No great revelations here for the suspecting observer of Barack Obama.  But crystal-clear confirmation of certain suspicions has been offered by Robert Gates, former secretary of defense to President Obama.

Gates confirms in his book A Passion for Leadership specific qualities required of a great leader.  During his interview on MSNBC, Gates suggests that a great leader surrounds himself with those who are expertly capable in specific duties.  Those selected bring special talents that combine with the talents of others, thus creating an entity with a resultantly higher combined intellect and an assortment of abilities.  The leader draws from these expertly talented people and coordinates and directs their efforts toward the chosen tasks. 

Great leaders, suggests Gates, understand that they do not know everything and must draw from those who possess knowledge and talents beyond their own.  Great leaders know what they do not know.  Except Barack Obama.

Gates says (4:19 of video), “The great presidents  have been people who recognized that they weren’t the smartest people in the room but were willing and self-confident enough to surround themselves with people who were smarter, who had experience, and draw on that … and combine that with their own instinct and good judgment.” 

In a Morning Joe interview on MSNBC, Gates said that Barack Obama is quoted (7:15 of video) as having said to his staff that “I can do every one of your jobs better than you can.”  He thus declared himself the smartest guy in the room.  In so doing, he also declared that he picked the wrong people.  He aimed way too low.  He also removes himself from consideration as a “great leader” per the Gates criteria.

Gates continued, “I don’t see the strong people around the president that will push back on him.”

If he has made himself the smartest guy in the room via his selections of whom is in the room, then we begin to understand the amateur nature of this administration.  Even Obama himself must realize he is deficient in some areas of management, military matters, and foreign affairs.  His depth of economics is suspect as well.  But the question now becomes, “Why would he select people who admittedly bring nothing more to the room in talent and knowledge?”

Just as in our universities, curiously the source of Obama himself and so many of his underlings, the other side of the argument, the “push-back,” is unwelcome.  Now that our suspicions have been confirmed, and confirmed from the inside, another question rises.

Mr. Gates, what are you doing for the next five years?