Obama's "Leading From Behind"
Over at Commentary, John Podhoretz pulls out one of the interesting quotes from a new New Yorker piece about Obama's foreign policy:
One of his advisers described the President’s actions in Libya as “leading from behind.” That’s not a slogan designed for signs at the 2012 Democratic Convention, but it does accurately describe the balance that Obama now seems to be finding. It’s a different definition of leadership than America is known for, and it comes from two unspoken beliefs: that the relative power of the U.S. is declining, as rivals like China rise, and that the U.S. is reviled in many parts of the world. Pursuing our interests and spreading our ideals thus requires stealth and modesty as well as military strength.
As Podhoretz notes, it's devastating that this characterization came from an Obama adviser and ally. You can imagine the various and sundry ways this inadvertently accurate phrase will be used by Obama opponents in 2012.
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May '10
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
That's newspeak for "following".
May '10
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
I wish. If the GOP had only pointed out who Obama really was we might have been spared his administration (not that McCain would have been ideal but at least not as mendacious).
Will we ever wake up to the fact that the only currency the administration deals in is newspeak?
Jan '11
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
Methinks that advisor meant to say that Obama's leading with his behind.
Edited on Apr 25, 2011 at 8:19amJun '10
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
Many years ago, just before we started a big case, we had a call with some bigwigs from corporate HQ to plan our final strategy. In this case it was a joke, but as the call ended, one of the big guys said, "Hope everything goes well. Just remember, we're behind you, waaaay behind you."
In Obama's case it's real. If something good happens, who do you think will be leading the victory parade?
May '10
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
Oh dear. The Slogan Generator seems to have gone on the fritz some time ago ("winning the future"? people get paid for this?).
Still, re foreign policy, one just has to hope that our allies know Obama's a short-timer, and we will be back soon.
Jan '11
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
Profiles in Courage.
Funny how the adviser admitted that Obama pursues his goals "by stealth." What makes anyone think that Obama treats his domestic policy any differently? We see his inclination for "stealth" when dealing with Americans. It's fast becoming clear that the same situation applies domestically. Obama's political power and popularity is diminishing, and that a substantial portion of the country detests him.
How does he respond to this? Listen to his own advisers: with "stealth."
Feb '11
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
"As Podhoretz notes, it's devastating that this characterization came from an Obama adviser and ally. You can imagine the various and sundry ways this inadvertently accurate phrase will be used by Obama opponents in 2012."
Throws friends under the bus while leading from the back of the bus.
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
I love this. It's the first almost-accurate thing I've heard from this administration. They really think that Obama is "leading from behind!"
It's the same logic as "investing in the future," whereby you bankrupt the future to spend it all now.
Jul '10
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
Leading from behind is perfectly understandable given the stealth and deception necessary to rise in the underhanded Chicago school of politics.
Jun '10
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
In the early days of America's first fight in WWII (North Africa), American troops were led by General Lloyd Fredendall, who commanded from an underground bunker more than 100 miles from the front in Tunisia, where he had no clue what was happening and could not make tactical or strategic decisions. After he presided over the disastrous battle of Kasserine Pass (one of America's worst battlefield defeats), he was replaced by one George Patton who had a very different style--like knowing what was going on and winning battles.
Obama is our very own, modern-day version of Lloyd Fredendall. Unfortunately, we can't relieve him from command until 2012.
Edited on Apr 25, 2011 at 11:53amSep '10
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
I love this. It's devastatingly accurate and it rings bells for science fiction geeks like me.
In Larry Niven's classic science fiction novel Ringworld, there is a race of two-headed aliens called the Puppeteers. For this race, cowardice is the supreme virtue. Their leader is called the Hindmost, or (more accurately) He-Who-Leads-From-Behind.
For me, President Obama will be now and forevermore The Hindmost.
Edited on Apr 25, 2011 at 12:48pmSep '10
Re: Obama's "Leading From Behind"
President Hindmost, eh?
It all sounds bass ackwards to me!
Edited on Apr 26, 2011 at 6:40am