In a little less than four months one of these men is going to be president of the United States and become responsible for administering whatever comes out of this process. One of them will be responsible for the success or failure of the most massive economic legislation ever enacted. This will effect every citizen in the U.S. and every important market in the world.
What kind of leader waits for the package for which he will be responsible to be phoned in to him? What kind of leader sits back and offers to pitch in if others say they want his help?
I know that if it were me I would want to be right in the middle of the process. I would want my ideas heard and I would want to hear others’ ideas as they are spoken and debated. I would want to know who said what and who supported or opposed what. I would want as much information as possible about how the end package was arrived at and I would want it as a matter of personal experience. I would want all this because I would know that I would have to work with the people who put this together and I would need to know who I could rely on for what and who my opposition would be and why.
Obama has proven himself, once again, to be passive and weak. He is no leader.
McCain, whatever his failings and I am sure they are many, has shown he has courage and is not afraid to lead. I am now convinced that he really does mean it when he says “country first”.
But he is still on the level of a community organizer!!!
You make an excellent point; whatever is cobbled together this weekend is going to be the main driver of the next administration. Whoever of the candidates prevails will be stuck in reactive mode and leadership will consist of placating the true leaders who survive the meltdown.
Don’t be surprised if Goldman Sachs castoffs once again are front and center among the presidential “advisors.”