How Obama lost his voice, and how he can get it back

[bemildred]

President Obama entered office wrapped in a mantle of moral leadership. His call for change was rooted in values that had long been eclipsed in our public life: a sense of mutual responsibility, commitment to equality and belief in inclusive diversity. Those values inspired a new generation of voters, restored faith to the cynical and created a national movement.

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This dramatic reversal is not the result of bad policy as such; the president made some real policy gains. It is not a consequence of a president who is too liberal, too conservative or too centrist. And it is not the doing of an administration ignorant of Washington's ways. Nor can we honestly blame the system, the media or the public — the ground on which presidential politics is always played.It is the result, ironically, of poor leadership choices.

Abandoning the "transformational" model of his presidential campaign, Obama has tried to govern as a "transactional" leader. These terms were coined by political scientist James MacGregor Burns 30 years ago. "Transformational" leadership engages followers in the risky and often exhilarating work of changing the world, work that often changes the activists themselves. Its sources are shared values that become wellsprings of the courage, creativity and hope needed to open new pathways to success. "Transactional" leadership, on the other hand, is about horse-trading, operating within the routine, and it is practiced to maintain, rather than change, the status quo.

The nation was ready for transformation, but the president gave us transaction. And, as is the case with leadership failures, much of the public's anger, disappointment and frustration has been turned on a leader who failed to lead.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-1103-ganz-obama-20101103,0,486277.story

[obxhead]

1. I can't Rec this piece loud enough.

It's exactly how I have felt for the last 2 years.

[jannyk]

2. Great summation! k&r nt

:hi:

[Jefferson23]

3. " And he must again rely on ordinary citizens to help us move forward."

I very deeply hope so.

Thanks for posting bemildred.

[txlibdem]

4. Great article, thanks for linking it!

Glad to REC this OP.

The truth is painful to accept sometimes. President Obama abandoned us all as soon as he was elected. His vow to always include "Republican good ideas" in all legislation floored me personally. We gave him the largest mandate for CHANGE in the history of the US and he gave us a promise to compromise away all his and our principles in hopes of getting ONE republican to join with him.

We needed another FDR to shake up the establishment and push through the change that the country needed and DEMANDED. Instead we got a limp noodle who changed position with every puff of wind coming from FOX NEWS.

Thank you, Mr. President. You have done a great job for the Republicans so far.

[bemildred]

5. My pleasure, I thought he nailed it. nt

[txlibdem]

7. He did for sure

During the campaign I must have heard things that the candidates didn't really say they would do. I thought the one fella said he was going to bring change, an end to the business as usual in Washington, reign in Corporatista abuses. I fell for it hook, line and sinker.

I voted for all Dems yesterday but I didn't have my heart in it.

[Lifelong Protester]

6. There needs to be a concerted effort at showing a clear choice

between what the dems could/would/should/will/did do, and what the Repubs, bowing to the god fo capitalism and their corporate overlords could/would/will do.
I do not think the differences were highlighted enough. I do not think that people were reminded enough of what happened just a mere two years ago.

[Howler]

8. yes. n/t

n/t

[andym]

9. what Obama must do now: (be an advocator, not a mediator)

"Now Obama must take a deep breath, step back, reflect on the values that drew him into public life in the first place and acknowledge responsibility for his mistakes. He must reverse the leadership choices of the first half of his term. His No. 1 mission must be to speak for the anxious and the marginalized and to lead us in the task of putting Americans to work rebuilding our future. He must advocate, not merely try to mediate in a fractious, divided Washington. And he must again rely on ordinary citizens to help us move forward."

according to the editorial

[emilyg]

10. k/r

[obxhead]

11. shameless second kick.