A Strategist for Obama

In my work as a strategist, it’s incumbent upon me to look at a question, problem or situation from a 360 degree perspective. I gather as much data as I can, connect the dots in the smartest and wisest way I’m able, kick around ideas with people smarter than me and then I create scenarios.

After doing this, it’s pretty clear which scenario’s are most likely to occur, and it’s apparent which strategies I collaborate on with leaders (for companies for whom I’ve worked and now for clients) are ones where we should place our bets.

Though this is probably a risk for me in the circles in which I run and for those that follow this blog, my chips have been laid down on a ‘blue scenario’ for months and I’m endorsing and voting for Obama.

As I’ve moved from slightly right of center to slightly left politically — mainly by reading everything I could get my hands on for the last 8 years through my struggles to stay on top of every issue — I’ve rarely come across such a cogent case for ones endorsement as the one released today by a deep, strategic thinker, Tim O’Reilly.

Considerably troubled for over seven years (though long considering myself a Republican and someone who didn’t identify with populism thought or the Democratic party), I long ago decided on change, and that decision has only gained strength in recent months as I’ve witnessed how Obama has gone forth exhibiting leadership, surrounding himself with world class advisors and releasing sound fiscal and public policy positions, being open and transparent (and yes, leveraging social media and engaging the next generation wisely), and just barely dipping-his-toe in the waters of push-back when he’s been character-attacked.

One thing O’Reilly didn’t mention in his post is something that I’ve been puzzled by for eight years, and see as THE problematic continuation of the last eight years if there was a McCain presidency. The lack of vision and leadership.

You and I know that we’re addicted to oil. But where has been the call-to-action of the American populace in a variety of energy conservation or significant energy investment during the Bush years? For example, with LED lighting closer than ever before to being a realistic replacement for incandescent light bulbs — and, as the Department of Energy estimates, LED lighting could reduce U.S. energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent by 2025 (see DOE website on LED lighting or National Institute of Standards and Technologies article here) — why didn’t we see a major effort by the Bush Administration to drive this one, simple strategic initiative requiring investment but little behavior change by the American people?

“Drill-baby-drill?” Look at Senator McCain’s energy proposal (primarily fossil-fuel centric) and the strategic plan (short, midterm and longterm steps with a focus on clean energy and a reduction on fossil fuels) laid out by Senator Obama (PDF).

What I’ve seen again-n-again with Senator Obama is vision (and I believe in its importance), leveraging world-class advisors to craft policy positions, and calmly driving toward his vision. Unfortunately Senator McCain, a man I was behind and supporting fully in 1999 but no longer grasp his vision as it has changed so drastically since then, is not someone I could follow and the Republican party long ago left me….I didn’t leave it….and it’s irrelevant to the future of our country (and I trust they see that and will change the party positions going forward).

A last thought about something that has surprised me. Several staunch Republicans I know well (some quite conservative) are experiencing the greatest decision-making agony I’ve ever seen with them. On the one hand they can’t give up on their party, on the other they’re so stunned and appalled at Sen. McCain’s behavior, lack of leadership or vision and, especially, his choice of someone so light in credentials as Gov. Palin, that they don’t know what to do. That tells me President Obama will be in an excellent position to be a changemaster and one able to drive unprecedented change since everyone will be more open to it than ever before.

See you at the polls.