What are the characteristics of a good leader?

[LWolf]

What kind of leader do you want to hold the office of the presidency, or ANY public office for that matter, in the United States?

This is the kind of human I want to be president. This is what I want my country to reflect.

From "The Charge of the Muny Light Brigade" on The Huffington Post; the bolding is mine:

<snip>

TRUTHDIG: When the chips fell, they fell pretty hard. You were forced out of public life for nearly 20 years. In hindsight, do you stand by your decision to do this?

KUCINICH: Every public official or aspiring public official who would read this interview should remember that when you take a public trust, the most important thing is to defend the public interest. There's always some kind of a deal out there where someone is out there to convince you that if you just go along with this particular matter, it'll be good for your career; it'll show people that you know how to come to reason. Deals like Muny Light are out there every day for politicians who want to get in with certain interest groups, who want to advance their career. This isn't condemnation of people who do it, but that's just so much of what politics is about: People decide, "Well, I'm going to do something I really don't like, but I'll stay in office and I'll be able to help people some other time." There are millions of little bargains that take place like that every day. It's just that I saw something else: I saw that this had immediate economic relevance for the people of Cleveland, and also for everyone who was ever in public life who felt like they needed to take a stand and were looking for the courage to do it.

Because any one of us can inform all of us that it's OK, that life is going to go on, that you can stand up for what you believe in, that you don't have to sell out, that you don't have to sell your soul, that you don't have to let someone else determine the circumstances under which you are in public service.

So this was a wonderful opportunity for me, having been the youngest mayor of the city of Cleveland, who had this chance to stand up for the public interest--at a critical moment, when everything was on the line, and all the odds were stacked against me ... I stood up for the people.

And years later they knew I was right. Years later they put me back in the state Senate, and they followed up by putting me in Congress, and I win elections in Cleveland now by huge majorities. And I'm grateful for that. But I knew in 1978 when I refused to sell that electric system, I knew the bank was going to follow up on its threat to put the city of Cleveland in default. I also knew I'd lose the next election--which I did. But there are, believe it or not, some things more important than holding public office. And what's important is that when it comes your turn to make the decision, you stand up, you don't relent, and you--in the words of "Prometheus Unbound" by Shelley--you defy power which seems omnipotent. And that is what it means to be joyous and free. If you are going to want to be a torchbearer for the freedom of the people, you have to be free yourself.

More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joshua-scheer/the-charge-of-the-muny-li_b_36429.html

Taken from the discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x38748#38915

[slipslidingaway]

1. Thank you! K&R n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. When I read your title, I was ready to post this:

1. A person who knows who he represents and who will not turn his back on them and their interests.

2. A person who walks their talk, even when it means political repercussions.

3. In other words, Dennis Kucinich.

Glad to see you are of the same mind.

[LWolf]

3. I've been pondering the relationship

between the people and their government. Who is reflecting whom? Are the government leaders reflecting the mindset of the voters, are the people reflecting the mindset of tptb, or is it an interactive recipe?

Because, truly, the characteristics I'd like to see in our leaders:

1. Empathy
2. Courage
3. Integrity
4. Respect
5. Wisdom
6. Commitment/passion/loyalty
7. Humility
8. Compassion/kindness
9. Generosity


Those are the same characteristics I'd like to see form the foundation of our national, state, community, and family culture.

[pocoloco]

4. Wow!

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. The entire article on Dennis is wonderful. Thanks for posting it!

A quote:

KUCINICH: Right. This was an issue of: Do the people have the right to own their own utility? The question is: Is there such a thing as the public domain? Is it appropriate for governments to operate water systems, sewer systems, parks, libraries, public services? The man who founded Muny Light 100 years ago, Mayor Tom Johnson, said something to this effect: I believe in the public ownership of all municipal service utilities, because if you do not own them, they will in time own you. They will rule your politics, corrupt your institutions, and finally destroy your liberties.


And a telling comment in response:

"He has far too many morals and is way too intelligent to be elected."

They may be right. What does that say about us as a nation (that we already don't know)?

[LWolf]

6. You are welcome.

What does that say about us as a nation?

It says that we need a new direction, NOW, if we want intelligent, moral leaders leading an intelligent, moral, nation.

A good place to start would be for those who can see that need to cast their votes in that direction. If we don't start the change, who will?

[Greyhound]

7. Too late to recommend, but here's a kick

:kick:

[YvonneCa]

8. Mine...

...posted here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3361908&mesg_id=3361908

[LWolf]

9. Al Gore IS leading right now,

and doing a superb job, imo.

I think that the "Positive, Forward looking, Unifying, Inspirational to the next generation" characteristics go well with those on my list. I'm happy to include Gore in my list of leaders I can support.