Where Have all the Influential Leaders Gone?

[Coco]

I just feel that it seems like our nation hasn't had any real INFLUENTIAL leaders for a long time.

I remember a black fellow who I worked with telling me how listening to Martin Luther King speak sent shivers up his spine. I didn't know what he was talking about until on Martin Luther King's birthday WBAI played hours of his speeches. His voice, what he said, and presence, just blew me away.

Unfortunately I can't think of any real leaders like him today.

______________________

We can't change our past, but we can change the way we look at it - into something more positive

[Gvac]

I think Rudy Giuliani was a tremendous leader; a man of convictions and purpose who didn't concern himself with popularity polls but rather doing his job to the best of his ability and carrying out his vision.

He's got a book coming out soon, and I believe the title is "Leadership."

As far as a U.S. President with leadership qualities, we haven't had one since Ronald Reagan.

<img src=http://home.ix.netcom.com/~camman/_uimages/GvacNew.gif>

Thanks, JerseyRich!

[TheMojoPin]

I don't think we've an actual leader as a president since Truman. Kennedy showed flashes of it during The Cuban Missile Crisis, but that was about it.

Nader can't get me riled up at times, but this late in his career he's kinda running on empty and in circles.

<img src=http://www.ltrooster.homestead.com/files/themojopin.jpg>
"You can tell some lies about the good times you've had/But I've kissed your mother twice and now I'm working on your dad..."
-TMP

[jamesdiggy]

I think the problem is that once "leaders" get elected the first thing they think about is getting re-elected. Then it's about polls, surveys, consultants, looking good for the tv cameras. It seems to be an Image over Ideas mentality.

Abracadabra, Peanut Butter Sandwiches!

[The Blowhard]

I think that the "best and the brightest" fear public scrutiny, having their entire lives put under a microscope.
They would rather work in the corporate world, It pays better and there are less hassles.


<center><img src=http://home.ix.netcom.com/~camman/_uimages/Heck.gif></center>
<center> [/b]</center>

[TheMojoPin]

I think it's a combination of what james and Heck brought up. People don't want their skeletons dragged out of the closet, because we ALL have them, but the press makes any indiscretion sound like genocide. And really, how many of those presidents elected BEFORE the wide usage of television would hae been elected today? I doubt FDR would have gotten it...

<img src=http://www.ltrooster.homestead.com/files/themojopin.jpg>
"You can tell some lies about the good times you've had/But I've kissed your mother twice and now I'm working on your dad..."
-TMP

[BrianTheBailBondsman]

All I know is 'm Glad I was around to see some of them get wacked...

And Rudy? Come on now.. No one like him untill he fell into the position of having to deal with the 9-11 Horor (God bless the Victims and Heros) Before that he was f'in up the city and taking down the 5 families. Gotti got rail roaded, with the Bruce Cutler decision.

A Real Friend Wouldn't Bail You Out of Jail... His Ass Would Be in There WITH you!

[Trainspotting]

I think quality leaders are now on the outside of politics. If they are involved in politics they are more involved as critics or working for a specific cause. It seems like people who have no sense of shame or substance get ahead in politics, like Bill Clinton. It also seems like cynicism and a "I'll get mine no matter who I step on" bitter attitude has replaced the optimism of other times.


See ya!
Trainspotting

[Hawiian shirt craig]

People with charisma and
the intelligence that is
required to be the next FDR,
martin luther king, or yes
(dont yell at me, he was a
great leader, just a maniac
of a dirt bag) Hitler, go for
the brass ring.

there is very little sense of
civic responcibility in
america, we all saw the
thread about jury duty, for
example. people tell me all
the time that i should go
into polotics. i speak well
in public and i have a very
"honest face".

who the heckle and jeckle
would go into it now
though? the pay stinks, you
have to lie like the wind etc
etc. polotics are now left to
the power hungry sickos.

also we aren't faced with
anything to produce a
leader of that caliber. no
civil rights movement, no
USSR, no WW2... nothing.
the terrorism issue is very
ambiguous. too many
divisions to unite the
people. arg.


-Hawiian Shirt Craig
THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!!

<img src="http://home.ix.netcom.com/~camman/_uimages/HSC.gif">

San Diego Chargers 4-0

[Megadeth]

Rudy wasn't entirely unpopular
What he did with NYC was amazing
When he first came in there was 2,300 murders a year
When he left it was in the 600s
When he came in 670,000 people were on welfare, when he left it was less than half that

[Contra]

well criag if you ever do run, just make sure you learn how to spell "politics"

<img src=http://members.aol.com/vikorynotvengnce/images/contra.gif>
Batosai The Manslayer

[TheMojoPin]

I still wanna know what Rudy did to all the homeless people. I think he fed half of them to the other homeless people, then fed THEM to the pigeons, who he had the hookers shoot, who he had MTV come in and whack 'em all, Loder-style.

<img src=http://www.ltrooster.homestead.com/files/themojopin.jpg>
"You can tell some lies about the good times you've had/But I've kissed your mother twice and now I'm working on your dad..."
-TMP

[Megadeth]

More like he taught them how to provide for themselves

[blakjeezis]

It's obvious the majority of the population are completely disillusioned with the whole state of politics at the moment. It's nothing but power-hungry stuffed shirts trying to out-sleaze one another to victory. That's why voter turnout is abysmally low. If someone came along, someone who told the truth, and genuinely gave a shit about the people, I think they would find a huge support base and turn the system on its ear.

<IMG SRC =http://ltrooster.homestead.com/files/sABRETOOTHsIG.jpg>
Thanks to LtRooster
"What was the middle one?" - Otto, A Fish Called Wanda
<marquee>White people are so scared of blakjeezis</marquee>

[BrianTheBailBondsman]

I still wanna know what Rudy did to all the homeless people. I think he fed half of them to the other homeless people, then fed THEM to the pigeons, who he had the hookers shoot, who he had MTV come in and whack 'em all, Loder-style.

LIKE HE SAID

A Real Friend Wouldn't Bail You Out of Jail... His Ass Would Be in There WITH you!

[Hawiian shirt craig]

well criag if you ever
do run, just make sure you
learn how to spell "politics"


i'll have people for that! u
want a job?


-Hawiian Shirt Craig
THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!!

<img src="http://home.ix.netcom.com/~camman/_uimages/HSC.gif">

San Diego Chargers 4-0