You guys are confusing being a complete, total, "good person and a good leader" with just being a "good leader."

I get your point of view. I have been a serious student of leadership for 20+ years. Part of my resume is, I went to and graduated from the West Point Leadership Academy. It was an intensive 3 month program that lasted for 3 months, 8 hours a day, with 3-4 hours of homework every night. Every Friday we had a closed book 2 hour exam. It was not an easy course. I graduated with honors. I understand a skosh about leadership. I think we are having a semantic disagreement. Certainly a "definition" disagreement.

Jimmy Carter was a good man. A terrible leader.

Of the Top 10 Leaders of the 20th Century - Adolph Hitler is rated #2. A horrible person. A very effective leader for Germany, until his psycho craziness undid him.

Joseph Stalin is rated #4 for the 20th Century Leaders. He was a worse murderer than Hitler.

It's a rare thing to get a good man and a good leader in 1 package. When we have a Moroni, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Ronald Reagan - it's a rare thing.

I get Ddawg's point that Putin is an effective person at advancing Russian interest. However, I disagree with the term "great" leader. A leader is one who influences people in their thoughts and actions. You don't necessarily have to be in charge of anything to be a leader. A great leader is one who influences people to be better and do great things. An effective leader is one who influences people to do what he/she wants.

So, great leader...Jesus Christ, the prophets and apostles, King Benjamin, etc.
Effective leader...Satan, Hitler, Mussolini, etc.

Putin is not advancing "Russia's interests." The economy is worse off, the people are poorer, productivity is down the the citizens are less healthy. There is no free media. Religion is suppressed. Sure some of the people are happy that Russia seized the Crimea and other take pride in that they are propping up Assad, bombing hospitals and killing children, but is this really advancing the interests of Russia's people? Putin is effective at advancing Putin, but not because of talent but because he is sheared of all morals and values and is willing to murder and despoil if it stands in his way. We want to admire that? God help us.

I get Ddawg's point that Putin is an effective person at advancing Russian interest. However, I disagree with the term "great" leader. A leader is one who influences people in their thoughts and actions. You don't necessarily have to be in charge of anything to be a leader. A great leader is one who influences people to be better and do great things. An effective leader is one who influences people to do what he/she wants.

So, great leader...Jesus Christ, the prophets and apostles, King Benjamin, etc.
Effective leader...Satan, Hitler, Mussolini, etc.

I get Ddawg's point that Putin is an effective person at advancing Russian interest. However, I disagree with the term "great" leader. A leader is one who influences people in their thoughts and actions. You don't necessarily have to be in charge of anything to be a leader. A great leader is one who influences people to be better and do great things. An effective leader is one who influences people to do what he/she wants.

So, great leader...Jesus Christ, the prophets and apostles, King Benjamin, etc.
Effective leader...Satan, Hitler, Mussolini, etc.

But it's not even Russian interest he's advancing as his people are suffering. It's his personal interest he is advancing.

and if this isn't crazy enough for Trump, he's also made similar comments about Kim Jong Un and also expressed admiration for the way China handled Tianamen Square. For the current nominee of what was Ronald Reagan's party to talk about that ruthless crackdown on human rights in any degree of positive is just repulsive.

I get Ddawg's point that Putin is an effective person at advancing Russian interest. However, I disagree with the term "great" leader. A leader is one who influences people in their thoughts and actions. You don't necessarily have to be in charge of anything to be a leader. A great leader is one who influences people to be better and do great things. An effective leader is one who influences people to do what he/she wants.

So, great leader...Jesus Christ, the prophets and apostles, King Benjamin, etc.
Effective leader...Satan, Hitler, Mussolini, etc.

Putin is playing strongman smoke and mirrors with his people to deflect their attention away from their miserable economy. Typical ruthless dictator garbage. There is NOTHING to admire here. And if it weren't for Trump getting the nomination there wouldn't be a single republican even coming close to attempting to defend Trump's ridiculous comments about Putin.

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/09/vladimir ... onomy.html

Putin is a great leader. He's not a "great" person. As a person, he's despicable. And yes, Putin does take care of himself - but - he ALWAYS moves Russia forward.

I would put forth that a "despicable" person, by definition, CANNOT be "a great leader", as great leaders must needs also be great EXAMPLES to their people.

He could still be a great lawyer though.

I understand you are being "tongue in cheek." But, a great leader does not always have to be a great person - or a good friend - or a buddy. There is the "ideal" leader. Few people measure up to the "ideal." Patton was a great leader - and definitely not a buddy or a friend.

The number 1 metric for measuring a leader is - does he fulfill the mission of the organization and move the organization forward. Mission accomplishment. Organizational function and readiness. Putin does that. He strengthens Russia, increases their power, protects Russia's interests, and increases their sphere of influence. Obama on the other hand does none of those things. Obama is a miserable failure.