I am tired of idealism being trumpeted about as any kind of leadership quality. We need more pragmatists in government. Doesn't anyone read Machiavelli?

Commited idealists on both sides and in the middle are scary in person and dangerous in public office. These people ignore information that does not fit their preconceived notions about society.

I want a pragmatic individual with human values but not blindsiders in the Oval office. Consider the issue of democracy in Iraq. A leader with a brain would used a series of open-minded questions in this order: Can we do it? What are the costs (human and monetary)? If we decide to go in, how can we best achieve our goals? Should we do it?

On the other side of the fence for next President the question is leaving Iraq? Can we do it? What are the costs (human and monetary)? If we decide to leave in, how can we best achieve our goals? Should we do it?

Add to any issue in place: Is it working, why or why not?

Apply same questions to universal health care, gay marriage, tax cuts etc. We leaders with more questions not more answers.

"We leaders with more questions not more answers." So true...but then the 'Decider' would have to admit that he doesn't know everything in his 'gut'.

A pragmatist would also hire those most qualified for the position regardless of party, say to head FEMA...rather than a good buddy who had only organized a horse show.

Croneyism is largely responsible for the lack of effective gov't we have today.

stinkymonkey:

I am tired of idealism being trumpeted about as any kind of leadership quality. We need more pragmatists in government.

Here! Here!

Bravo!

Machiavelli, Clausewitz, Sun Tzu... I could think of a whole reading list of philosophers and strategists whose insights might have prevented a great many of our current messes. Unfortunately, not only are our leaders woefully inept when it comes to these matters, but the American people are by and large absolutely ignorant of them. A few see tripe like Crossfire as true political discourse, but most don't even get that far. Few Americans outside of university political science programs could speak intelligently about zero-sum games or define a standard deviation, and yet they feel qualified to vote for politicians, judge policy and interpret rhetoric. Unbelievable.

According to legend, an old woman once asked Washington if the fledgeling America would have a republic or a monarchy. He answered, "A republic, if you can keep it." We're going to have to do a whole lot better if we expect to keep it much longer.