward when you must, even if it rubs some the wrong way. Part of the reason why I believe Obama is going to have such a hard time getting movement on health care is that he came out and declared that he was going to get health care passed, compromise or not. You can either burn through political capital and good will like a candle or a firecracker, but once you've burned through it, it's hard to get back. Once you make such a declaration public, you can't put that genie back in the bottle and it will be spun whichever way is worth the most to those who oppose you. Obama is bright, but I don't find him to be brilliant in terms of how he's handled himself thus far.
One of the reasons I generally prefer a President to have been a Governor is that they already understand how the balance of power works between the legislative and executive branches. When Obama first took office, he looked like he was hovering in the background and bending to the wills of Pelosi and Reid. Then he had enough of that, and he started to become so loud that to many he seemed like another "great decider." He needs to keep in mind that while his office might be the highest in the land, his branch of government is not. You can only use the bully pulpit for so long before people perceive you to be a bully and start to tune you out.
Had to share your power with other groups?
Yes, to differing degrees. I have been a leader of a small group, leader of a large group, leader of the entire organization, and also a leader in an organization where my vote was worth double of the votes of the leaders who reported to someone else but whom I managed.
And, if you have experienced all of that, then what advice would you give Obama on how to deal with these issues? What would you advise Obama to do with Blue Dog Dems and the moneyed interests that dominate America?
Why do you think the Blue Dogs have a less valid opinion? Why do you think the "progressive" leaders are so much more righteous or correct?
Charlie Melancon and Mary Landrieu are both Blue Dogs, wouldn't you say? But they are from completely different ends of the earth when it comes down to how they represent their constituents, even if they generally come to the same conclusion. Landrieu does a generally good job of representing Louisiana, but she comes from a long line of patronage and has hands deep into the pockets of bankers and power brokers in the state. Melancon, on the other hand, doesn't have this at all, but honestly represents his district to the best of his ability.
If you were the representative of a conservative district where the vast majority are middle to upper middle class, generally have wonderful health care plans, as well as corporate pensions, how are you going to jump up in front of these people and tell them that they have to change their ways, when their ways WORK for them? Or even if you did and they refused, are you going to betray them and their vote?
If I were Obama, I'd push for term limits for Congress, even if I knew it wouldn't pass. I'd push for more campaign finance reform and embarrass the politicians who live and die off of lobbyist dollars. I'd start a 1 hour weekly call in show to have a direct dialogue with America instead of sitting behind a teleprompter or a podium and a group of reporters who ask the same canned questions over and over again. Prepared radio addresses will never match spontenaity. I'd demand that any health care bill that passed my desk would mandate that all government employees including ALL who serve in Congress be enrolled in that public health care plan. It is imperative for a leader to know what is in the hearts and minds of his constituents, and you cannot possibly get that in the White House echo chamber, just like it is paramount that your constituents believe that you're being fair with them. You can't lead them unless they know you are WITH them.
I'd privately push for any congressman or senator who was sitting on any of the committees which were involved with any of this financial catastrophe to be moved elsewhere and get new blood in there. Chris Dodd needs to be 10 miles away from anything dealing with the credit markets, and Barney Frank needs to never so much as utter the words "Fannie Mae" again. Being a leader is more than just beating down the other side; it is also about recognizing the weaknesses of your own position and turning them into strengths when you can.
America is fed up, more than anything, with the huge influence that corporations have over our government, yet I see very little action to directly change this course. If Obama wants to build more of that capital and build trust amongst those who might not trust him, he needs to do the right thing even if it's painful or embarrassing for some of his own. Asserting his independence is the first step towards getting those who have never trusted him to at least perk up their ears and start to listen. They want reform even more than they want the nebulous concept of change, so give it to them, and then you'll get your change.
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