It Takes a Crisis to Unveil True Colors (and Capabilities)

I’m less than impressed with the leadership demonstrated by our nation’s executive branch, from the top of the org chart on down, in response to the Gulf oil spill. An event like this separates the politicians from the leaders. What’s the difference? Caring more about what it looks like you’re doing than what you’re doing.

To expound: The Obama administration is flailing wildly, reverting to what they know best (which is politics, not executive leadership). They’re wasting precious time talking about policy and placing blame while the oil still spews forth into the Gulf. Every ounce of effort, every available resource, must be part of a single concerted government-industry effort to plug the well and clean up at least 80 percent of the mess (at least 10 percent, if not more, of the oil from this spill is going to swirl about for many years among the ocean currents and tides, probably well beyond the Gulf, along the Atlantic Seaboard and, perhaps, even the Atlantic beaches of Europe).

Only when this crisis is fully contained should our national leaders turn their attention toward root cause, corrective action (including policy change), and, where appropriate, blame and liability.