I’ve had two kinds of folks I’ve worked for over the years: Bosses and leaders. The ones I worked for were bosses, and the ones I’d die for, leaders.
Bosses were in charge. They got to say. Didn’t matter if we had a personality conflict, or if I thought we were heading the wrong direction. I got my orders, offered an opinion if one was asked for (and sometimes when it wasn’t) and – if I couldn’t change his mind, and so long as the orders were legal – the job got done. The only real trick to digging a deeper hole under obligation is to appear enthusiastic while doing so.
But we don’t require people to sing while they work. And just like anywhere else, there will be people whom you don’t personally respect in positions which nevertheless command your duty. There were relatively few jerks all things considered, and the ones there were stood out. I took solace from the knowledge that karma is karma, and that the wheel never stops turning.
But I had a string of great leaders, too. Guys I’d go to the mattresses for. Guys I’d stand in front of when stuff began to fly. Leaders, not bosses. People I’d have died for.
You could always tell the difference between the two, because no one is perfect no matter how hard we try to be. Everyone screws up eventually. The good folks had friends willing to help them out when they had made a mess. Willing to offer them a hand up when they were down, or a hand out when they were in it. Willing to stop them from fouling their anchor if possible, or step up and vouch for them when the vouching time came and everything trembled in the balance.
But the guys who had gotten used to winning through vaulting personal ambition, intimidation, brow-beating, threats or back-stabbing – and everyone knew who they were – didn’t see a lot of outstretched hands when they found themselves on the wrong side of the line and needed support. Instead, they tend to see a lot of pursed lips and crossed arms.
Shame about Joe, but didn’t he have it coming? He did.
I wonder if that’s how it feels right now in the Clinton camp:
For years, Bill and Hillary Clinton treated the Democratic National Committee and party activists as extensions of their White House ambitions, pawns in a game of success and survival. She may pay a high price for their selfishness soon.
Top Democrats, including some inside Hillary Clinton’s campaign, say many party leaders – the so-called superdelegates – won’t hesitate to ditch the former New York senator for Barack Obama if her political problems persist. Their loyalty to the first couple is built on shaky ground.
Obama is on a roll, and her back is up against the wall. It isn’t over yet of course, and if she pulls off the nomination and the election, heads will roll – The Machine is famously unforgiving. But when she reaches out these days it’s looking more and more like pursed lips and crossed arms.
I know the point was Hillary/politics. But embedded in that was an eloquent description of the response of good people to leaders and just plain “good folks.” Beautiful and inspiring.
Gee! What FbL said. I didn’t know that was going where it did. (Hey, who could?)
Alpha Mike, Fligter LEADER…
What I really meant to say was:
Alpha Mike, Flight LEADER…
Astute and accurate, as always.
One must wonder what pressure Ms. Clinton and her merry band of thugs must be applying to the superdelegates to keep them lined up in her column. Their memories are probably being refreshed about past misdeeds, or unseemly events which took place when out and about doing the Clintonian bidding. Perhaps subtle reminders about the exceptionally high number of Clinton acquaintances who have sadly perished under less than clear circumstances.
No, the nomination is not lost, but the BOSSES will do their damnedest to see that they win at any cost. Tell any lie, litigate any detail, pay any bribe, make any promise, whatever it takes to win.
The whole crowd of Clintonistas are a scary bunch to watch from afar. I’d sure hate to have any of them riding herd, up close and personal.
However, if the Hildabeast needs employment soon Blackfive has a suitable career for her: http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/02/its-a-shtty-job.html
Handled PR for Caucus in Northern NV and over 1000 showed up in small town. Hillary was to be there the following day…she sent her husband instead…too far from the main line.
Capt Lex,
I agree! I have served with Leaders, that I FELT terrible disappointment when I let them down, or couldnt answer in the affirmative, even when it was required. All they would have had to do was tell me they were disappointed or even sometime simply look like they were, and I would reattack it and get it done.
The Manager on the other hand, the process guy that spends all day on a new leadership fad, or business course and ORDERS the process done and then micro manages the task until the result is achieved, is the guy I would try to say no to, the guy I would support only when Navy Tradition and Regulations required me.
The Differance? 20 years from now, I will remember the Leaders, the Managers? Who were they…?
Clinton.. she is reaping what she has sewn.
I’m betting that Michigan and Florida have their delegates seated.
A handshake deal with a Clinton is as trustworthy as, well…. a Clinton.
What John said.
I was talking to my Dad yesterday and said, “I hope Obama has enough sense not to pick her as the VP. If he gets in… he’ll have the same fate as Vincent Foster and others. She’ll be the Pres one way or another.”
She’ll win TX, OH and PA. The vote will be close for delegates but she’ll come out on top and forced to pick Obama. She’ll get all the energy and supporters his campaign has generated.