Obama continued interest in nominating Larry Summers to Fed Chairman is doubly worrying. I think Summers is a bad choice. But it also points to Obama’s isolation and (persistently) flawed managerial skillset. Two things seem clear about Larry Summers. We’ve all worked with a guy (or gal) like him.
- He is a (tactical) asshole and bully. He shoves peers and subordinates around – setting a high cost for those who oppose him. He also seems to be a self-centered jerk just by nature.
- He’s an excellent ass-kisser. He can turn on the charm when he faces those above him (or those who might advance his aims).
All of the above makes him a useful subordinate. A smart, effective, tactically loyal hatchet man is a great asset. But you don’t let them get too big for their britches. Think about all the good mafia movies.
- Would The Godfather’s Micheal Corleone ever appoint a ruthless, ambitious, tactically-loyal-but-self-aggrandizing jerk to run Vegas far from family control in New York? Fuhgeddaboutit!
- To illustrate the danger, just watch Casino. Is Larry Summers more likely to be Joe Pesci’s “made-man” loose cannon or Robert De Niro’s good-soldier? Is Obama (or the nation) going to end up wanting Summers beaten to death in a cornfield somewhere at the end of this saga? Probably yes.
This highlights what has been a persistent failing of the Obama administration. He is a lousy manager. A good manager/executive understands the limits of his people and understands their true nature. Instead, Obama seems gulled into believing that Larry actually is the loyal subordinate he pretends to be.
We have all worked for that boss who can’t see that he is nourishing a viper at his breast (or some slightly less mixed metaphor). It doesn’t end well. For that go rent Othello… Lets all hope Michelle doesn’t get mixed up in this somehow.
