Leadership Right Under Our Noses, Just When We Need It

Often Lost in Media Coverage in Normal Times, Governors Actually Run Things

Consider Governors

Several recent presidents have been governors: Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush II. Even so, governors often get short shrift in media and in public attention. We tend to gravitate toward Washington personalities. This is an understandable, if oftentimes shortsighted, approach to picking our national leaders.

Washington personalities have the natural advantage of being in a global media capital. At some level, Washington based individuals also often deal in foreign policy and foreign crises. These yield valuable experience for a potential president.

The Terrible Price of Weak Leadership

Two Examples Prove Their Weakness Almost Daily. Now a Third?

Why Weak Leaders Carry Such a Cost

Every case is unique of course, but finding someone in a leadership position for which they are clearly incapable of fulfilling is a painful thing to observe. In almost every such case, there are clear costs to be extracted:

  • Everything in the organization becomes transactional. There is very little in the way of mutual respect or loyalty to the leader. The goals and priorities of that leader are up for grabs and up for sale – or are simply ignored.

Ten Short Notes

A Lot Is Going On. Let’s Keep Track, Even Of The Ones Easy To Miss

Minnesota Leads the Way – But Do Not Be Fooled

The people of Minneapolis and many others who came to support them have done it right; we should all be inspired. But understand this is far, far from over. The Administration took a bit of a bloody nose and is making noises about easing back a bit, but the evidence is pretty thin. There are still thousands of federal forces in Minneapolis (and in lots of other places). Some confrontational methods seem less used,

Murder in Minneapolis

Murder, And So Much More

We all would rather talk about anything other than what is going on in Minnesota and elsewhere, but we really do not have that option, do we? This cannot stand and only the citizenry – you and I – can stop it.

As Bad As It Could Be

Renee Nichole Good was shot 3 times and denied medical assistance as she died in the front seat of her car.

Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at the local VA hospital was shot as many as 10 times. When medical personnel arrived,

History Calls

Will we Answer That Call?

Today’s Blog – A Change in Plans

The plan for today’s blog was to start a conversation on the economy, economics, and the interrelation with politics. That is always an important set of factors, and more so today than in many other times in our history.

But what surely looks like the murder of a woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis and the shooting of two people by ICE in Portland demand our attention. Lots has been and will be written about all of this, but some things demand attention by us all,

December 2, 2025

A Cold, Hard Month is Coming In Many Ways

In terms of the actual weather, it has been all over the scale of severity around the country. My neck of the woods has had a pretty mild, if brisk, winter approach, while much of the country has endured really cold, tough weather. But the weather provides a good metaphor for the “climate” we humans construct- lots of turbulence, many storms, some rays of hope. Let’s take a look at some of the current sightings on our “weather map.”

How Could the Shooting of Two National Guardsmen Be Made Worse?

Up and Coming Leaders

Trump’s Lame Duck Phase May Be Off To An Early Start. Who Is On The Rise?

Political Timing

A lot of people quite naturally are wondering who is most likely to be the Democratic candidate in 2028 and who will carry the Republican banner. The reality is that this sort of thing generally does not begin sorting itself out until the preceding midterms (2026 for this round) is complete.

But given all the turmoil and issues around Trump, positioning may start a bit early this time around. In fact, candidates for presidential nominations actually do,

Bill Clinton And James Talarico Said It Correctly

America’s Economic Divide Will Decide Our Future – Soon

First, A Note of Recognition

Today is Veterans Day. Take a moment to reflect on those who answered the call to serve and their families. We owe them more than could ever be measured. I look forward to the day when those who serve now have civilian leadership worthy of those responsibilities.

A Few Carefully Chosen Words Communicate Volumes

The most famous phrase to come out of Bill Clinton’s first and successful run for President was “It’s the economy, stupid.”  His colorful campaign manager James Carville is generally accredited with the phrase and the resulting campaign focus.

Hey, New Low Points

Just When You Think It All Could Not Get Worse or More Embarrassing….

Seven months into this term of Trump, we find new low points in more areas than one could have imagined. If nothing else, we are learning what a potent cocktail one has when mixing arrogance, cruelty, and intellectual laziness, wrapped in a mindset where character simply does not count – heck, character is seen as a flaw by this bunch..

Just look at the last few days….

North Korea Has Nothing On US

The North Korea syndrome has arrived.

What Is It Like To Be An American Overseas Now?

I’ll Let You Know Shortly

By the time you read this, we will be several days into a trip into 6 different countries. To say it is an interesting time to be a traveling American is likely an understatement for the ages.

We have friends who have been traveling since the election last November. Most tell us they get sympathetic exchanges more than anything else, but not always. After all, as a nation, we made this choice twice. You can get a pass on the first one – the second time is a responsibility one has to accept as a nation.