Define the phrase

Permit me a moment to vent.  My regular partner is the utlimate
passive leader.

Among his recent statements is quoting Larry Cohen, of his partner****p
with David Berkowitz, where he says "We try to survive the opening
lead."  My partner uses this as justification for doing anything
possible to not blow a trick on opening lead.  My interpretation of
that statement is that opening leads are as much a guess as science,
and they simply hope to be even with the field after the opening lead
and then play the next 12 tricks correctly.  I don't think it is an
admonition in any way to lead passively.

Comments?