LEADERSHIP CULTIVATION

The Best Thing About Mondale and Gore Losing

The best thing about Walter Mondale and Joe Lieberman losing their races to the White House is that we didn't get Geraldine Ferraro and Joe Lieberman as Vice Presidents. I believe that Mondale and Gore would have been good U.S. Presidents if they had gotten the chance to serve. On the other hand, I get a level of satisfaction in knowing that Ferraro and Lieberman did not get close to the seat of power. Unlike the beer commercial that declares "they were who we thought they were", those two certainly were not who we thought they were. 

I didn't recognize the Geraldine Ferraro that showed up during the 2008 Presidential Campaign that pitted Barack Obama against Hillary Clinton. That was a case of former Democratic Vice-Presidential nominees gone wild. And Joe Lieberman?  I have to admit that I never had any passion for that guy, but I did like Al Gore. But with Gore, you would have gotten Lieberman and that quite frankly was worth Gore losing. Lieberman is turning out to be quite the "career politician." He seems to be willing to do or say anything to hold on to his Senate seat. His interference to achieving worthwhile health care reform is unacceptable. Too bad he isn't putting the amount of required effort into passing legitimate health care reform as he is in the global warming initial. I hope that Connecticut can field a credible candidate to run against this wolf sheep's clothing. Nuff said.

Unprepared McCain Ducks and Runs From Competition

We have heard all too often that John McCain is a great war hero. Granted. But when our war hero was presented with his latest opportunity to show his bravery, he ducked and ran from of all things a debate against Barack Obama that may require him to answer some tough questions about the economy. When America badly wants to hear from McCain and Obama, one of whom will be the next President, to say that McCain is running scare would be an understatement.

Maybe someone will tell McCain that it's hard to lead from the rear.  The debate is tomorrow night and the State of Mississippi has invested a lot of time and money in the preparation of the debate site.  Obama to his credit, recognizes that the President must multi-task even when the going gets tough and still plans to show up for the debate with or without McCain.  Someone should tell McCain that if he fails to reverse his dumb political stunt and is M.I.A. for the debate, the beating that he is receiving now in the polls will be child's play compared to the whipping he will endure after tomorrow night.

At no time in recent history has America needed leadership as much as it needs it right now with the country being threatened with a financial collapse and with war still raging in Iraq.  McCain had a golden opportunity to show Americans that he was ready to lead, but instead disengaged from a hotly contested presidential race against Obama who he obviously feels unprepared to debate.  Most Americans are left scratching their heads like they were when McCain showed another lapse in judgment by his selection of a dangerously unprepared Sarah Palin as his running mate.  Presidential decision making capacity?  Debatable.

Telltale Signs That North Carolina Really Is In Play

North Carolina Democrats are fired up about Barack Obama, their candidate for President of the United States.  Volunteers are in over abundance and monetary contributions are flowing like the Nile River.  Add to that a growing number of Obama/Biden bumper stickers and yard signs which unlike in previous years outnumber those of the GOP candidates.  Extra telling is the comment sections of the editorial pages of leading NC newspapers like the Charlotte Observer where Obama supporters are active participants.  Negative or distorted comments posted by GOP supporters or surrogates are quickly rebuffed.

Another very prominent sign that NC is in play is the attention being paid to NC by the Obama Campaign. Last Sunday Joe Biden and his wife Jill visited Charlotte.  Michelle Obama visited on Thursday and Barack himself will be in Charlotte tomorrow on Sunday.  Judging by the buzz that I am hearing, I expect the turnout for Obama to be huge. The turnout and the energy his appearance will generate will fire up supporters even more for the stretch run and attract the few voters left who may be still undecided. 

If you need more proof, just listen to the chatter coming from the GOP and faux Democrats.  Former Hillary Clinton supporter, Mark Erwin is quick to suggest that it is futile for Obama to expend resources in NC because it's not likely that the so-called solid red state will turn blue.  It's obvious that much like his GOP pals, Erwin wasn't listening when Obama said "it's not red or blue states, but the United States."   Also, he apparently discounted a recent poll of likely NC voters that showed John McCain with only a one point lead over Obama.  That will spell big trouble for the GOP, because of the revised composition of likely voters that include a 3 to 1 Democratic advantage of new registrants and a large number of difficult to canvass young voters that favor the candidacy of Barack Obama.  Indeed, NC is very much in play.

Need more signs?  Prominent GOP candidates like Pat McCrory who is running for governor and Liz Dole up for re-election to the U.S. Senate seem to be running as Independents.  Liz Dole didn't even attend the GOP Convention.  Who's a Republican?  There is little mention of John McCain and with her star now losing its luster, few of them are climbing on the Sarah Palin bandwagon.  Privately Republicans must be incensed with McCain that Palin was not properly vetted.  With almost a scandal a day, voters have to be  questioning the judgment and decision-making capacity of McCain due to his choice of a running mate.  The selection of Joe Biden by Obama was a home run.  But does anyone who understands the importance of "Country First" really believe that McCain put country first with his selection of Palin who could be a heartbeat away from being Commander in Chief. 

