Clever Man, H.L. Mencken, He Predicted A Moron In The White House
BY JOSEPH GALLOWAY
"It took just eight decades, but H.L. Mencken's astute prediction on the future course of American presidential politics and the electorate's taste in candidates came true:
"On July 26, 1920, the acerbic and cranky scribe wrote in The Baltimore Sun: '' . . . all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre - the man who can most easily (and) 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 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.''
" My late good buddy Leon Daniel, a wire service legend for 40 years at United Press International, dredged up that Mencken quote several years ago and found that it was a perfect fit for George W. Bush, The Decider. MSNBC's Keith Olberman highlighted the same quote this week. A tip of the hat to both of them, and to Mencken.
'The White House is now so adorned by Mencken's downright moron, and has been for more than six excruciatingly painful years. It wouldn't be so bad if the occupant had at least enough sense to surround himself with smart, competent and honest advisers and listen to them. But he hasn't.'"
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