So what are the traits of a Great Leader

[David Octavius]

With all this talk from the candidates about what traits are required to be a great President and how much they embody it (and of course how much we *need* them), it got me wondering, just what is the make up of a great leader?

IMO the major traits a President must have are:


Being Inspirational - to motivate the people to achieve something greater. Which will also create a more vigorous participation in the political system, making our politicians more accountable.

Creative - not all problems are solved by ideological theory and it's also not solved by taking the same old tired approach to the problem and expecting a different result

Smart - economically and on international affairs

Able to cross divides - One, in a republic you need the other party in order to get major legislation through.

Two, we cannot make war with the world, we need to be able to work with international leaders, even some who we may not be on the friendliest terms

Know when to fight - domestically on some issues and internationally to show that we when we are pushed, we push back harder

Know when to Compromise - Fight too hard when it does not make strategic sense and we enter the cross roads of atrophy on the domestic front (which is poison for people of all ideologies) and on the international front it risks alienating our allies or worse.

Where is experience in this? If you are creative, smart, able to cross divides, know when to fight and when to compromise that collectively is what experience is all about. It's not about years, it's about ability - not the same thing. Just like toughness and arrogance isn't the same - a tough person knows that concession is sometimes necessary but can punch hard when needed, an arrogant person can be taken advantage of.

So in your opinion what traits make up a great leader and which one of the candidates are the closest to it?

[Kytro]

Being a great leader requires only that you can convince others to follow you, and truly believe you.

Hitler was a great leader.

There is a difference between a great leader and a great person.

[Thorgrim]

Hitler had an easy sell...he was one of only two significant yet radical parties...the others were communists...actually applying communism aftering seeing the USSR...scared everyone

So the only radical movement available to the masses of Germans who were humiliated for years after being an extremely and nationalistic people?

I give a lot more credit to people in the Reich Chancellory for getting the government up and running