Leadership is not just legislation. It’s a matter of persuading people.

[Zenlitened]

And giving them confidence and bringing them together. And setting a tone. And making an argument that people can understand.

[Pirate Smile]

1. President Obama, 60 Minutes - to air Sunday night.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/11/president-obama-on-60-minutes-leadership-isnt-just-legislation/comments/page/2/

Where you hoping to trick some people? :)

[Zenlitened]

3. I hope the DUers who think the president is all but powerless will tune in to watch.

[treestar]

2. The "authoritarian personality"

Look it up.

In this country, leaders are elected representatives. Their power is separated into three branches, for a reason.

The powers of persuasion of one individual don't rule this country. That is a wonderful thing.

[Zenlitened]

4. Tell it to Pres. Obama.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. So you are saying the President is incorrect when he says

what is quoted in the OP? I'd argue that you are padding what Mr Obama said, as he did not speak of an individual 'ruling this country' via persuasion, but about being a more effective expediter of information that people need to know and have a right to know. Your take on the President's words is hard to understand, and I wish you would explain.

[pinto]

5. Agree. Communication is a key part to putting the nuts and bolts together in crafting

successful agendas / legislation.

[Trajan]

6. Am I the only one who understands you ?

The ability to 'persuade people' lies at the heart of our essential problems with the electorate: Nobody understands what the Democrats really stand for, other than what republicans say they stand for ...

Where are the party leaders who are providing a reason to be a Democrat ? .... Where is the party leadership when young people need to have Democratic party philosophy explained to them so THEY can decide to be a Democrat too ? ...


Where is the arching vision ? .... The core principles ? .... The essential elements of a political philosophy ?

Where is the fucking YODA of the Democratic party ?


Those who have the gift to orate, and to craft a persuasive argument .... Where are they ? .... Obama is a masterful speaker, yet he cannot do it alone ... Moreover, he needs to express those principles as well, yet he seems weak on creating a consistent narrative of party philosophy that coincides with an overall progressive political philosophy .... He speaks well, but not necessarily in a manner that draws undecideds to the party OR his cause ....


I became a Democrat because I listened to JFK, and read about FDR and Truman .... I also became a Democrat because Nixon, Agnew, Goldwater and Reagan were republicans, and I KNEW I didnt agree with them ...


With today's evenly balanced electorate, we MUST make inroads with voters, by convincing them to vote for us, to become one of us .... Yet there are no Democrats that are actually doing anything of the sort ....


In the absence of a decent Democratic party narrative, the GOP is more than happy to provide one, and fill the vacuum ....

I would note the essentially UNANSWERED charges used in commercials during the last election .... SO many lies about Democrats were promoted by the right wing, yet they went unanswered and unrefuted for months ....

What do voters think about the Democratic party ? .... Spent 1.8 trillion dollars on failed stimulus ? .... Stole the Medicare right out from under seniors ? .... Paid the banks BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars so fat cats could get bonuses ? ....

Yeah .... According to commercials from the GOP and their friends, that is EXACTLY what the Democratic party is about .... LITTLE refutation was provided ..... Does anybody think this kind of intensive indoctrination by the right wing could go on and on without having an effect ?

The Democratic party needs to dust off it's political program, and create a presentable narrative that explains "What we stand for" ....

[ThatPoetGuy]

7. +1. nt

[applegrove]

9. obama assumed that if he did great legislation the narrative would follow. But he forgot about

faux news and their filter.

[bvar22]

11. IMO,

he forgot about the "Great Legislation" part when he decided that appeasement of Republicans was the greater priority.

"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

[RBInMaine]

10. Absolutely ! And this is exactly what Obama needs to do NOW.

[trulybluish]

12. Neustadt

You should read Richard Neustadt's book The power of persuasion. It basically argues that in the 20th century presidential power has expanded as a result of persuasive abilities of great men. From FDR onward, incremental expansion of the executive branch.

[andym]

13. Persuasion is what made Reagan such a disaster

He really persuaded people to such a degree that "government is the problem, not the solution."

When it comes to legislation, he hardly accomplished any of his conservative goals.