When the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at
second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily
make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is,
intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre -- the man who
can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual
vacuum. The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As
democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely,
the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty
ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will
reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned
by a downright moron. -H.L. Mencken, writer, editor, and critic
(1880-1956)
(italics mine.)
***********************
No comments:
Post a Comment