Developing & Branding Your Personal Competitive Advantage

The political timing is right for Gonzales and Bush to agree Gonzales to resign effective September 17th.

Bush says "Gonzales' good name dragged through the mud" while Gonzales says "My worst days have been better than my father's best days." 

I understand Gonzales' point when referring to living the American Dream.  However, your name, reputation and personal brand related to ethics and accountability?  Do these politicians care about the integrity of their name and what they stand for?  What about leadership?  Is it me or is there a theme of those leaving the Bush administration thanking Bush for his friendship as Gonzales did today?  I don't know, how about leading through "scandals"?  Both parties.  There is fight to defend people all the way up until the resignation where we move on to...the next friend willing to allow the other party and public to confuse the personal brand.  It is too easy.  Easy to confuse someone else's personal brand in the eyes of the general public and easy to resign when the heat is on.  I'll add for the other part of the argument, it is easy to be scandalous too!            

New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, appealed to the administration "to work with us to nominate someone whom Democrats can support and America can be proud of."  No such person exists and the successor,  Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, or anyone else is destined to enjoy a personal brand bashing - just for throwing a hat in the ring. 

No thanks.  Like our great teachers finding other work, are our best leaders running from the strategy of getting elected or appointed?  Maybe it is not so discouraging because, since you don't need a title to be a leader, we each have an opportunity to make a difference in our communities!