Comments on: A case for leadership http://theoryschmucks.com/2008/03/22/a-case-for-leadership/ poststructuralists take on everyday life Sun, 13 Jun 2010 03:50:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: With friends like these… « The Theory Schmucks http://theoryschmucks.com/2008/03/22/a-case-for-leadership/#comment-76 With friends like these… « The Theory Schmucks Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:02:59 +0000 http://theoryschmucks.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-76 [...] today, though, is a smaller, more vehement kind of institutionalized bias. As I’ve discussed in a previous article, Barack Obama is a charismatic leader on par with any this generation has seen. His following, [...] [...] today, though, is a smaller, more vehement kind of institutionalized bias. As I’ve discussed in a previous article, Barack Obama is a charismatic leader on par with any this generation has seen. His following, [...]

]]> By: Genghis Philip http://theoryschmucks.com/2008/03/22/a-case-for-leadership/#comment-36 Genghis Philip Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:18:35 +0000 http://theoryschmucks.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-36 That's a good breakdown of the roles, yeah. And I agree that the media has really hyped up the She's A Little Bit Business, He's A Little Bit Rock'n'Roll image--I'm just happy that Americans are willing to be inspired. That’s a good breakdown of the roles, yeah. And I agree that the media has really hyped up the She’s A Little Bit Business, He’s A Little Bit Rock’n'Roll image–I’m just happy that Americans are willing to be inspired.

]]> By: David Hariman http://theoryschmucks.com/2008/03/22/a-case-for-leadership/#comment-35 David Hariman Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:57:15 +0000 http://theoryschmucks.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-35 One of the most enduring dichotomies in both the business and political literature about leadership is the separation between "leader" and "manager" archetypes. The "leader" is the person people want to follow, are inspired to work with them, even if their grasp of the technical details of their position is shaky at best. The "manager", by contrast, is the person who actually knows how to get things done, but fails to inspire any more significant emotion than personal respect. Of course, it is best to have one individual that can do both perfectly, but such individuals are generally believed to be rare: a given manger/politician will default towards one or the other, especially in a crisis. I think it is fairly clear that the democratic candidates map themselves onto this dichotomy quite nicely, especially with the media helping them into it. It makes an excellent, simple comparison that most people can understand. It also gives them simple fodder to attack each other with, as you've already shown. I'd also point out that, in a Presidential election, it is vastly better to be viewed as a leader than a manager. Most famously Reagan and Kennedy, but also Bush jr, ran and beat opponents who had a significantly better grasp of public policy than they did. As you've said, Americans like hearing what they want to hear. One of the most enduring dichotomies in both the business and political literature about leadership is the separation between “leader” and “manager” archetypes. The “leader” is the person people want to follow, are inspired to work with them, even if their grasp of the technical details of their position is shaky at best. The “manager”, by contrast, is the person who actually knows how to get things done, but fails to inspire any more significant emotion than personal respect. Of course, it is best to have one individual that can do both perfectly, but such individuals are generally believed to be rare: a given manger/politician will default towards one or the other, especially in a crisis.

I think it is fairly clear that the democratic candidates map themselves onto this dichotomy quite nicely, especially with the media helping them into it. It makes an excellent, simple comparison that most people can understand. It also gives them simple fodder to attack each other with, as you’ve already shown.

I’d also point out that, in a Presidential election, it is vastly better to be viewed as a leader than a manager. Most famously Reagan and Kennedy, but also Bush jr, ran and beat opponents who had a significantly better grasp of public policy than they did. As you’ve said, Americans like hearing what they want to hear.

]]> By: Genghis Philip http://theoryschmucks.com/2008/03/22/a-case-for-leadership/#comment-34 Genghis Philip Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:17:27 +0000 http://theoryschmucks.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-34 Concurred, Matt. We can only hope that the Dems don't eat their own young like they have a tendency to. Concurred, Matt. We can only hope that the Dems don’t eat their own young like they have a tendency to.

]]> By: Matt Smith http://theoryschmucks.com/2008/03/22/a-case-for-leadership/#comment-31 Matt Smith Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:41:21 +0000 http://theoryschmucks.wordpress.com/?p=31#comment-31 I think you hit the nail on the head. Barack Obama's charm is an incredible political strength considering our current situation. If he does not end up with the democratic nod, then the party is doing itself a real disservice, because Barack will, barring catastrophic campaign fuck-ups like the ones Fred and Rudy pulled, win handily against McCain. McCain is the status quo embodied. More of the same. On the defensive. War against...whatever. You can just see the outdated mindset drip from him whenever he sweats. I think you hit the nail on the head. Barack Obama’s charm is an incredible political strength considering our current situation. If he does not end up with the democratic nod, then the party is doing itself a real disservice, because Barack will, barring catastrophic campaign fuck-ups like the ones Fred and Rudy pulled, win handily against McCain. McCain is the status quo embodied. More of the same. On the defensive. War against…whatever. You can just see the outdated mindset drip from him whenever he sweats.

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