Comments on: My Report to the President http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/ Architect of Professional Communities® | Alan's Blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:34:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Alan Weiss http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3493 Alan Weiss Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:47:35 +0000 http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3493 Whether you voted for the guy or not, we all want him to succeed. But you have to be able to take an objective view. Whether you voted for the guy or not, we all want him to succeed. But you have to be able to take an objective view.

]]> By: Amy http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3486 Amy Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:16:11 +0000 http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3486 Thanks, Alan, for contributing your intellectual firepower to this topic! Well said and I look forward to more of your commentary on political issues and personalities. I know that when my friend Dave Gardner (a.k.a. "Democrat Dave")agrees, you are right on! Thanks, Alan, for contributing your intellectual firepower to this topic! Well said and I look forward to more of your commentary on political issues and personalities.

I know that when my friend Dave Gardner (a.k.a. “Democrat Dave”)agrees, you are right on!

]]> By: Sam http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3459 Sam Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:56:12 +0000 http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3459 Alan, #2 contains all other excellent points you made. There is a point (#8) missing on your list: Do not overpromise and underdeliver. We know that as consultants but politicians (and their advisors) do not. I don't quite understand the parallel Ron made with Russia and "strong leadership." By all standards, Russia is (still) a friendly tyranny (or oligarchy, if that sounds better), very much on the "Road to Serfdom." Putin just did a TV bit on admiring Stalin, couple of weeks after his minion decried "backwardness" of his own country. Alan,

#2 contains all other excellent points you made.

There is a point (#8) missing on your list: Do not overpromise and underdeliver. We know that as consultants but politicians (and their advisors) do not.

I don’t quite understand the parallel Ron made with Russia and “strong leadership.”

By all standards, Russia is (still) a friendly tyranny (or oligarchy, if that sounds better), very much on the “Road to Serfdom.” Putin just did a TV bit on admiring Stalin, couple of weeks after his minion decried “backwardness” of his own country.

]]> By: Ron Ratliff http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3410 Ron Ratliff Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:24:30 +0000 http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3410 Alan, Thank you! I spent almost 13 years in Russia and, without question, the Russia with Vladimir Putin as leader is far more vibrant, productive and confident than the Russia with Boris Yeltsin. While there, I thought that the desire for a strong leader had something to do with being Russian. After a year of "hope & change" I now realize that it is a human need to be able to be inspired by a strong leader. Your reference to the American flag is powerful -- and on point -- to the issue. Alan,

Thank you! I spent almost 13 years in Russia and, without question, the Russia with Vladimir Putin as leader is far more vibrant, productive and confident than the Russia with Boris Yeltsin.

While there, I thought that the desire for a strong leader had something to do with being Russian. After a year of “hope & change” I now realize that it is a human need to be able to be inspired by a strong leader.

Your reference to the American flag is powerful — and on point — to the issue.

]]> By: Mark Frobose http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3402 Mark Frobose Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:17:09 +0000 http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3402 I completely agree with Alan on this subject. In an attempt to be 'liked', we have the President of the United States groveling before Europe. The French didn't like us during De Gaulle. They didn't like us when I studied in France in the 70's. And now, when we finally have a relatively conservative and non-socialist president in France, our President is to his left? Amazing. I have lived and studied in Europe and began my studies there believing some of the things President Obama apparently believes. I can be excused. I was only 19 years old at the time. That all changed the day I went into East Berlin through Checkpoint Charlie. Instant reality check. I realized at that moment that what my father had told me was true. He jumped in Normandy in 1944 with the 82nd Airborne and was wounded in action several days later. A product of the Great Depression, his grandmother actually had to sell bread in the streets just to make ends meet. From his poverty came my opportunity, thanks in large part to this amazing country and his incredible generation. I love Europe, but I almost kissed the ground when I returned from 2 years of study in France. I discovered what all immigrants already know. If you can't make it here, you can't make it anywhere. Have you seen anyone floating on driftwood to escape America reach Cuba lately? The Europeans have plenty to apologize for and we're not requiring them to do so. America is an imperfect country, but it is by far the greatest experiment in human freedom and opportunity in the history of mankind. I agree with Alan. What we need is a strong leader who recognizes the threats we are facing and who 'leads' and 'inspires' us to take action. A leader does not ask everyone else what he should do. A leader consults with experts to follow strong convictions which are based on the belief that America is a fundamentally good and just nation, in the process of improving. Apologizing to those less perfect than ourselves is a humiliating exercise in self-defeat which lessens our effectiveness and ability to inspire others with our strengths. This gives ammunition to the wicked and steals from the just who contribute daily to our security, opportunity and freedom. I completely agree with Alan on this subject. In an attempt to be ‘liked’, we have the President of the United States groveling before Europe.
The French didn’t like us during De Gaulle.
They didn’t like us when I studied in France in the 70′s.
And now, when we finally have a relatively conservative and non-socialist president in France, our President is to his left? Amazing.
I have lived and studied in Europe and began my studies there believing some of the things President Obama apparently believes.
I can be excused. I was only 19 years old at the time.
That all changed the day I went into East Berlin through Checkpoint Charlie.
Instant reality check.
I realized at that moment that what my father had told me was true.
He jumped in Normandy in 1944 with the 82nd Airborne and was wounded in action several days later.
A product of the Great Depression, his grandmother actually had to sell bread in the streets just to make ends meet.
From his poverty came my opportunity, thanks in large part to this amazing
country and his incredible generation.
I love Europe, but I almost kissed the ground when I returned from 2 years of study in France. I discovered what all immigrants already know.
If you can’t make it here, you can’t make it anywhere.
Have you seen anyone floating on driftwood to escape America reach Cuba lately?
The Europeans have plenty to apologize for and we’re not requiring them to do so.
America is an imperfect country, but it is by far the greatest experiment in human freedom and opportunity in the history of mankind.
I agree with Alan. What we need is a strong leader who recognizes the threats we are facing and who ‘leads’ and ‘inspires’ us to take action.
A leader does not ask everyone else what he should do.
A leader consults with experts to follow strong convictions which are based on the belief that America is a fundamentally good and just nation, in the process of improving.
Apologizing to those less perfect than ourselves is a humiliating exercise in self-defeat which lessens our effectiveness and ability to inspire others with our strengths.
This gives ammunition to the wicked and steals from the just who contribute daily to our security, opportunity and freedom.

]]> By: Liz de Clifford http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3382 Liz de Clifford Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:06:18 +0000 http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3382 Alan, who could have said this any better - thank you. Liz Alan, who could have said this any better – thank you. Liz

]]> By: Alan Weiss http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3369 Alan Weiss Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:55:07 +0000 http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3369 I figure I can get by the Secret Service pretty easily these days. I'm using one of my son's girl friends as my escort.... I figure I can get by the Secret Service pretty easily these days. I’m using one of my son’s girl friends as my escort….

]]> By: Dave Gardner http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3363 Dave Gardner Sat, 28 Nov 2009 23:41:09 +0000 http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/my-report-to-the-president/#comment-3363 I hope he reads this. Are you posting it on the White House.gov contact form? They need to see this. I hope he reads this. Are you posting it on the White House.gov contact form? They need to see this.

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