The Value of Timing

Health care, Afghanistan, gay rights/issues, and climate change have each demanded consideration and all beg for action. President Obama seems, at the outset, to provide calls to action and, then, to the consternation of many, seems to let things percolate.

The "right" screams and hollers. The "left" moans and groans. Senate and House members take sides and photo ops. Talk-show hosts of every stripe rant and rave. And all-day all-night "news" services keep the talking heads talking.

Slowly, very slowly, things quiet. Reason more than shouting and name-calling appears to take precedence. The only folks listening and giving ideas are ones who actually have thought about and worked unstintingly for some change.

And then, the President speaks out in support of policy action.

Leading by following? Only after setting a general direction and only moving as fast as those who are interested are willing to move at all.

Creating shared vision and enabling participation. Two particular virtues of this president's sense of timing.