Well, all those examples validate NC as a battleground state, but the biggest indicator is it appears that most NC voters are not of the stupid variety and have discerned that the country desperately needs positive change. I have attended large and small Obama events and there is widespread support for Obama from the electorate.  Those supposedly white, bitter, disenfranchised voters don't reside here.  You may recall it was Obama's NC primary victory that helped him get his mojo back. Much like it is with Iowa, NC and Obama are joined at the hip.  So despite this being the silly season of politics, Obama has statewide support in the Coastal Plains, the Piedmont and the Mountain regions of the Old North State. Yep, telltale signs suggest that the debilitating American Gridlock will get a long overdue positive change injection on November 4 and NC most certainly will line up on the right side of history.

The Mass Deception of McCain and Palin

1. Oh, those tricky Republicans.  When Tim Kaine was on the Democratic vice presidential short list, GOP strategist Karl Rove argued that Kaine's experience as a former mayor of Richmond, a small city, along with being Governor of Virginia, a state that actually has people living in it, would not sufficiently prepare him for the Office of President of the United States.  Contrast Rove's assessment of the readiness of Gov. Kaine to his assessment of Sarah Palin.  Although Palin's experience includes being the former mayor of a small Alaskan village and as Governor of Alaska, the largest state in the nation but with a population smaller than most medium-sized American cities, Rove claims that Palin is ready for the U. S. presidency.  Yes Barack, Republicans do think that the American people are stupid.
2. In grand forked-tongue fashion, the GOP plan of mass deception is fully operational.  In addition to double-speak, the plan calls for mocking Democratic successes which their empirical data shows can be very effective.  Just ask John Kerry.  Of course any good GOP plan includes attacking the media which energizes their base.  Their claim that the media is being extra hard on Palin is pure rubbish.   Well after Alaska trooper-gate, and lies about selling an airplane on eBay for a profit, and five colleges in six years, somebody had better take a microscopic look into Sarah Palin's background given that as vice president Palin would be a heartbeat away from the presidency. Belated kudos to Campbell Brown who in Donna Brazile-like fashion, tried to uphold her journalistic integrity.
3. Nonetheless, give the GOP credit for being cocky.  While accusing the media of gender bias, they have the audacity to try to bully Oprah Winfrey another female into featuring Sarah Palin as a guest on her television show.  Yes, I'm referring to the same Sarah Palin that the GOP is trying to shield from press conferences and serious news shows such as Meet the Press.  The GOP knows that Oprah like Hillary Clinton, is as tough an adversary as any man and realize that Oprah will not blink.  However, being the cynic that I am, I see the Oprah ploy as a subliminal attempt by the GOP to inject race into the final weeks of the presidential campaign.  And we all know that next to media-bashing, race-baiting is a GOP candidate-in-trouble strategy favorite. 
4. McCain is in trouble? If you swallow the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde polling data you might miss the fact that the McCain Campaign is in trouble.  When I listen to Rasmussen and Zogby analyze likely voter trends, it's very obvious to me that these guys are everything but objective.  When they include sampling data from young voters who are dedicated followers of the Obama movement, then I might place some stock into their opinions.  To the chagrin of the GOP, I expect a majority of these young Obama supporters to show up on election day.  That's when the GOP will see that despite their negative attempts to turn his popularity against him, being a "celebrity" will be a positive for Obama.
5. So Barack, Republicans do think or at least hope that we are stupid.  But this time I sense that enough people really are tired of the same old politics which have a snowball chance in hell of undergoing any substantial overhaul under a government led by the same old McCain.  Therefore Barack, I'm optimistic that after this election, media pundits will be scratching their heads trying to explain how the United States ended up on the right side of history, despite organized and determined efforts to preserve a culture of more of the same.  I hope the pundits begin by proclaiming an end to a nation of Red and Blue States and hail the rediscovery of the United States.

Hillary Reconciled My Differences

As an early and once ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton, a rift developed between us during the contentious Democratic primary season.  It was a rift that I primarily blame on Hillary choosing to follow bad advice from her campaign advisers.  However, tonight after listening to her speech at the Democratic Convention, my former irreconcilable differences have been reconciled.  I also believe that Hillary has at last reconciled her disappointment in losing the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama.  In a like manner I hope that Hillary supporters also are finally able to move forward and heartily support the Obama and Joe Biden Democratic ticket.

