An Undecided's Guide to Voting: What is Leadership?

A post from Susan Colantuono

As an expert on leadership, I base my work on my definition of leadership, which is this:
"Leadership is using the greatness in you to achieve and sustain extraordinary outcomes by engaging the greatness in others."

I thought it worth offering in light of the recent and ongoing tenor of the two campaigns - and as a way of helping undecided voters assess the leadership qualities of the candidates.

Let's dissect the 3 elements of the definition.

On Extraordinary Outcomes
If you think that the savings and loan debacle, the current economic meltdown, the loss of medicare and medicaid benefits, unequal pay for equal work, an overall decline in the earning power of the middle class, increasing unemployment and more freedom for businessmen to get rich off the backs of the middle class are the types of extraordinary outcome you seek, vote McPalin.

If you think that a strong middle class, investment in infrastructure, green technology and education; access to healthcare, equal pay for equal work, regulation on the excesses and malfeasance of business and an energizing of everyday citizens are the types of extraordinary outcome you seek, vote Obama/Biden.

On Engaging the Greatness in Others
If you think that campaign rallying cries of "kill him" and "terrorist" is evidence of engaging the greatness in others, vote McPalin.

If you think that campaign rallying cries of "yes we can" is evidence engaging the greatness in others, vote Obama/Biden.

On Personal Greatness
If you think cynicism, superiority, simple-mindedness, being a pawn of your handlers, reliance on smears and reckless casting about are admirable attributes, vote McPalin.

If you think having a vision, believing in the power of unity, intelligence, surrounding oneself with brilliant advisers, authenticity and keeping on issue are admirable attributes, vote Obama/Biden.

Respectfully shared,
Susan Colantuono

Shining Light on Healthcare & Economy

Say it ain't so, John! The WSJ reports:
John McCain would pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid, a top aide said, in a move that independent analysts estimate could result in cuts of $1.3 trillion over 10 years to the government programs.

From HuffPost
Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and former Florida Sen. Bob Graham determinedly laid into McCain for proposing a policy that would result in massive Medicare cuts and higher taxes for some insured....Casey went so far as to challenge McCain to "survive without his government provided health insurance," in order to better understand the struggles of those uncovered by their employers.

What's all the fuss about Keating and McShame about? Find out here.

And...on the same subject, check out McShame/Surrogate lies (cast as "appears different") here at the WashPost.

Funnies for a Sunday Morning and Obama on Healthcare

Tina Fey does it again!!! Here you go.

Brian Williams - I didn't know he was funny - with David Letterman


Bill Maher had me laughing out loud. Find the clip here at HuffPost.

Parts 1 & 2 of Obama on healthcare
What's Wrong With Healthcare


Why McShame Won't Fix It



Oh MY...I HAVE to show you this clip. Parts brought tears to my eyes. Hooray for the United Steel Workers!!!!!!! and Hooray for AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka

Even Florida? Could it be a Landslide?

The NewYorkTimes is reporting that Obama/Biden have pulled ahead in the polls by 3 - 8 points! This is amazing. The most disturbing quote in the article was this one:

"Anecdotally, though, Mr. Obama seems to have made some headway. At Christina’s, a family restaurant in downtown New Port Richey, the red leather stools at the counter held both Republicans tried-and-true, and Republicans, like Chris Hart, 48, who had begun to sour on Mr. McCain.

“Every time you turn around, he flips,” Mr. Hart said. A front-desk clerk at a local Y.M.C.A, he said he was also motivated by his need for health insurance, which had recently forced him to buy antibiotics at pet stores because it was cheaper than the pharmacy."

The Bush/McShame policies are a disgrace!

FiveThirtyEight polls: nation looking bluer and bluer. As to why, read this article about the difference between the ground campaigns of the Dems and repugs. It's illuminating. Here's the concluding point:

"You could take every McCain volunteer we’ve seen doing actual work in the entire trip, over six states, and it would add up to the same as Obama’s single Thornton, CO office. Or his single Durango, CO office. These ground campaigns bear no relationship to each other."