Just two weeks ago Obama seemed infallible succesful: the new healt care reform would be the final piece of the first year of his presidency. One week later his presidency lies in ruins. At least if we - in both cases - believe the media. Is it really that simple?
Looking back at the last year one thing stands out for me: Obama turned out to be a president that creates space and gives direction. He didn't show up as the knots chopping cowbiy-CEO of the USA, but listens to arguments and makes sound asessments. Striking is also the way
he involves his people. And let the executioners of his decisions play their own role. Be it Hillary Clinton, his former rival, of general McCrystal in Afghanistan, or the heads of the security services. What is clear is that Obama puts government departments to work and does not pretend that everything is being run from the corridors of the White House. And while doing, he creates breakthroughs in policy: the war in Afghanisatan is changing character, health care will be reformed, the climate summit ended with a promising way forward, the financial sector is being told that it has to play again a serving role in the economy. Together that's an incredible package of directions upon which other parties and citizens can build. It stands for one of Obama's core leadership ideas: stakeholders will have to take their responsibility. He takes his own ("the buck stops with me") but after that puts that responsibility clearly in other people's hands. We are only waiting for a campaign with the title of Kennedy's famous words: “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
Strange then that one defeat of a senatorial candidate is Massachusetts can lead to a complete failure of this presidency. Okay, Obama and his team have a lot to learn on political communications strategy and tactics during governing, which is different from electoral campaigning. And he made mistakes. But to announce the complete failure of his presidency, goes way to far. His results and breakthroughs and leadership style show the opposite, and are very succesful. He showed that again in his State of the Union speech. Not slowing down his course of action, but refocusing on the ec=onomy and employment. For me that confirmed his leadership power. The core of which is: inspiring and connecting to action and cooperation.