During her speech I saw the Hillary that I had come to admire and felt was the Democrats best choice for president.  But sometimes our best laid plans do not always materialize. The keyword here is our.  I believe that one reason "our" plan might not actualize is because our plan might not be the best plan for the greater good. Maybe for Hillary there is a greater calling.  If she chooses, in Hillary I see someone that has the passion and drive to one day replace Ted Kennedy in the Senate as the lead and long term advocate for change that improves the lives of everyday working Americans.  And that is no second-place concession.  The legacy of Ted Kennedy will be equal to or greater than that of any American President.

On the other hand, despite what very nervous Republican pundits would have us believe, Barack Obama is the best choice at this time to be President of the United States.  The truth of the matter is Americans really have tired of the gridlock in Washington and we really have come to despise consistent votes in Congress that strictly adhere to party lines to the detriment of the American people.  Barack offers the best hope for moving beyond partisan politics.

So I am encouraged that America will do the right thing in November and elect Barack Obama president.  I'm also encouraged that Hillary Clinton and yes Bill Clinton too will be partners to Barack and Joe Biden in helping America regain the prestige that it lost under the leadership of George Bush and Dick Cheney.

Joe Biden Will Be A Nightmare for John McCain and GOP

For months the GOP thought that Hillary Clinton would give them the most trouble as their 2008 Democratic presidential rival.  That was before Barack Obama outperformed everyone's expectations and proceeded to win the Democratic nomination instead. Suddenly, the GOP came to the realization that Obama was really the most formidable opponent and that Hillary was the easier prey.  The Clinton dynasty had been weakened and the GOP smelled red meat.   They now wanted Hillary to stay in the mix.  So they activated a plan to instigate Hillary into the number two spot on the Democratic ticket as the VP. Why not?  They could still run the same campaign ads that they produced months ago in anticipation of Clinton being the nominee.  

In the meantime, they decided to follow Karl Rove's advice to redefine Obama and makeover John McCain.  So the GOP promoted the Clinton storyline of Obama not appealing to working class white voters. Obama is an elitist.  Obama is weak on foreign policy.  Obama makes great speeches, but they are only empty words. Attack, attack, attack. Poke your finger in Obama's chest and dare him to fight back because it would violate his personal oath to run a civil campaign.  Gleefully bait Obama to respond forcefully, because then you could proclaim that "he is no different from the rest of us."  This is one instance where being the same has its benefits. 

However, true to form the GOP miscalculated.  They violated a basic tactic of war.  Never back your opponent into a corner without giving them an escape route.  Because with no way out, the cornered tend to fight back with more tenacity.  Or they call for backup.  Well, Barack Obama chose both options.  As John McCain said, Obama became "testy" and he also placed a call for backup to his colleague, Joe Biden.  You know Biden's reputation. Salt of the earth. Strong with working class Americans, strong with Catholics, strong with foreign policy and one who loves a good fight.  And unlike Obama, Biden possessed no handicap to play nice.  Biden has more than enough gut punches to go around and like Donna Brazile tearing into a GOP pundit, he won't hesitate to use them.   

The GOP must be thinking that they can't catch a cold.  "Curses, foiled again!". What's a body to do?  Maybe they will take the advice of the "brilliant" GOP talking head who recommended that McCain ignore Biden and keep hammering away at Obama.  You know, as in close your eyes and pretend that Biden isn't really there and maybe he will go away.  After witnessing Joe Biden in action today, somehow I don't think that strategy will have much success.

Wes Clark Is Barack Obama's Best Choice for VP

I like General Wesley Clark and I think he would be a great compliment to Barack Obama as vice president.  Why Wes Clark?  He has all the needed credentials.  Clark graduated at the top of his class at West Point and was chosen as a Rhodes Scholar. He has elderly statesmen-like qualities having served as a Four-Star General and NATO Supreme Allied Commander where he directed troops during the Kosovo War with no loss of U.S. lives.

Clark has a Jewish heritage, was a Hillary Clinton supporter (who didn't go overboard), served as a talking head military expert, is a businessman, and has moderate political views with Southern roots. What more can you ask for in a vice presidential candidate that would add value to an Obama ticket.

As he recently showed on MSNBC, I agree with The Young Turks assessment that General Clark definitely has the unquestionable stature to go head to head with John McCain on foreign policy.  If I'm looking for advice on foreign policy, with no disrespect of McCain, I would listen to the brilliant General who actually directed a major military campaign versus the Colonel who served time as a POW.  We can imagine that McCain suffered as a POW, but Clark also suffered four gunshot wounds while serving in Vietnam.

There are a lot of outstanding persons that Obama can choose as a running mate. Since another favorite Mark Warner is now out of the picture, Wes Clark is definitely my current choice for the slot.  And you know, Obama/Clark has a nice ring to it.

© 2008, Bussta Brown. http://leadershipcultivation.icopyright.com

Hillary, One Leader at a Time, Please!

