Yesterday’s post reviewed the appointment of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s VP choice and running mate. She is a true leader – and we excerpted from her acceptance speech what she said about leadership and how most politicians nowadays are not willing to take risks.
Today, I was mulling through some old documents, looking for an article, or some thoughts to post. I ran across a letter I wrote to the editor of the Seattle Times. It is from 1998 and is in reference to the state legislature sitting on their hands on Partial Birth Abortion.
A man’s principle goes beyond words, it goes to the core of what he is willing to fight for. It is disquieting to the Republican grassroots to watch their “leaders” melt into a sea of facilitation and administration. We have a majority party that is unwilling to lead. Is it surprising to see an ever-increasing exodus from the Party by principled people? No, it is not. And to the extent the Republican “leadership” is more concerned with self-esteem than leading, the exodus will increase exponentially.
. . .
True leadership is not making people happy. It is not facilitating discussions. It is not positioning for majorities and re-election. True leadership is standing up for what you believe and doing the right thing. For years we Republicans have stood on our soap boxes declaring what we would do, changes we would make and the leadership we would provide if the people would just elect more of us. Well, it is four years now that we have had the majority and we have squandered all our efforts “protecting” it. Without a quick and certain change in direction, I believe that Republicans will soon be out of the party.
When I was leading the Snohomish County GOP in the early nineties, the thing that got me in trouble most was my continual harping that when the party ever broke the Democratic choke-hold and we rose to power, we would have nobody to lead. Even during the years of minority leadership, the party and its leaders lacked the vision and the conviction to lead. The best they could do was fulfill their role as the loyal opposition.
People tend to think of leadership much the way they do school student offices and elections. It was largely a facade with no substance and, as such, degraded to a popularity contest. And candidates could say anything or make promises they could not keep, such as, “I promise new pop machines” or “if you vote for me all your wildest dreams will come true.” [hat's off to Napolean Dynamite]
It is a sorry commentary that many politicians are in the race for their own comfort and sense of fulfillment. But this is real and leading a civil government has life-and-death consequences. The job is not about making people feel good; it is not about ‘hope,’ at least, not a hope that comes from picking the taxpayers’ pockets; it is not about being the ‘people we have been looking for”; it is about vision.
Solomon said, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” [Pro 29:18 KJV] The NIV translates it, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.” These two versions go hand-in-hand. If vision is wisdom, then vision is knowing the law of God (Pro 1:7). If the law of God is not revealed, that is, if the civil leaders do not keep the vision of God’s law before the people, they will cast off restraint, they will be engulfed in sin and the people will perish. Paul said they “suppress the truth by their wickedness.” [Rom 1:18 NIV]. The remedy? Solomon gave the remedy in the same verse: “blessed is he who keeps the law.” God’s law, that is.
We need leaders with vision. Anything beyond that amounts only to false hopes and empty promises.
About the author: cominus
Cominus is the pen-name for Dean Isaacson, who got involved in the GOP in 1983, the year my son was born. Chairman of the Snohomish County Republican Central Committee (Washington) 1990 to 1992. Conducted legal research for the late Supreme Court Justice William C. Goodloe for several years. In 1996, succeeded him to lead Judicial Forum (the year before he passed away). Moved to Idaho in 1999 and still reviews judicial candidates in the State of Washington. My core belief is you will choose to serve God or you will serve the state - tyrants, as William Penn called it.
My Prayer Closet (2011)
What is True Leadership
Today, I was mulling through some old documents, looking for an article, or some thoughts to post. I ran across a letter I wrote to the editor of the Seattle Times. It is from 1998 and is in reference to the state legislature sitting on their hands on Partial Birth Abortion.
When I was leading the Snohomish County GOP in the early nineties, the thing that got me in trouble most was my continual harping that when the party ever broke the Democratic choke-hold and we rose to power, we would have nobody to lead. Even during the years of minority leadership, the party and its leaders lacked the vision and the conviction to lead. The best they could do was fulfill their role as the loyal opposition.
People tend to think of leadership much the way they do school student offices and elections. It was largely a facade with no substance and, as such, degraded to a popularity contest. And candidates could say anything or make promises they could not keep, such as, “I promise new pop machines” or “if you vote for me all your wildest dreams will come true.” [hat's off to Napolean Dynamite]
It is a sorry commentary that many politicians are in the race for their own comfort and sense of fulfillment. But this is real and leading a civil government has life-and-death consequences. The job is not about making people feel good; it is not about ‘hope,’ at least, not a hope that comes from picking the taxpayers’ pockets; it is not about being the ‘people we have been looking for”; it is about vision.
Solomon said, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” [Pro 29:18 KJV] The NIV translates it, “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.” These two versions go hand-in-hand. If vision is wisdom, then vision is knowing the law of God (Pro 1:7). If the law of God is not revealed, that is, if the civil leaders do not keep the vision of God’s law before the people, they will cast off restraint, they will be engulfed in sin and the people will perish. Paul said they “suppress the truth by their wickedness.” [Rom 1:18 NIV]. The remedy? Solomon gave the remedy in the same verse: “blessed is he who keeps the law.” God’s law, that is.
We need leaders with vision. Anything beyond that amounts only to false hopes and empty promises.
About the author: cominus