Lee Iacocca, Bill Richardson, and Our National Primary

I agree with all the harsh criticisms of the Bush administration offered up by Lee Iacocca in his latest book, Where Have All the Leaders Gone?, but I found his "nine C's of leadership" to be, particularly interesting as a useful template for conducting due diligence. I tested Mr. Iacocca's formula by scoring each candidate on a scale from one to five in the categories listed below.

I was surprised with my results. Out of a possible 50 points, Bill Richardson scored 40, 10 points ahead of his closest opponent. I have always thought of the governor as well-qualified but was pretty amazed to see him out pace the others in such a way. I would be interested in seeing how you score this. I found it helpful even after working in the business for many years and I hope that you will as well.

1) Curiosity

Listen to people outside the "Yes, Sir" crowd. Read voraciously.

2) Creative

Go out on a limb. Leadership is all about managing change.

3) Communicate

A simple one. You should be talking to everybody, even your enemies.

4) Character

Having the guts to do the right thing. If you don't make it on character, the rest won't amount to much.

5) Courage

Courage in the 21st century doesn't mean posturing and bravado. Courage is a commitment to sit down at the negotiation table and talk.

6) Conviction

Fire in your belly. You've got to really want to get something done.

7) Charisma

The ability to inspire. People follow a leader because they trust him/her.

8) Competent

Surround yourself with people who know what they are doing. Be a problem solver.

9) Common Sense

Your ability to reason.

Bonus:

The biggest C is "crisis." Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory or send someone else's kids off to war when you have never seen a battlefield yourself.

Let's face it, retail politics in presidential campaigns are coming to an end; we are trending at a rapid pace towards a national primary. In this environment, without public campaign financing, voters are going to be forced to make their decisions without the normal sort of vetting and courtship period that our current process provides. This also probably means no more dark horses and the mad dash for cash will be taken to yet another level. In this new process a simple test for voters to conduct due diligence must be developed and implemented or we will be electing cycle after cycle the candidate that provides the cutest sound bites and raises the most money.

Comments

[dfinLA]

Interesting that you think Richardson best fills the C's of Iacocca's list, since I have heard Iacocca himself unofficially say he favors Richardson for president (at least back in April.) Richardson is particularly adept at the C's that include negotiation, having the Courage to sit down with some of the "baddest" dictators of our age to gain release of US hostages, set up a Darfur ceasefire, etc. He is the only candidate in either party who's been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 4 times. He also is Creatively going out on a limb by calling for the most agressive energy/global warming policy, according to the Sierra Club. He definitely has my vote!

[emsique]

All registered Democrats owe it to themselves and this country to go to the richardson­forpreside­nt.com website and get familiar with the man who could be the next president. Stop relying on the msm to tell you who the next presidential candidates will be. They only pay attention to the big money raisers.
The so called top tier is a creation of the media.
How important is getting out of Iraq to you? Richardson will get ALL of our troops out.

[AZDave]

Bill Richardson is, by far, the best qualified out of all of the Demo candidates. Granted, I've heard that he has been known to stumble on his speech, and his state is an abject failure. He just doesn't have the "star power" and that's what it will take to woo the childish Demos.

[BlackbirdHighway]

I actually have to give Bush some points for charisma, at least the righties seem to want to follow him, and high marks for conviction, he does want to accomplish things, just nothing that I actually want accomplished.

Hillary rates high on most areas, the questionable one is character. Does she stand for the right things, or for whatever gets her elected. It's a balancing act, I think Edwards stands for the right things, but won't get elected, so that's no help. I don't think our system can elect someone who is completely idealistic and wants to do only good. Wish we had a better system.

Richardson looks great on paper, but whenever I saw him in debates I thought he was lacking in the communication, charisma, and because of that, also in competance. I think he would make a great VP or cabinet level person.

[swampygirl67]

I'm not surprised that Bill Richardson rated high on Lee Iacocca's leadership test. He is by far the best qualified candidate in the race, which is why I become infuriated when I hear people saying that he can't win. I believe that Bill Richardson CAN win if enough people recognize his experience, intelligence, and guts. This man is right on Iraq, he's right on foreign policy, he's right on human rights, he's right on education, he's right on choice. He knows how to make things happen. He is the most capable, real, practical and experienced candidate we've seen in years. How sad it is that his honesty, forthrightness and passion are perceived as lack of "charisma." Abraham Lincoln was considered a long-shot for the Presidency because he was viewed as uncommonly ugly, had a high, piercing tenor voice, often forgot things, and was a poor extemporaneous speaker. Luckily, the voters of 1860 were smart enough to understand that America needed a President with leadership, not charisma. When did qualifications for the Presidency cease to matter???

[babylonandon]

Listen to EVERYONE at your peril.

Words of wisdom.

[BeNice]

Iacocca forgot "Corporate Welfare."

He was one of the biggest and earliest when he shook down the federal government to keep Chrysler afloat.

This was after he killed people to save a few bucks by electing to not put a guard around the gas tank of the Pinto.

Listen to this guy at your peril.

[OETKB]

Keep tuned. Governor Richardson is playing the dark horse candidate as he finds his verbal footing on the national stage. If you monitor polls in Iowa and NH he is edging up. Whether he goes further will depend on organization and finding the voice that elected him the NM Governorship by 69% of the vote, the largest margin in that Red States history.

[AsaNisMasa]

as much as i like Richardson, i'd probably have to rate him about a 1 or a 2 on the Charisma. That I think, is why he's not getting the attention he deserves.

[mc]

Our current leader rates a big fat zero.

[JoAnnCr]

I think Bush has charisma but I don't place a lot of value on his charisma because that is all he has and the charisma is created by his speechwriters and handlers.

I live in Iowa so I see my candidate, John Edwards, frequently in question and answer sessions.

I am always amazed at his leadership and how much the rest of the country is missing when they don't get to see him in a small group. He is kind, compassionate, clear, thorough, decisive, and bold. He does not lean on charisma. He just creates solutions, talks about them and shows through his attention and connection how much he cares for each individual.

Richardson is also terrific as is Joe Biden, both of whom I have met. My dream team would be Edwards as president and Richardson as VP. Edwards has the plans, foresight, and momentum for strong change and Richardson would work well as his right hand man to help bring folks together and to be another set of eyes and ears for the team. I'd keep Biden and Kucinich in the inner circle as well.

[AZDave]

John Edwards is a fraud from the word "go". He lies more before lunchtime and Monday than most politicians do all week... and that is saying something.

Richardson blows Edwards away in experience and credibility. Richardson also has crossover appeal, and could likely beat another neocon like Giuliani, who could keep Repubs staying at home come election day.

While the Repub party has moved further to the left, as demonstrated by both Bush's and Senator Craig's liberal behavior, the Demo party's lengthier move to the left will be it's demise. Senator Edwards is the face of the socialist elite hypocrisy, and America will not go for him. They would very well go for Richardson.

And Richardson could at least win his own state.... Edwards? I seriously doubt it.