Congratulations to Barack Obama, the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nominee!  It was exciting to watch and listen to Barack as he made an inspiring speech to a very excited crowd.  I listened to the speech on MSNBC to escape hearing yet another asinine commentary by Wolf Blitzer on CNN.

Hillary Clinton, after being introduced as the "next president of the United States", made a self-serving speech to promote her quest to get the vice-presidential slot.  After hearing her speech tonight, I feel compelled to retract the suggestion I put forth yesterday that Hillary might could work as Obama's VP.  I am now convinced to the contrary.  Hillary is much too stubborn to ever accept a subordinate role to Obama even though he would be her commander-in-chief. 

So despite the insistence or suggestion by her supporters that Obama put Hillary on the ticket, naming Hillary as VP would be Obama's first bad decision as the nominee. The VP should be your partner, not your chief competitor. A major challenge of any leader is to have an impatient or ambitious associate who constantly promotes their own agenda ahead of the broader agenda established by the authorized leader.

Therefore, my suggestion to Hillary is to find someplace else other than the VP slot to exercise her leadership skills.  As the immortals would say on the Highlander TV series, "there can be only one".  In a similar fashion, there can only be one president in an Obama White House.  To have anything less would be a formula for disaster!

© 2008, Bussta Brown. http://leadershipcultivation.icopyright.com

Why I Admire Donna Brazile

After sitting patiently thru all the arguments back and forth about whether the Michigan election was flawed or a legitimate election, the woman whom I admire more and more each day, cut to the chase.  Donna Brazile said her mother always told her that ["If you change the rules in the middle of the game or at the end of the game, it's called cheating"].

So whether it's a game of spades, horseshoes, or checkers, the same principle should apply when determining the best solution for Michigan, don't tolerate cheating.  So Donna Brazile, I applaud you for continuing to be unafraid to say that a naked emperor is not wearing any clothes even when others tolerate such nonsense with their silent.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Together...Maybe

When Tim Kaine, Bill Richardson, Bob Casey and now John Edwards all endorsed Barack Obama for president, and stood together shoulder to shoulder with Barack smiling and waving to the crowds, each pairing looked good!  And they all gave enthusiastic endorsement speeches.  If Richardson had been as energetic during his own campaign as he was for Barack, his candidacy may have lasted longer. Now the spotlight turns to Hillary Clinton.

As a former Hillary Clinton supporter. I moved away from her when she began to accentuate her negative qualifies instead of her positive attributes. As someone who tries to look for the positive traits that people possess regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, I was deeply defended.  In a nutshell, I felt like a jilted voter.  Some of you know the feeling.  When someone you love does you wrong, in spite of your hurt feelings, you still try to hold on to the relationship. But as much as you try, the person you once loved, slowly but surely becomes an object of contempt.  That's especially true when that person continues to engage in the conduct that created the disappointment. If you still don't understand what I'm trying to say, listen to one of my favorite songs, "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." Both and Glen Campbell and Isaac Hayes sing excellent versions.

To continue the saga, usually after getting out of a bad relationship, you often fall in love again.  That's what happened when I listened to Barack Obama with an opened mind clear of thoughts of Hillary.  It was an amazing moment.  When I listened to Obama after one of his primary victories, I really bought into his vision for America. Who wouldn't fall in love with the idea of no more Washington gridlock, no more red state/blue state nonsense, no more antagonistic divisiveness, but a United States of America. That was the relationship that Obama offered. Some people called them just words, but say what you want, great leaders inspire with their words. I am inspired with hope by the words of Obama and there is no turning back.

Now that brings us back to Hillary.  Would Hillary be good on the ticket with Barack Obama?  Well some of her supporters and her surrogates sure seem to think so.  As a matter of fact, I think she realized quite some time ago that she can't win the nomination and really started with much vigor, jocking for the VP slot. Well, in a way Hillary is the Obama opposite.  Like it or not, Hillary represents  much of what we despise about the politics of old that we need to move away from in order to collectively elevate this country. Obama represents the future.

Before Obama puts Clinton on the ticket he would certainly argue with the notion of whether he could trust her. Alex Castellanos, a GOP pundit on CNN, joked that ["Obama would have to have a food taster"] if he did put Hillary on the ticket. I would like to think that he is wrong.  So I will withhold my final judgment until the eventful moment comes when Hillary endorses Obama for the presidency and they stand together on the podium together, embraced and waving to the crowd with the promise of wholeheartedly working together to restore America to its greatness.

Obama said it wouldn't be easy to bring about real change.  No kidding.  But there would be this caveat to picking Hillary for Veep.  Without compromise, I would insist that there be no reference to "this is the way we used to do things" and Hillary must come without her chief political strategists and talking heads, specifically Howard Wolfson and Lanny Davis. The jury is still out on Terry McAuliffe and Paul Begala and of course on the biggest wild card of all, former President Bill Clinton.