Bush, Kerry leadership instincts differ radically

[Champ]

Voters being asked to choose between ‘The Fox’ or ‘The Hedgehog’

ANALYSIS
By John F. Harris

Updated: 3:09 a.m. ET Oct. 31, 2004

WASHINGTON - Back last summer, John F. Kerry made an observation that struck him and his partisans as so self-evidently true it could hardly be disputed. The Democratic nominee said the U.S. intervention in Iraq so far has done more to recruit terrorists than to defeat them.

President Bush reacted with a disdain and disbelief that no one who heard it could doubt was genuine. "I don't think they need an excuse for their hatred and their evil hearts. You do not create terrorists by fighting back; you defeat the terrorists by fighting back."

There, in that exchange, was the 2004 election in miniature. There are two leaders who agree the world is a dangerous place, but disagree radically about the nature of history's test and the brand of leadership it demands. A mind that sees complexities and unintended consequences? Or one that understands the primitive nature of a new war, and is prepared to match the enemy's determination with his own?

Two different instincts about the nature of leadership — more than any specific point on either candidate's agenda — has been what all the shouting has been about in the loud and angry campaign now coming to a close, as many strategists and students of the presidency see it. There are certainly sharp policy choices, but on the big issues they are differences of detail — who could be "more effective" in managing the Iraq turmoil? Across-the-board tax cuts or targeted ones? — that by themselves can hardly explain the chasm that has divided Americans this year.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6371594/

[lebkuchen]

1. Bush is asleep at the watch, Kerry isn't

radically different

[moondust]

2. Fighting back?

Bush* orders an unprovoked all-out invasion of another country and then claims he's "fighting back". Orwell would love that one.


I would dispute that Bush* has any leadership instincts at all and would offer the Pet Goat incident on 9/11 as glaring proof.

In defense of John Kerry's leadership instincts I would offer his actions under fire in Vietnam. When ambushed he *instinctively* turned his boat into the fire and proceeded to crush the enemy. (In real life, without a teleprompter or a speech that somebody else wrote for him.)

You be the judge.

[Moderator]

3. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=946835