Obama Gets High Scores on Leadership Report Card

[impik]

He's been scored on his popularity, his speaking style, and even his basketball moves. But after a year into office, Barack Obama is getting one of the most important report cards of all: on his leadership qualities. And with the exception of an incomplete grade on political skill as he continues to pursue a victory on his top agenda item—healthcare reform—he's virtually a 4.0 student.

That's according to presidential historian and author Fred Greenstein, professor of politics emeritus at Princeton University. The author of the new Inventing the Job of President has just updated his initial Obama report card and declared the president a "rare political leader."

In a scholarly paper, Barack Obama: The Man and His Early Presidency, Greenstein looks at six key leadership qualities and seems to find that the nation's first African-American president is up to snuff. "Barack Obama is a fascinating political specimen," writes Greenstein, whose books include The Presidential Difference: Leadership Style from FDR to Barack Obama; The Hidden-Hand Presidency: Eisenhower as Leader; and How Presidents Test Reality: Decisions on Vietnam, 1954 and 1965.

"Indeed," adds Greenstein, "he may turn out to be the rare political leader who is marked by both a first-rate temperament and a first-rate mind."

/ snip

As we reviewed the paper further, we found Greenstein's views on Obama's leadership insightful and thought readers would too. In it, Greenstein did not give letter grades, though it is pretty easy for us to determine them:

Public Communication: A. Reason: Obama has offered highly substantive arguments for his agenda and moved to respond to a complex media environment.

Organizational Capacity: A. Reason: Obama, surrounded by strong personalities, has kept unity among his troops, delivered a strong message, and shown himself to be even-handed.

Political Skill: Incomplete. Reason: As a conciliator, it's unclear if his style will work in a polarized political world.

Policy Vision: B. Reason: When addressing his vision, he enunciates it in terms of an integrated set of components, though he appears open to junking portions that aren't politically feasible.

Cognitive Style: A. Reason: He has a style marked by a capacity for complex thinking and analytical detachment and a preoccupation with seeking evidence.

Emotional Intelligence: A. Obama has clear command of his emotions, as he himself noted when he said that he doesn't get too high when things are going well or too low when they aren't.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/03/12/obama-gets-high-scores-on-leadership-report-card.html

[Cha]

1. Yeah, I'm very pleased..thank you, impik.

KickR

[NC_Nurse]

2. Then why are the Repubs running all over his agenda? I love him, but for

whatever reason, many folks seem to not be won over by his persona.

[UrbScotty]

3. Because they're Republicans (nt)

[JoePhilly]

5. Here's why ...

The GOP decided to oppose absolutely everything he proposes.

The most cowardly Dems have been using whatever tiny GOP support they could get for COVER.

With the GOP pulling so far back ... the most cowardly Dems have no cover. They have no problem voting "Dem" when at least 2 or 3 GOP members is also voting with us ... take away that "cover", and these cowards will support doing nothing over voting with the Dems.

[Captain Hilts]

13. He was GREAT at the summit - but six months too late. nt

[ShortnFiery]

4. If the behavior and major decisions President Obama has done over the past year ...

it termed "leadership" then I don't want any part of it. I honestly believe the proper terms for his actions are "Campaigning" and "Cajoling."

[IndianaGreen]

6. Strange definition of leadership

more like the anti-leader leader.

[jaxx]

7. Very interesting, thanks.

He's a smart man, and a good leader. I like it that he doesn't get shoved around by the common gripers, but lets them rant and goes on to get business taken care of.

[Peacetrain]

8. Yep.. K&R

[izquierdista]

9. From whom? The DLC?

Corporate shills?

I'd have to rate him a lot lower, though compared to a miserable failure, he is an improvement.

[Hekate]

16. It's in a scholarly paper by a Princeton professor emeritus, not DLC. Read the OP

>>> That's according to presidential historian and author Fred Greenstein, professor of politics emeritus at Princeton University. The author of the new Inventing the Job of President has just updated his initial Obama report card and declared the president a "rare political leader."
In a scholarly paper, Barack Obama: The Man and His Early Presidency, Greenstein looks at six key leadership qualities... <<<

Let me know if your research shows that Dr. Greenstein is on the DLC payroll.

Hekate

[izquierdista]

17. OK, shill emeritus then.

Still a load of tripe.

[Hekate]

18. Try a little lemon with the bitters

[Captain Hilts]

10. He still got played by AHIP and PhRMA and let Baucus take the lead on healthcare. nt

[ProSense]

11. How?

Also, do you realize that Baucus took the lead on the bill out of the committee he chaired, not the final bill?

[Captain Hilts]

12. Secret negotiations then they went and gave huge funds to the Chamber for anti-HCR ads....

And he permitted Baucus to be the voice for theDems on this issue.

I know more about how govt. works than you, so spare me the patronizing tone.

[Pirate Smile]

14. If he gets it done then it will be huge. He could have picked fights with everyone and had it lead

to another loss. Perhaps their picking some strategic battles and cutting deals with others is what was required to get it done after 70 - 100 years.

[Captain Hilts]

15. Yes, that's a choice along the continuum of leadership. nt

[Pirate Smile]

21. He's not an "All or Nothing" guy. He is a "Get What You Can" guy. Some people hate that.

He has said that he has seen too many glorious defeats that leave people needing help with nothing. He isn't going that route.

[sabrina 1]

23. True, and if the professor views

Geithner, Summers et al as a strong team, I would question his judgement on everything else.

I like Obama and agree he is a great speaker. I just wish he had used his considerable skills to undermine the Bush policies most of which he appears to support.

I heard on the news yesterday that he will 'pushing President Bush's 'No Child Left Behind' education policy. That alone is enough to give him a failing grade on policy, not to mention his Health Insurance Bill.

[jonnyblitz]

25. thanks for posting that. that's all I need to know to "null and void"

this "report card". Now I don't have to waste my time clicking on the link. :crazy:

[Raine]

19. He can lead alright I have no doubt about that

my concern is what and where he is leading.

[Tippy]

20. You hafta know when to holdum

Konw when to foldum, Know when to walk away, Know when to run.
You never count your money when a sittin at the table
They'll be time enough for countin when the dealen done.

AND JUST LOOK AT WHAT THE MAN WAS UP AGAINST...

I won't say I told u'all just wait give him a chance. You know we Democrats, are our own worst enemies.

[NJmaverick]

22. Big K&R

[grantcart]

24. k and r