leadership

From the Washington Post:

People close to Bush said his aides initially emphasized a hands-off approach because they wanted to insulate him from bad news and because they did not want him to appear obsessed with or emotional about the war. These aides quickly realized they had overdone it, potentially making Bush look out of touch. But his advisers have concluded that scripted remarks, rather than off-the-cuff comments, may be required in assuring that the message of the day gets delivered forcefully.

If the war is going badly, should the president be insulated from the news?

If the president sends troops to war, should he not be emotional about it?

Should the president let his aides and advisors decide whether he will be involved with the war he started?

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Things Anne Lamott will do today.

I am going to pray for George Bush's heart to change, so that he begins to want to be a part of the human family. He really doesn't want to gather at the table with God's other children, because he might have to sit with someone he hates. Iraqi soldiers, or someone like me. I really, really know this feeling. It is something he and I have in common. But I don't think Bush believes that all people deserve to be fed, and I do. Pretty much. He believes in serving the poor, if they are the deserving poor. But I am going to pray for him to be OK today, to feel loved, and to be fed, because I think that if you want to change the way you feel about someone, you have to change the way you treat them. I'm going to try to treat him better. Maybe I will send him a little something; socks perhaps, or felt pens. Or balloons.

(Via, once again, Body and Soul.)

(no subject)

So, due to circumstances beyond my control, the gig at Cafe La Dolce VIta tonight didn't happen. Fortunately, it's a lousy place to play anyway. The only thing that bothers me is that I'd made an uncharacteristic effort to tell people about it, so I'll feel bad if anyone showed up to see it. Which is kind of the opposite of the way I'd usually feel.

On the bright side, ( a story about enchiladas )

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