This interview is mostly about foreign policy and well worth the time just to hear Gates’ views on Afghanistan and Iran – Iraq too. But I would encourage everyone to spend the 50 minutes on this just to see what a leader would sound like.
Gates served eight Presidents and was the only Secretary of Defense ever to serve Presidents of two different Parties. Give it a try, you can move on if it bores you.
Robert Gates, Former Secretary of Defense
Charlie Rose – 54 minutes
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I say again, here is a man with convictions that don’t match any political side all the time, yet he is a man who can actually command respect from both sides. He never speaks from any Party’s talking points. Why in hell can’t our Presidential candidates – at least the final two – speak the simple truth and illuminate rather than obscure issues? Is there anyone left in the country that sees government as service or has the character to determine independently what is right and act on her convictions?
On the simple quality of leadership – specifically the role of our Presidents to lead the Congress and the nation – President Obama is an abject failure and must be replaced. I have no confidence that Romney will be any better because our current political establishment – especially the Forth Estate – works to prevent any opportunity for voters to learn anything substantial about the character, capabilities or intentions of any candidate.
We voters either cannot read or choose to ignore resumes. If that were not so, President Obama would never have been nominated, let alone elected the first time. So we are left with what we know: President Obama ain’t the guy. Romney gets the job by default but we should be ready to demand leadership from his first day and equally ready to dump him if he fails.
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