Leadership in Washington

What's lacking in Washington is a very simple, leadership. Pick-up an book, or look into any program that deals in leadership development and you'll find our legislators do just about the dead opposite. For instance........

Learning is listed as a top priority for any leader. You have to have something to offer the people you wish to lead that they don't already possess, or they don't need you. Isn't it ironic politicians appointed to oversee just about anything in Washington are seriously less qualified than the industry they were entrusted to be in charge of? Barney Frank comes to mind. As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, beginning in 2007, Frank "sits at the center of power". Yet he's never had a job outside of politics. He graduated college and began his political career.

In 1972 Frank was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served for eight years. While a Representative he entered Harvard Law School and graduated in 1977. While in state and local government, Frank taught part time at the University of Massachusetts Boston, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and at Boston University. He published numerous articles on politics and public affairs, and in 1992 he published Speaking Frankly, an essay on the role the Democratic Party should play in the 1990's.

In 1979, Frank became a member of the Massachusetts Bar. A year later, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 4th congressional district, hoping to succeed Father Robert Drinan, who had left Congress following a call by Pope John Paul II for priests to withdraw from political positions. In the Democratic primary held on September 16, 1980 Frank won 51.3 percent of the vote in a four-candidate field. His nearest opponent, Arthur J. Clark, won 45.9 percent and finished almost 4,500 votes behind.[10] As the Democratic nominee, Frank faced Republican Richard A. Jones in the general election and won narrowly, 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent.

Not a lick of experience in banking nor the financial markets. From the looks of his education he might have something to offer a legal firm, but it's not experience. He may possess classroom theory on any number of topics, but no practical experience. So what qualifies him to lead our house financial services committee? There isn't even a degree in finance listed in his education! Yet Mr. Frank "sits at the center of power"; is it any wonder Washington is in the state it's in?

In 2003, while the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, Frank opposed a Bush administration proposal for transferring oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from Congress and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to a new agency that would be created within the Treasury Department. The proposal reflected the administration's belief that Congress "neither has the tools, nor the stature" for adequate oversight. Frank stated, "These two entities...are not facing any kind of financial crisis.... The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."[48] The two companies, which together own or back more than half the home mortgages in the US became "hobbled" by loan defaults.[49] Frank clarified in 2009 that Fannie and Freddie were not in crisis at the time and many financial institutions, like Lehman Brothers, also fell into crisis from 2003 to 2008. All on his watch! When asked about his participation in this collapse he arrogantly replies that it was the Bush administration's fault. Not only is he inept, he's not accountable, just ask him!

Politicians like Mr. Frank get elected to "serve" us because of ignorance and apathy. It's also the key reason Mr. Frank retains his current job. If you dig further you'll also see he's got some moral issues as well as integrity problems. None of which qualify him as a leader or to "sit at the center of power" in Washington. As citizens who care about our country it's our duty to inform voters and get this country on the right track! Be a leader, educate others!

God Bless
Capt. Bill