tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post8766993145409756087..comments2023-05-28T11:33:45.579-04:00Comments on Who Will Lead?: Reagan, Thatcher, Gorbachev, Machiavelli... Where are they now?Who Will Lead?http://www.blogger.com/profile/03743247788371223606noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-57486951460965147752013-08-27T09:05:46.512-04:002013-08-27T09:05:46.512-04:00Zachary J. Sochacki
Principal, Sochacki & Asso...Zachary J. Sochacki<br />Principal, Sochacki & Associates<br /><br />I've always thought that Niccolo got the short end of the stick in our modern revisionist history.<br /><br />My own bent is toward pragmatism. <br /><br />Idealism is necessary to remind us of our humanity. <br /><br />However, Idealists enjoy the expression of their ideals at the pleasure of the Pragmatists who have made it possible for those favorable conditions to exist through sacrifice, hard work and...yes...guile, which allow that expression.<br /><br />It's all in the sausage making, isn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-17427636603033845822013-08-19T18:20:45.263-04:002013-08-19T18:20:45.263-04:00Character is what enables a leader to convert the ...Character is what enables a leader to convert the idealistic goals of policy into action rather than paint political expediency with the vernacular of policy. Machiavelli is often bastardized through today's pundit-driven politics.Ken Fleischernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-73663545746331069162013-08-16T09:34:17.805-04:002013-08-16T09:34:17.805-04:00Michael Carron • I wonder where Marshal Josip Broz...Michael Carron • I wonder where Marshal Josip Broz Tito would fit in this discussion. He was seen a unifying force and maintained the peaceful coexistence of the nations of the Yugoslav federation. He was also a dictator (although considered the "benevolent" sort). Things went to hell after his death. I wonder if it takes 50 or 100 years before historians can really know whether a leader meets the Machiavellian Standard or is that something that has to be judged in real time and what follows is the next leader(s) problem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-226475756785099962013-08-14T15:50:33.767-04:002013-08-14T15:50:33.767-04:00Phillip Parker • No, Gorby is still kicking at age...Phillip Parker • No, Gorby is still kicking at age 82.<br /><br />The other thought I had on this issue is that good character is not enough by itself to make a good President. There are a number of men of fine character who held the office that were not very good Presidents. I put both Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush in that category.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-67221233733053194752013-08-14T15:50:03.154-04:002013-08-14T15:50:03.154-04:00Chuck Rosselle • What links Machiavelli to leaders...Chuck Rosselle • What links Machiavelli to leadership and more high minded concepts is the notion that worthy goals often necessitate less than worthy ends. An effective leader knows how to reach down into the muck without getting dragged into it himself. Lincoln, for example understood this completely. I expect many you mention also knew it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-55840984164064316212013-08-14T15:49:02.526-04:002013-08-14T15:49:02.526-04:00Chuck Rosselle • What links Machiavelli to leaders...Chuck Rosselle • What links Machiavelli to leadership and more high minded concepts is the notion that worthy goals often necessitate less than worthy ends. An effective leader knows how to reach down into the muck without getting dragged into it himself. Lincoln, for example understood this completely. I expect many you mention also knew it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-70882103631637601322013-08-14T09:23:01.171-04:002013-08-14T09:23:01.171-04:00Sorry,friends. I won't take the bait. My whole...Sorry,friends. I won't take the bait. My whole focus for this blog is to rise above the pettiness of day-to-day politic punditry. The focus of this particular post is important to me. I have heard people attribute good leadership to those with whom they agree and vice-versa. A great leader communicates objectives clearly, provides a rationale, works to gain support for the initiative and follows through. One could pick any policy initiative of any president and pick it apart to find something negative and thereby cast dispersions on the character of that president. That's a job for pundits. I hate the process and no longer watch cable news.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450950497954468546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-86094162201609410852013-08-14T09:22:35.727-04:002013-08-14T09:22:35.727-04:00simone velasquez hoover This could be a whole seme...simone velasquez hoover This could be a whole semester of teaching! Like Raul, I would like to see part II just to hear you develop the thoughts further.. Can't tell you the number of times I have shared that thought..where are today's Thatcher..et al?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-84832491467001953582013-08-14T09:22:09.720-04:002013-08-14T09:22:09.720-04:00If you are looking for a critique, you'll find...If you are looking for a critique, you'll find it in some of my other posts. To remain clear about the point of this post, I prefer not to comment on the positions of Bush, Obama et al. The question isn't what they believe; it's how they respond to the unforeseen challenges.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06450950497954468546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-16141397384916366962013-08-14T09:21:41.137-04:002013-08-14T09:21:41.137-04:00Raul Mas Sorry John but I didn't like how this...Raul Mas Sorry John but I didn't like how this one ended. You left me wanting more, especially your thoughts on the character(s) of our current leader(s). I eagerly await Part Two.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-31154622710203274252013-08-14T09:20:15.856-04:002013-08-14T09:20:15.856-04:00Phillip Parker • Interesting post, John. One natur...Phillip Parker • Interesting post, John. One naturally thinks about Bill Clinton. Remarkably gifted politician with tragic character flaws.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1174301114218706899.post-54957783054064350872013-08-14T02:03:15.190-04:002013-08-14T02:03:15.190-04:00To my dismay, Hillary Clinton did not get the last...To my dismay, Hillary Clinton did not get the last presidential election in the USA. She sleeps with the best former President in several decades. Her bedmate every night, actually, and really did, balance the budget that previous presidents couldn’t handle. <br />Sadly, There is an aversion to the thought of a female president in the USA. The American voting public seems to ignore the success of Female leaders and Heads of State in other countries. <br />England, India and Israel are the first three to jump into my mind. <br />Wake up America! We have what is needed to get this country back up to the forefront of World leadership. Let’s put her in office where she can actually LEAD the USA!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com