September 4, 2008

• THE *SPARK*

  This week Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain, running mate Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani and a laundry list of GOP-ers are out in full attack mode at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota — each taking turns to poke at rival Democratic Presidential Nominee, Barack Obama with a majority of their “witty” statements fixated on this point:

  “He’s [Barack] never run a city, never run a state, never run a business, never run a military unit. He’s never had to lead people in crisis,” said former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.  “This is not a personal attack … it’s a statement of fact — Barack Obama has never led anything. Nothing. Nada.”

  As true as that may be, I find it humorous that they’ve all selectively darted around the fundamental definition of a leader.  It’s a definition that’s taught in any basic Management class, which is: 

  Leadership is when others follow you because they want to, not because they have to.

  A great leader inspires people to want to be better.  To want to stand up from the mire of apathy and cynicism that they’ve languished in for the past 8 years.  Hell, to get me off my a$$ to blog in support after enjoying 2 1/2 months of inactivity!  And 85,000 patriotic Americans in a packed stadium at last week’s Democratic National Convention in Denver showed in spades how much they wanted to follow this man’s lead.  

  Additionally, good leaders are also good delegators.  I don’t think anyone will doubt the enthusiasm and competancy level of the best minds this country has to offer, in every field, that will be clambering to work with Obama and can choose to surround himself with. 

  Because really, when all is said and done, this country can pretty much run itself on autopilot regardless of whomever is in office.  Local governments are in place, tax dollars are allocated into different areas, all the cogs and gears that make this country move will continue to grind away.  Leaders will nudge us towards certain directions, etc.

  But to have a reawakened interest in wanting to actively take part in shaping changes in this country for the better as opposed to just ‘waiting out’ an incumbent’s term — it’s that intangible *spark* that has been missing, at least in my life since 2001, and been replaced by Barack Obama.  This man not only has the rare perspective of a minority (that you can really only possess by actually being a minority) but also the pulse and the heartbeat of the majority. 

  Not to discount the support or service to this country John McCain has established but hey, it’s gotta say something when arguably one of the most conservative political minds ever, Pat Buchanan, who has said stuff like this – can’t stop gushing over how great Obama’s speech last week was. 

  Yeah, yeah, I know he was only ‘giving his opinion on the merits of Obama’s speech’ and ‘doesn’t consider him a good Presidential candidate’ despite the praise. 

  But let’s go back to the videotape and look at his body language (especially at the 1:35 & 2:00 marks).  

  The old man’s excited. 

  No two ways about it.  I play ALOT of poker and man, if that ain’t an obvious tell like Teddy KGB chompin’ on his oreoes cuz he’s got a made hand (see: “Rounders“) — I don’t know what is!  The hairs on the back of his neck got prickled — but because of who he is,  he could never publicly endorse Obama no matter what he felt. 

  No, he’s got to put on his GOP game face and man-up.   Like Mitt Romney eating humble pie after losing his Presidential bid and having to publicly support McCain.   Like Ben Affleck having to say “This is the best movie I’ve ever worked on” during the press junket of “Paycheck”. 

  Unfortunately, we all know how the game’s played being exposed to it so many times during the past 8 years — nothing but spin, spin, spin.  Hearing the publicist make their statement and then trying to listen and decipher what the real story is beneath the ‘official’ press release. 

  But it’s that *spark*, the one that momentarily cracked the Grand Old Party’s Pat Buchanan usual demeanor, and is lighting up something in others as well, that is going to get my vote come November.

  Make sure you’re registered to make a decision. 

  • 1:12 am
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