That was one of the few things Bush got right: He was often wrong for the right reasons. Sometimes we must pin our ears back and do what we think best regardless of how loud the criticism, and you are right that is the defining quality of leadership. Getting out in front of the stampede is not leadership; any moron can do that. Leadership requires directing the oft recalcitrant herd with "profiles in courage."

Obama talks a good game on that, as on so many things, but even when he says things like he is willing to be a one term president for universal healthcare or willing to stake re-election on trimming $4 trillion from the deficit with tax hikes and spending cuts, he always blinks first. He inexplicably still has not realized that has won him exactly ZERO of the friends he expected on the right, while alienating many of his supporters on the left and leaving those in the middle wondering why anyone should support an administration incapable of DOING anything.

Republicans say we must get rid of activist government but, IMHO, the real problem is we already DID (except for sacrosanct corporate subsidies, of course. )