'Where Have All Our Leaders Gone?'


Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's
Death throes? He has a new book, and here are some excerpts.
_____________________________________________________________

Lee Iacocca Says: 'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up
With what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should
Be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos
Steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate
Gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a
Hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad,
Everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say,
'Stay the course'

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not
The damned 'Titanic'. I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the
Bums out!'

You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker,
And maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize
This country anymore.

The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the
Guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq, the Middle East
Is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is
Waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the
Promise of the 'America' my parents and yours traveled across the
Ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not
Outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.

The Biggest 'C' is Crisis !

Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of
Crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and
Talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've
Never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your
World comes tumbling down.

On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any
Other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of
The ashes. A Hell of a Mess

So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no
Plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest
Deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing
Edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by
Health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in
Power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our
Borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which
Way. These are times that cry out for leadership.

But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the
Leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are
The people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence,
And common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you
Get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security
Than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away
Our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new
Bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have
Already happened.

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane
Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the
Response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the
Decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.

Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen
Again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make
A plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how
We can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would
Have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three'
Referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more
Important, what are we going to do about it?

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying
Down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care
Problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises
That are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.

I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to
Sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our
Democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced
With mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on
Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you
Guys show some spine for a change?

Had Enough?

Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm
trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope. I
believe in America. In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living
through some of America's greatest moments. I've also experienced
some of our worst crises: the 'Great Depression', 'World War II',
the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination', the 'Vietnam War',
the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with
9/11.

If I've learned one thing, it's this: 'You don't get anywhere
by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take
action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better
future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the
challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to 'Action' for
people who, like me, believe in America. It's not too late, but
it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to
work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'

Excerpted from 'Where Have All the Leaders Gone?'. Copyright (c) 2007
by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved.

guess what... your a nerd

Well, if being a nerd means that I want these issues addressed and I believe others do too then so be it. I am glad someone has balls enough to say it out loud.

America Needs A Leader Like This!




Prime Minister John Howard - Australia


Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote: 'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.'


'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'
'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society .. Learn the language!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,
'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'
'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
If you agree please SEND THIS ON

This is for Australia? How does that relate to America? The religious stuff was posted on another post but I can repost it to let you know the constructors were not creating a christian government at all. Here goes:

"I believe in one God, Creator of the universe.... That the most acceptable service we can render Him is doing good to His other children.... As to Jesus ... I have ... some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble." - Benjamin Franklin (Alice J. Hall, "Philosopher of Dissent: Benj. Franklin," National Geographic, Vol. 148, No. 1, July, 1975, p. 94.)

"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness, that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind." - Thomas Paine (The Age of Reason, 1794-1795.)

Every man "ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience." - George Washington (Letter to the United Baptist Churches in Virginia in May, 1789)

"Question with boldness even the existence of a god." - Thomas Jefferson (letter to Peter Carr, 10 August 1787)

"When a Religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its Professors are obliged to call for help of the Civil Power, it is a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one." - Benjamin Franklin (from a letter to Richard Price, October 9, 1780;)

I do not believe in the creed professed by the Jewish church, by the Roman church, by the Greek church, by the Turkish church, by the Protestant church, nor by any church that I know of... Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all."- Thomas Paine (The Age of Reason, 1794-1795.)

"Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error
all over the earth." - Thomas Jefferson (Notes on Virginia, 1782; from George Seldes, ed., The Great Quotations, Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1983, p. 363.)

"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution." - James Madison (Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments, 1785.)

"Where do we find a precept in the Bible for Creeds, Confessions, Doctrines and Oaths, and whole carloads of other trumpery that we find religion encumbered with in these days?" - John Adams
"The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretence, infringed.'' - James Madison (Original wording of the First Amendment; Annals of Congress 434 (June 8, 1789).)

"As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." - (Treaty of Tripoli, 1797 - signed by President John Adams.)

"As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of government to protect all conscientious protesters thereof, and I know of no other business government has to do therewith." - Thomas Paine (Common Sense, 1776.)

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We shall not fight alone. God presides over the destinies of nations." - Patrick Henry

"That religion, or the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it, can be directed only by reason and conviction, not by force or violence; and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience." - Patrick Henry (Virginia Bill of Rights, June 12, 1776.)


As for the languages of the world. America should be embracing a lot of languages here. It makes us more world sauvey. The threat of English not being used here is mute. We speak english here.

So I am not reading the point well here

Thats because your reading with one eye, and listening with one ear, and trying (in a failed attempt) to sound highly intelligent.

I beg to differ but you have the right to your opinion

Your right, I do....and that was my opinion.

Where Have all our leaders Gone? We got the right ones but people don't seem to know enough to vote for them,because we have been dumbed down over the last 100 years or so, and don't even know what is in the Constitution (what it says)any more or even what it stands for, too many sports and Tv programs, movies and fun stuff to take our attention off the real issues and we have fell asleep on the job of keeping our REPUBLIC of the united states IN America. Guys like RON PAUL(Constitutionalist) or Dennis Kucinich, and if you think that is crazy, then at least go(part way) for Barack Obama,(would be a start) at least don't keep doing the same thing over ,that has already proved that it does not work.

Lee Iacocca has said it right, How come we don't get upset over what is being done to us????We should be mad as Hell.

Why in the world would we want to try to be more like Australia, you left out the fact that Australia also give safe harbor to Nazi war criminals. Telling people to 'get out' isn't a solution for anything, and in the end, would lead to more problems as it is isolationist thinking.

When enough of us wake up and get mad as Hell ,then the crap game will be over. the federal reserve and a handfull of other people in high places are causing us all our heartaches, when we put them on trial for war crimes ,treason ,and murder , the show will be over forever. and guys like Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich can get us back on the Constitution again!!And we will have a Republic like we are supposed to have. Republics go by the rules(constitution) unlike democracies which are mob Rule.(two wolves and a sheep vote on what is for dinner)(don't worry about rules)

No we don't want to be like Australia either.

Autralia has some of the same bunch we have, why would we want that.(ones that need to be put on trial)

Iacocca is a great Republican and was a close friend of Ronald Reagan. He was instrumental in the design of the Ford Mustang and on the other side of the coin, the K-car.

People are mad as hell over the government, but theres no point in trying to change it, because the same crap will float back up to the top, no matter how many times the pot is stirred up.

Iacocca nailed it. Thanks for posting that Dregoness. Politicians listen to two things money and numbers. It is time for everyone to write or email their entire congressional delegation and tell them we are fed up with business as usual. If enough voters tell them that they will listen. If not every few years we get an opportunity to fire their butts and we should exercise that option.

I thought so too. I email my reps all the time about issues.

How about some phone numbers for Congress?

1-877-851-6437

1-866-340-9281

tell them you would like to get rid of the Patriot Act, The War Powers Act, The Federal Reserve act , Restore the 13 th Amendment back where it belongs, no more dual loyalty folks in any govt positions , not even for the job of dog catcher, this 13 th Amendment would also remove all lawyers from any political position, and anybody who has been knighted by the Israelite Queen, and others who are not WE the People. And to get Back to our Constitutional Republic known as: the united States IN America!!!!

Wait, _you_ can't form a proper contraction and you're (<--- take note, Mr. Account Executive) passing out dunce hats?

*boggle*

-Kerry O.