David Gergen: The National Deficit—of Leadership

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tunesien hotel of 11:52AM May 01, 2010

its no wonder.... political correctness and pleasantries (tell'em what they want to hear)have taken over for frankness, fresh new ideas, and strong values. its time to change the course and stand up for what our country was founded on. honesty, inginuity, hard work, and integriy- just to name a few....

mpizage of WA 11:39PM January 12, 2010

For sure Obama is taking the lead in the distruction of this country as we know it and doing his best in following in the steps of Adolf Hitler. He is hell bent to take away the freedoms we have under the Constitution in particular freedom of speech and the right of the people to keep and bare arms.I'ts all about government control.He wants the American people completly defenseless.He know doubt will do it in small steps but he is determined to do it!

Dominic of OH 2:10PM December 14, 2009

Nonsense. Obama's doing fine.

Muser of NM 6:30PM December 11, 2009

Peter Abbott's comments say it all!
The elections this month, only 1 year into the Obamaland myth, also tells a story of disallusionment!
The change hasn't happened, nor is there any sign of it on the horizon.

EILEEN DELARGY of NY 10:15AM November 21, 2009

The baiting and biting of Republicans and Democrats leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. We are a better people than that. America is by far the greatest country on earth. (If you are not convinced, try living in a different one.) The problem is that we have lost our way. What we need is not a transformation into a socialist collective. We are a nation of immigrants from around the world that fled from that kind of opression. What we need, rather, is a Reformation to a land that has respect for all, despite our differences, a willingness to live and let live. We need to leave the 10 commandments in place or the cross on government property where they have been for years. We need to make room for Buddhist shrines, Moslem temples as well. We need to invest in our small businesses, nurture our scientists and engineers, inventors. We need to get propagand out of our schools and get back to sound teaching..helping students to learn how to think for themselves.
We DO NOT need an Obamaesque Oligarchy based on wealth redistribution--giving to those who do not work by those who do. We DO NOT need a health care bill that taxes doctors, health equipment manufacturers and others but doesn't touch tort reform. We DO NOT need Cap and Trade (or TAX) which will skyrocket our electric bills. We DO NOT need bankers robbing us blind with usurious loans. We DO NOT need CEOs making incredible salaries from companies that are going under.
We need decency, respect, honor, honesty, integrity, wisdom in our leaders.

Peter Abbot of the USVI 9:04AM November 01, 2009

The missing factor in the lack of leadership qualifications is the absense of a morality based on religious teaching and principals. Apart from a motivating and enlightening religious faith there is no hope. If we would bar the Ten Commandments and the Bible from public display and discussion we can expect disaster. Our culture is overcome by greed and a lust for power that is destroying us. May we get back to the foundational belief that motivated the founders of our nation.

Paul L. Neff of PA 1:05AM November 01, 2009

If leaders are to found we must have the politicos open their eyes and see them. They seem to believe the only leaders inhabit the white house and the Capital building. Otherwise they would answer their emails and other correspondence from taxpayers and the outcries of Tea party participants.
Then there are the people that are trying to make common sense recommendations about how to proceed in this economy. Helping people pay off mortgages without losses to the banks. subsidizing small business so people can get back to work. And many other common sense solutions that are ignored. Obviously the only leaders must be in the executive and Legislative branches....otherwise actions would have been taken that make sense
One such opportunity as outlined at www.savingpontiac.org would save 40,000 jobs overnight with assets that the taxpayer owns today. Why not let them lead this effort to revive a viable car Company when out from under the weight of GM?
Please visit Savingpontiac.org and sign our petition. Let's give true leadership a chance!!

Ben of GA 11:10AM October 27, 2009

is an idiot....not decisive..nor a LEADER...lol
ROOSTER- WHO ATTACKS the CIA in a time like this AND after something abot interrogations was disclosed to her years ago for purely political reasons? Frankly she looked like a fool!

irene of IL 6:25AM October 26, 2009

Come now, Mr. Gergen. This wasn't started by ordinary Americans worried about the debt and deficit, who became active after "the economic bubble burst last year." They became "angry" when they were ignored by their elected representatives who continued to pass budget-busting measures that polls clearly showed were opposed by majorities of the population.
Most of us had no idea that "tea bagging" was a vile sexual reference until the MSNBC crowd began to snicker about it and use it as an insult, before it spread to the other media outlets and the lefties who continue to use it to this day. Nice job, huh?
Large numbers of the Town Hall attendees were seniors rightly worried about the $500 million in Medicare cuts under Obamacare. Do you remember The Third Rail of Politics as Social Security used to be called when the Democrats used it as a scare tactic? You reap what you sow. Good going, Dems. They're old, not stupid.
"Hatred hung in the air, and some worried about violence?" Do you mean like the anti-Bush demonstrations that have been going on for years, even disrupting the 2005 Inauguration, and rioting outside the GOP Conventions? Or the IMF, G-8, World Bank, or other mobs that break windows and vandalize Georgetown? Have you heard some of the things that members of Congress have said on the floor about Bush and our military? That kook Grayson? What Clyburn said about John McCain and the KKK?
Did you read Salon's serious review of the play "I'm Going to Kill the President," which they called "one of the most amusing plays currently running in New York?"
Or did you catch the Late Show with Craig Kilbourn the night he had the picture of George Bush with the caption "Snipers Wanted?"
Obama quickly apologizes for joking about the special Olympics, but the Left has laughed for years at jokes about Bush being a "retard." Go figure.
There were 8 long years of assassination fantasies, Hitler references, crude bumper stickers, name-calling, obnoxious "jokes," and now you're suddenly upset? Because your little liberal friends are giving you a hard time? Remind them that they've been silent all these years.
Their standard answer is that "Bush deserves it," but "Obama doesn't," and these people are "racists."
No, I don't think that Barack Obama is "cool" when he tells me and my friends to "shut up and sit down." He's rude and offensive.
Has been for years, and has done it for political advantage, not out of good will or any desire to make this a better country.
That's why we don't have leaders. People like Obama are not worth a dime, much less the trillions in debt that he expects me to pay with no seat at the table.

ann of DC 12:48AM October 26, 2009