When leadership fails, the fail-point is somewhere down this chain:
Ignorance - I didn't know
Incompetence - I knew, but didn't understand the implications
Insouciance - I knew, I understood, but did not care
Cowardice - I knew, I understood, I cared, but I was afraid
Malice - I knew, understood, cared, had the courage but kept to my own agenda
And a self-referential arrogance is usually at work all the way down: (I didn't need to know or understand or care or even pay attention). The word "arrogance" is almost always in the first 200 words of the news article about the failure.
Concomitant with this self-referential arrogance is a low sense of self-awareness, exhibited by denial, rationalization, blame - anything other than a real look in the mirror. What is transparent to many is invisible to the arrogant. McCain didn't get it - the majority of people longing for a more positive, hopeful, collegial America; the shrinking number of people with an angry and fearful intent to legislate others' behavior and opportunities; the appetite of the next generation for participation in real change.
"W" has displayed low self-awarness for two terms. McCain displayed it in his otherwise gracious concession speech when he attributed Obama's win to support from people of color. Hispanics, Jews, Asians and more whites than ever supported the Democratic ticket.
To my Republican friends (I really do have Republican friends although I am an independent), I offer this view: an effective democracy - even one effective for you - requires a loyal opposition, not a vindictive and vengeful one. Booing Obama at McCain's speech (vs. cheering for McCain at Obama's acceptance speech is small totem).
Restoring our economy, our reputation in the world, the ability of Congress to work for the common good all require all of us to support the common good. We cannot have so few so well off and so many in desperate straits.
Note: an article about DNA of Failure in companies was originally published in the December 2007 newsletter "Moving Ahead" from the American Management Association. See: http://sdm3.rm04.net/servlet/MailView?ms=MTIzMTc1NAS2&r=NzE5OTc4MjIxS0&j=MzkwNzExMjgS1&mt=1