TPM Cafe Day 4: It all comes back to leadership
Submitted by larry on September 1, 2005 - 11:58am.
News and Links
Today, General Clark is still in Iowa and he has posted again on TPM Cafe. Read General Clark's post on It all comes back to leadership. He focuses on the issues of leadership and obvious lack of leadership we see in the wake of the terrible tragedy from Katrina. Excerpt below:
Good morning. Yesterday was a long and rewarding day here in Iowa, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and speaking with so many good people here. But like all other Americans, my thoughts frequently returned to the people suffering through the disaster that Hurricane Katrina has wrought along the Gulf Coast. And those thoughts kept bringing me back to a theme that we started talking about on Monday: leadership.
Our country is hurting right now. Our situation in Iraq is floundering; gasoline may reach more than $4 per gallon by Tuesday; and the entire Gulf Coast of the United States is wounded and limping. The common need our people have -- and count on -- to see us through these challenges is leadership.
Read the rest here. We've also posted it on the home page of SecuringAmerica.com.
He responded to me. It was an awesome response nevertheless. And as usual, I'm going to say that it deserves to be posted on DU/Dailykos!
"I am the blogger formerly known as clarkuistador"
please recommend it
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/1/132135/9882
"George Bush has had his day and he's bollixed it up."
Re: It all comes back to leadership (3.00 / 0) (#40)
by Robert Brown on Sep 01, 2005 -- 02:19:07 PM EST
"I see a lot of people who want to do good and are trying to do good but it's in a hundred different directions and lost in the noise."
Be very careful when you choose one person to snuff out ninety nine of those directions and force you to support one of them.
[new] Re: It all comes back to leadership (4.00 / 3) (#20)
by wclark on Sep 01, 2005 -- 01:39:44 PM EST
Ultimately, this should be a self-correcting problem. When the election cycle comes up in 2006 and 2008, the record has to be made clear.
Communication with the public, especially through newspapers and major media outlets, is critical. We have to clearly explain the needs for leadership and the absence of leadership we've witnessed in all of these recent cases.
In the near-term, what is required is to work around the absence of presidential leadership, to work with state and
local officials and with charitable organizations on the frontlines of this terrible tragedy.Wes
WesPAC -- Securing America's Future
[ Parent | Reply to This | Help Other Readers by Rating Comments ]
"George Bush has had his day and he's bollixed it up."
Re: It all comes back to leadership (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by california4clark on Sep 01, 2005 -- 12:57:05 PM EST
General Clark, I am convinced that we need to pursue alternative energies more aggressively than we have in the past. The consequences of high oil prices are staggering not only for consumers and the overall market, but higher prices also enrich some of these Middle Eastern regimes and provide them with more cash to invest in WMD programs and to entrench their own power at home. So it is clear to me that oil as the primary source of energy needs to go SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
What is your long-term vision regarding energy in this country and how do you think the US can achieve energy independence in the future?
[new] Re: It all comes back to leadership (3.00 / 0) (#24)
by wclark on Sep 01, 2005 -- 01:43:54 PM EST
I just posted my thoughts about the vision we need for America's energy policy here, in response to a question from yesterday. I hope that answers your question.
Wes
WesPAC -- Securing America's Future
"George Bush has had his day and he's bollixed it up."
"I think energy policy has to start with a vision. In the 1950s and early 60s, the United States was a net energy exporting nation. People bought oil from us.
Our goal should be to return to a position where we're selling as much energy abroad as we're buying. This is possible if we use America's natural resources and technology.
Start with renewable energy: wind and solar. The technology is vastly superior to what was available 30 years ago, but it needs continuing government support to move through a myriad of obstacles, including local utility company regulations, investor concerns, and intellectual property protection. But a substantial part of America's energy demand could be met by solar and wind.
Then consider coal. We have some of the largest coal reserves of any nation in the world, and like petroleum, coal is a complex hydrocarbon. It can be gasified and liquefied. It can be used to produce methane, diesel, or aviation gasoline. And its polluting effect can be regulated and minimized. All of this is economically feasible given the current prices of natural gas and petroleum. But again, government leadership is required to "kickstart" the process.
Nuclear energy has always been a quandary. There will always be residual safety concerns, but the more daunting obstacle is the disposition of spent nuclear fuel. Urgent research in materials science is required to produce storage containers that can resist the long-term caustic effects of storing nuclear fuel. And it would be even better if procedures could be developed to nullify the radioactivity of the isotopes.
In the near-term, high energy prices will incentivize more exploration for oil and natural gas. That's fine, but insufficient to meet our real national security needs for energy. This is a perfect example of why a market-oriented solution is not always optimal, and when government leadership and vision are required.
Wes"
The head of emergency services in New Orleans just referred to FEMA as "a national disgrace." Can't argue with that. Leadership, what a concept. We won't see any from this bunch.
Ed Schultz is suggesting that people volunteer to open their homes to people so they can get out of the Gulf region, which would help everyone. MoveOn.org is also trying to coordinate housing with the various agencies.
No apology, no expression or remorse, limp and awkward speeches both times. The leadership vacuum is hurting us dearly.
Still can't log into TPMCafe and they don't anwer my email about what is wrong. I want to blog, too (boo, hoo).
I finally got a Yahoo e-mail address, and managed to log in successfully. Unfortunately, I haven't thought of a good question to ask the last 2 days. LOL
I only regret TPMCafe could never get me logged in. Three changes of password did not do the trick and a letter to them was not answered. Sigh! I like the site and have no bones to pick, just wished I had been able to post to the General's spot on articles. I guess I will have to register fresh. Should have done that in the first place. Grumble, grumble. And why does it take five days to airlift food and supplies? I am stoked about that. Please, President Clark. Fix this broken machine!
Looks like a new memo has hit the newsrooms:
We are no longer buying Bush's bullshit on the failed relief effort.
http://www.slate.com/id/2125581/?nav=tap3
This is the best thing I've read in years.
Also not to be missed:
a cross post by Wes here regarding moving America towards greater energy indpendence.
http://www.tpmcafe.com/comments/2005/8/31/122436/786/68#68