Updated: Daschle Withdraws; Didn't these guys have to fill out an application?

Here is where Obama is making points with me. Ignoring policy debates and politics in general the one thing that killed me about Bush's administration, and most politicians in general, is that when they did screw up (and they all do) they never owned up to it. I don't know why it is so hard for politicians to say "yeah we f'ed that up". A lot of the stuff anchoring Bush was smaller stuff that they could have diffused with honesty and openess. Instead it was always cloak and dagger/stay on message. What is it with these people? It's like they have no clue about actual human social patterns. Seriously, they all need to take a cue from the Simpson and appoint a Secretary of keepin' it real. Looks like Obama is trying.

I know I'm in the minority but I really could care less if my leader says "I screwed up". We already know. You're forgiven. Now fix it. Hopefully, this will be the last time we hear "Sorry" even if he does truly seem to be genuine. He's doing a good job, he'll continue to need the confidence of the American people. I don't think calling yourself out is an effective tool for a leader.

I know I'm in the minority but I really could care less if my leader says "I screwed up". We already know. You're forgiven. Now fix it. Hopefully, this will be the last time we hear "Sorry" even if he does truly seem to be genuine. He's doing a good job, he'll continue to need the confidence of the American people. I don't think calling yourself out is an effective tool for a leader.

Actually I agree. Personally I don't much care whether they do or not as it applies to my own feelings. I just know basic human social patterns indicate that from a logical and practical standpoint it is rarely if ever better to obscure the truth in these types of situations. They get points back when they say the screwed up from lots of people. Why they don't see this is baffling. It actually makes you wonder how many things go on that we never know about. I guess it'd have to be a pretty good amount of situations they successfully keep obscured to overcome the obvious and tremendous negativity they get whenever they are discovered.

If you don't/can't say "I screwed up" how can you have a conversation about how to rectify the problem?

I know I'm in the minority but I really could care less if my leader says "I screwed up". We already know. You're forgiven. Now fix it. Hopefully, this will be the last time we hear "Sorry" even if he does truly seem to be genuine. He's doing a good job, he'll continue to need the confidence of the American people. I don't think calling yourself out is an effective tool for a leader.

I disagree, I believe that it is imperative that a leader have integrity and take responsibility for his/her actions. Somebody is going to find out, you might as well own up to it. It is ok to call yourself out, but if you are calling yourself out over the same mistake more than once, then you are showing that you have a weakness about you. In that case you may not want to own up to it, but by then you have already proven that you are seriously flawed as a leader and taking ownership no longer matters.

If you don't/can't say "I screwed up" how can you have a conversation about how to rectify the problem?
Well there's a difference between saying it and meaning it. In either case, whether you openly admit it or not, meaning and knowing it is more important than saying it to me. I would guess there are plenty of times that politicians know they screwed up and don't say it. Telling everyone just helps make them feel better.

Well there's a difference between saying it and meaning it. In either case, whether you openly admit it or not, meaning and knowing it is more important than saying it to me. I would guess there are plenty of times that politicians know they screwed up and don't say it. Telling everyone just helps make them feel better.

True true, and of course you can't say I screwed up all the time or you'll lose creditability. So long as people are being held accountable and the days of "I don't know," "I don't recall," "heck of a job," "so what?" are behind us I'm a happy camper.

^^ That's what I'm talking about.

I disagree, I believe that it is imperative that a leader have integrity and take responsibility for his/her actions. Somebody is going to find out, you might as well own up to it. It is ok to call yourself out, but if you are calling yourself out over the same mistake more than once, then you are showing that you have a weakness about you. In that case you may not want to own up to it, but by then you have already proven that you are seriously flawed as a leader and taking ownership no longer matters.

I think in this case, though, everyone already knows you messed up so you're not really stepping up to the plate. You're just in appeasement mode. I don't think his apology was a bad thing, mind you, just unnecessary at this point.

I think in this case, though, everyone already knows you messed up so you're not really stepping up to the plate. You're just in appeasement mode. I don't think his apology was a bad thing, mind you, just unnecessary at this point.

That post was making a statement in response to the posters comment that I bolded. It wasn't necessarily a statement about this particular issue. As far as that goes it's just political etiquette. I think that they take a course on it in college "How to appear to kiss ass 101".

I know I'm in the minority but I really could care less if my leader says "I screwed up". We already know. You're forgiven. Now fix it. Hopefully, this will be the last time we hear "Sorry" even if he does truly seem to be genuine. He's doing a good job, he'll continue to need the confidence of the American people. I don't think calling yourself out is an effective tool for a leader.

Doing a good job? What has he done? I don't mean that in a bad way but I just don't think he has reall had time to do anything rather good or bad.