The Leadership Deficit

President.  The very definition of the word president connotes leadership.  Indeed, we often speak of the President as "leader of the free world".  One of his jobs is the civilian head of the military as Commander-in-Chief.  A commander is a leader of troops.  He is the de facto  leader of the American people.

The President has no legislative powers besides vetoing or approving bills passed by Congress.  The President can ask for legislation.  He can try and persuade, he can take his case to the American people.  The president's sole job in these matters is to provide input and leadership.  He can ask, but he cannot introduce legislation or vote on it.  The only member of the Executive Branch that can vote on anything is the Vice-President and then only if the Senate has a tie vote.  He can break the tie.  It's happened numerous times by both parties, the last one being Dick Cheney.

What the president is not, is a dictator or king.  He is ultimately answerable to the American people for his leadership.  That's the theory, anyway.  Reality is sometimes different.

Essentially, the main job of the President of the United States is to provide leadership.  Leadership in war, in crises, foreign policy and the day to day functioning of the country.   

Harry Truman, in a press conference on January 31, 1946 set a reporter straight on who was in charge. 

5.] Q. Mr. President, do you support the State Department's policy that the United States should--

THE PRESIDENT. The State Department doesn't have a policy unless I support it. [Laughter] finish your question--I'm sorry.

Q. I mean with regard to the inter-American defense treaty, that we will not sign it if Argentina--

THE PRESIDENT. I don't know anything about any preliminary decision, or whether it will be signed or won't be signed, but whatever policy the State Department has, I will support it, or it won't be a policy. The State Department carries out the policies that are laid down by the President of the United States. (emphasis added)

In other words, he was LEADING, not following.

Obama does not lead.  He is often described - even by people on his side - as leading from behind.

Obama has no concept of leadership beyond being a dictator.  The problem with that is that Dictating id not leading.  Anyone can be a dictator.  Few are leaders.  This is not the first time the government has "shut down", but this is the first time the President has refused to cooperate.


The President cannot make laws or raise revenue - neither can the Senate.  From Article 1, Section 7:

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

The Senate can add amendments, but they cannot propose a bill that raises revenue and send it over to the House. 

For much of our history, we've had one or the other party in charge of one or more branches, sometimes all three, but a good share of the time, there is a potential for gridlock because one or the other has some say.  It has led to some pretty nasty fighting at times and some shutdowns, but every time it happened, the President showed leadership.  Reagan, Clinton, and even George W. Bush, had to deal with a hostile Congress.  They negotiated and we moved on.  Sometimes we went into shutdown, but we got through it and life went on.

What we have here is a failure of leadership.  Obama cannot lead because he does not know how to lead.  He does not know how to get people to follow him.  The Press follows blindly.  Obama doesn't have to do a damned thing and the press just carries his water.  Reagan could persuade.  Reagan could lead.  Bill Clinton could lead.  Obama is clueless

Leaders have vision.  Managers manage.  Management leads to mediocrity.  Vision leads to great accomplishments.

We have a deficit of leadership in the White House

Mike