WP: Bush's Leadership Style Another Key Question

[kskiska]

By Mike Allen and David S. Broder
Monday, August 30, 2004; Page A01

With his speech Thursday night to the Republican National Convention, President Bush will be inviting voters to endorse not only a set of policies -- but also a style of leadership.

Republicans draw a sharp contrast between what they portray as Bush's directness and what they call rival John F. Kerry's tendency to worry issues to death. White House aides describe a president who gathers a small circle of trusted advisers, listens to brief debates and then offers swift, gut-based solutions to problems.

But a close examination of Bush's operating style, based on interviews with former administration officials, Bush friends and outside experts, offers a more nuanced picture. In some cases, as in the decision to go to war in Iraq or to seek large tax cuts, Bush has indeed moved quickly to set his course and stick to it. In others, like North Korea policy, he has let things languish and pushed problems to the future. He has also not hesitated to switch positions when necessary, such as when he first opposed, then backed the creation of a Homeland Security Department.

(snip)

"With argument comes refinement, and there was none of that," said the official, who declined to be named to avoid ending his contacts with Bush's inner circle. "It's fine to say he's a big-picture leader and doesn't get bogged down in the details. But that's another way of saying he's lazy -- not physically lazy, but intellectually lazy."

(snip)

"I know who I am. I know what I believe in," Bush said. "The good thing about democracy, if people like the decisions you make, they'll let you stay. If they don't, they'll send me back to Crawford. Isn't all that bad a deal, by the way."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45277-2004Aug29.html

[Moderator]

1. please edit

once more and fix the subject. thank you.

[acmavm]

2. Yeah, look at that small bunch of advisers, what do you see? A few

human sub-specimens who, if they weren't currently in power would be facing an international war crimes tribunal. That's the common denominator here. They are all failures who could never get their Middle Eastern agenda going until they found a guy who agreed to front for them and push it down the throats of the entire planet. Where they ever got the idea they would get international backing for their transparent attack on an unarmed country beats the hell out of me. This election is not just a matter of life and death for the American people, it's a matter that effects all governments everywhere. Because of these guys, the concept of only going to war when necessary has been thrown out the window. And violence is now the answer.

It's not a case of bush* picking a goal 'and never looking back'. It's a case of bush* lining the pockets of his family and supporters and never feeling one pang of guilt over the loss of life and destruction that follows in his wake.

[MO_Dem]

3. In my opinion

the whole world has been hurt by his "intellectual laziness" and also what I would call his "intellectual arrogance".

[bemildred]

4. He's a hip-shooter.

Who wants a fast and sloppy president?

[krkaufman]

5. Apparently, 40+% of the voting electorate

Granted, they're damaged, but their votes count more than ours, unfortunately. We're being ruled by a radical minority.

[bemildred]

6. Get rid of the electoral college?

However, I vote for gullible, not radical, for the 40%.
We are being ruled by an ignorant and dogmatic oligarchy,
which is much smaller than 40%.

[PartyPooper]

7. Junior, "The Sociopath", doesn't even have time to read newspapers.

He only reads the "funnies" and "sports" sections. What does that tell Amerika?

BTW, he gets off the hook by going "back to Crawford". Rather, he should be sent to the Hague for war crimes!

:evilfrown:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Here's a "gut-based solution" for you....

Kerry for President.

[grytpype]

9. swift, gut-based solutions to problems.

I think we've seen how well this novel approach to statecraft works. It gave us Iraq, among other disasters. I think it's time to end this experiment and return to the normal delibative processes that we normally fucking do with something as important as being the fucking President.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Thanks, WP -- this is no puff piece --

n/t

[truthisfreedom]

11. "...send me back to Crawford. Isn't all that bad a deal, by the way."

hey, bush is sending a not-so-coded message here:

"I'm tired! i need to get out of this, please!"

let's help him, huh?

[colonel odis]

12. wouldn't one have to be a leader in order to have a leadership style?

n/t