The New Year reviving old desires, the thoughtful soul to solitude retires...

And finds that the good people of Iowa have selected, as potential Republican presidential candidate, two very staid, solid gentlemen: Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. These leaders differ mainly in political doctrine: one being somewhat more moderate and the other somewhat more conservative. But psychologically, they are twins. Bright, successful, normal.

Just like Iowans: Normal, healthy, reliable, dependable people. Just like most Americans. But should our leaders be just like us? Or should they be a little different?

Is there something about leadership that involves traits that go above and beyond what characterizes an average person? Most people would agree, I think, that something like this must be the case. I've suggested some specific traits—realism, empathy, creativity, and resilience—that characterize great leaders specifically in times of crisis. I've also noted that these traits are more present in leaders who are not normal, from a psychiatric perspective, but rather have depression or bipolar disorder, at least to a mild degree.