Hillarysworld

Read @ Guardian UK

Here's one of the big questions, really, one to chew on over the weekend, one that's asked a lot around this town. How could a bunch of people who ran such a brilliant campaign be doing such a lousy job at the politics of governing?

It really is a mystery. In 2008, they seemed two steps ahead of everybody else. In 2010, they seem two steps behind. What happened?

Let's consider some possible explanations:

1. Campaigns are easier than governing. Not to be discounted. Campaigns are hard, but governing is harder. You're actually responsible for stuff, and that stuff sticks to you more. Takes a while to figure that out.

2. They were overwhelmed by events. They didn't understand quite how bad things were going to be. Actual conditions, I mean: the economy, Afghanistan, unexpected things like the oil spill.

3. They didn't expect the partisan onslaught. I didn't either, so I have a basic sympathy with this error, but I also think it should have been evident long ago that error it was, and adjustments made accordingly.

4. It's about personnel. David Plouffe was on the campaign but isn't in the White House. Rahm Emanuel is, but wasn't on the campaign. And there are other personnel differences. Maybe these are key.

5. It's Obama himself. Ah, the conservatives will say...ding ding ding ding ding. But I really don't think so. He's a plenty smart man. His instincts haven't often seemed great, but hey, they did get him this far, which is far.

6. Maybe they didn't really run such a great campaign and were overrated from the start. Yes, I'm warming to this one. After all, they didn't have to run a brilliant campaign, they just had to run the best of three campaigns, the other two being Clinton's and McCain's, and those were both pretty bad, McCain's especially.

More @ Guardian UK
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Aaaah!  The slooooow tubelight bulbs are coming on finally!

If you were fooled by all the obfuscation during the campaign, you just didnt see how many irregularities - to put it very mildly - occurred in the caucuses and primaries and how many of us feel that the nomination was snatched if not stolen from the hands of Candidate Clinton.  That is the kind of victory that is not possible once you have to become a responsible leader in the WH.  Winning by trashing someone else's (Bush's/Clintons') name is one thing - establishing on your own experience and accomplishments is something else -- and that latter thing is much much harder - and that's what we are finding out.

Also, if you truly reflect upon the campaign days, there was no other star in the Obama campaign. No one else was given any importance.  That has continued into the administration. For a true leader, sharing the limelight and making others into celebrated heros is extremely important.

The one person who has done an enormous amount of accomplishing is SOS Hillary Clinton... and she has indeed waged the peace around the world... dispelling ignorance, projecting our good intentions, bringing bitter warring factions closer to the table for discussion in many places including Turkey-Armenia and now Israel-Palestine. She has dispelled ignorance and re-established what America is about in the minds of Pakistani's, especially the Pakistani media -- a peace-war that needed to be won to make any progress in winning over the diplomatic plot with that nation.

Yes, education has become another important place where to make major progress... and I have to acknowledge that i see some leadership skills in Secy. Duncan. I hope huge strides are made in this area.  A LOT more than has been accomplished is still expected.  Marginal improvement nipping at the edges is simply a waste if the true goal is to re-established America's cutting edge in global competitiveness.

The hallmark of a great leader is to be engaged, to listen, to reflect, to sponsor the activities that promote the goals you promised to pursue and to reinforce those who pursue them.  They are small shifts in action with big impact... that we are not seeing from the POTUS. 

Many say that this POTUS took on too much too soon. I disagree.  What the POTUS did is forget to align the various goals with each other to gain momentum... That is something you learn along the way. 

Candidate Hillary Clinton was correct.  There is really no substitute of good experience in leadership.  That's what we are finding out.