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

Thank You Madeleine!

At a NEHRA conference several years ago I stood up and asked Madeleine Albright the first question - it was about the backsliding of women during the Bush administration. Within her response was the statement, "There's a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." Knowing the context I was furious at SlickSarah's misuse and mis-statement of the quote to imply that because she's a woman other women should support her. Happily, Madeleine responded herself. Here's what she said to HuffPost:

"Though I am flattered that Governor Palin has chosen to cite me as a source of wisdom, what I said had nothing to do with politics. This is yet another example of McCain and Palin distorting the truth, and all the more reason to remember that this campaign is not about gender, it is about which candidate has an agenda that will improve the lives of all Americans, including women. The truth is, if you care about the status of women in our society and in our troubled economy, the best choice by far is Obama-Biden."

And in the spirit of keeping the discussion on substance not smears, enjoy this spoof. BillyMires

More Slime...Fake McShame Letters..and GOOD News

McCain campaign hires ghostwriters to create fake letters to the editor - focus on touting Palin as the VP choice. Reported by Salon.com.

ABC/WashPost poll shows Obama strongly ahead of repubs and having regained ground with white women lost after Hillary. Restores my faith in my sisters. YAY!! I ask, like some of the commentators, who are the 17% that think the country is moving in the right direction and what are they smoking?

Obama/Biden 08

McCain Camp "Sexist"?

Campbell Brown of CNN calls the McCain camp's cloistering of Palin "sexist". Frankly, I think their actions are not driven by sexism, but by abject terror about what she might say and how she will humiliate herself and McShame...BUT Brown's "sexist" construct sure makes it tough for the repubs to attack the media for being "mean" to poor Palin, so it is a stroke of genius (even her statement that SlickSarah is "competent" though wrong is perfect in this context). Here's what she said (lifted, with gratitude, from the wonderful folks at ThePoliticalCarnival).

"Tonight I call on the McCain campaign to stop treating Sarah Palin like she is a delicate flower that will wilt at any moment," said Brown. "This woman is from Alaska from crying out loud. She is strong. She is tough. She is competent. And you claim she is ready to be one heart beat away form the presidency. If that is the case, then end this chauvinistic treatment of her now. Allow her to show her stuff. Allow her to face down those pesky reporters... Let her have a real news conference with real questions. By treating Sarah Palin different from the other candidates in this race, you are not showing her the respect she deserves. Free Sarah Palin. Free her from the chauvinistic chain you are binding her with. Sexism in this campaign must come to an end. Sarah Palin has just as much a right to be a real candidate in this race as the men do. So let her act like one."

And the lies (or ignorance??) just keep piling on. From HuffPost this morning...
"Two reports tonight, one from the New York Times, and the other from Newsweek, contradict John McCain's statement this week that his campaign manager Rick Davis had no involvement with mortgage giant Freddie Mac for the last several years."

Obama/Biden 08

Flip Flop - And Payoff

I loved when at the DNC "candidate" McCain was compared with "Senator" McCain (I can't remember whose speech it was - need more blueberries). Anyway, the CarpetbaggerReport lists 76 issues on which McCain has flipped his positions. They are categorized into areas including:

• National Security
• Foreign Policy
• Domestic Policy
  
• and more.

I sure hope the Obama/Biden campaign will find this website for the inevitable and stale flip-flop attack that is bound to come from the repubs. Seventy six!! Scary.

Now, take a look at this analysis of the proposed bailout of the economy. Here's an excerpt:

• No one who foresaw the crisis, such as Krugman or Stiglitz, is involved in making the plan to fix it.

• The man overseeing the bailout is the ex-CEO of Goldman Sachs, a Wall Street Company. He helped cause the crisis.
• Paulson helped obtain the SEC exemption which allowed brokerages to increase leverage to 60:1 from 12:1.

Folks we really have to get active! Work for Obama/Biden this week.
www.barackobama.com

Thank You Keith!

I couldn't stand keeping my attention focused on lies Palin's, McCain's, the campaign's (see several posts back), but I am so glad that Keith Olbermann is keeping track of Palin's and is turning the karma around.


In the spirit of turning a sow's ear into a silk purse (hope you like the pig metaphor)...

By now you probably know that Palin made rape victims pay for their own forensic exams. Instead of complaining about her, make a donation to Planned Parenthood IN HER NAME! Great idea...I'm off to the Planned Parenthood site armed with the address for the Palin's home. You can read about the idea here (be sure to go to the bottom of the page).

How can they get away with this from the New York Times?
At the insistence of the McCain campaign, the Oct. 2 debate between the Republican nominee for vice president, Gov. Sarah Palin, and her Democratic rival, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., will have shorter question-and-answer segments than those for the presidential nominees, the advisers said. There will also be much less opportunity for free-wheeling, direct exchanges between the running mates.

Go Joe! Go Barack!

Corporate Socialism and Obama's Wit

When the repubs bail out the financial industry (which is probably necessary), borrow from China to:

• line the pockets of Halliburton and rebuild Iraq,
  
• funnel money into the military/industrial complex or
  
• subsidize the oil industry it's a good use of taxpayer money.
  

BUT when the Obama campaign talks about investing in infrastructure, alternative energy innovation, education, and providing healthcare to most of the citizens - the repubs claim that the taxpayer will face higher taxes to pay for this (a distortion of Obama's plan). I don't know about you, but I'd rather invest my tax dollars in this country and in sectors that will create jobs and wean us from oil rather than invest them in bailouts (also called corporate socialism).

ON a HAPPIER NOTE
Barack has a great sense of humor.

WATCH!

READ!

Women for Obama/Biden has been very active this week. Congressional endorsements, NOW endorsement, Joe and Hillary webcast. Makes me happy.

Get involved! Take action.

To Other Hillary Supporters...

I invite you to watch her in a discussion on women's issues with Joe Biden. See it here. (30 min)



I'm so glad Bush never privatized social security. So are Barack and Joe...New ad.

Duh..."fully informed..." Did you know about Troopergate? Did you know about her request for earmarks? What else did you not know about Palin, John?



Pretty good debunking of McCain campaign by CNN

You Go Joe! and Validation from Conservatives

Watch a worthy VP candidate discuss real issues!

Read criticism of the McCain/Palin ticket from noted conservatives.

Obama/Biden '08

McCain's Horrible Record on Women's Issues

“For the past 25 years, John McCain has consistently voted against women's health. From opposing funding for family planning programs to voting against requiring insurance coverage of birth control, McCain has taken extreme positions. He has voted against women's health and has not supported legislation that would help reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion. This has earned him a zero rating - the lowest rating we give in the U.S. Senate.”
(Source: Planned Parenthood)

McCain’s appalling legislative record - view it here. And here. And here.
In summary McCain's votes:
Equal Pay – AGAINST
FMLA – AGAINST before he was for
Choice – AGAINST (but he was for in 2000)
Insurance payments for birth control - AGAINST

Palin is painted as pro-women and an experienced executive. Let's consider what executive action she took to deal with “sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence and murder that make her state one of the most dangerous places in the country for women and children.” What did she do about it? NOTHING Read ABC news.

The republican platform seeks to deny women the right to choice even in the case of rape and incest.

Be informed. Be for Obama/Biden