A president ‘just like me’

In a season where it’s hard to pick the most frightening development, here’s a leading candidate: the notion that the president and vice president should be "average Joes, just like me." It’s especially scary considering that the "average" American now reads less, knows less history and is more ignorant about the world than most of the generations of the 20th century — the American Century.

Now comes Sarah Palin, claiming she is a victim of the elites. She told radio host Hugh Hewitt, "Oh, I think they’re just not used to someone coming in from the outside
saying you know what? It’s time that normal Joe six-pack American is
finally represented in the position of vice presidency, and I think
that that’s kind of taken some people off guard, and they’re out of
sorts, and they’re ticked off about it."

It is a sign of national madness if one has to point out the complex issues and challenges facing the nation’s leaders. While years of preening and bullying in Congress are less meaningful (Republican John Sidney McCain III), our situation cries out for officials with sound judgment, wide knowledge, supple intellect not calcified in dogma, and curiosity. Palin has shown none of these traits in her tightly controlled interviews — quite the opposite. We’re reminded of a less qualified version of candidate George W. Bush. (And a little racist code there, in "normal…American"?)

Indeed, Palin has been treated with great — I would say criminal — restraint and "deference" by the traditional media. She has refused, like royalty or a dictator, to interact with the press. And they have largely gone along, although basic journalism required a gentle pointing out of her repeated misstatements on the "bridge to nowhere," etc. Her family chaos was avoided — something no Democrat, or even male Republican candidate would receive. She got do-over questions from deferential anchors. I’m sure the newsroom diversity committees were holding long and serious meetings over any perceived sexism in coverage.

Palin’s answers seem crafted to insult "normal Americans." Asked about her foreign policy experience, the "normal" answer would be something like this: I’m a governor who brings executive experience to the ticket. But obviously my foreign policy experience is limited. But I’m a fast learner, and I’m running with the best partner possible…" Instead, she sticks to this "Alaska is close to Russia" nonsense. Earth to "average Americans": The Republicans think you’re stupid!

In fact, Palin is a stalking horse for the moneyed elite that runs the country to a degree not seen since the Gilded Age. Her running mate exemplifies the Washington elite. Her party is the party of permanent oligarchy, presently led by wealthy oilman George W. Bush, alumnus of Andover, Yale and Harvard. John Sidney McCain III is so rich through his beer heiress wife that he doesn’t know how many houses he owns.

And Palin herself is a prime example of at least three real elites with considerable power. First, the reactionary evangelicals, the old Christian coalition, that took over most state Republicans parties in the 1990s and started snapping up elected offices from the school board on up. Second, the exurban and suburbanites that feel entitled to a lifestyle that is unsustainable, and will run the country off the cliff rather than make even marginal changes or sacrifices. Third, the most disturbing elite: the arrogance of ignorance. America has always had its "know nothings’; they never came close to the highest office in the land. And an elite that celebrates its lack of knowledge puts the country at particular risk in a century that will be marked by economic competition requiring talent and education, and complex global change and struggle.

Sadly, the decline of America — and it’s not irreversible, yet — is partly a result of the decadence of the old elites, in politics, finance, business, the clergy and the press. These elites were often meritocracies, something utterly lost today. A Harry Truman couldn’t become president today. And please, don’t even try to make a Palin comparison here.

Truman was a deep student of history ("the only thing new in this world is the history you don’t know."). He saw combat as an officer in World War I, fighting in France. He knew what newspapers he read. As a senator, he chaired the famous committee that shut down the war profiteers. He was curious, open-minded, non-ideological. Sarah Palin, you are no Harry Truman. The only parallel is that both were nominated to be vice presidents for men likely to die in office — which makes McCain’s selection of Palin (or cowing to the "base" powerbrokers) so wildly reckless. This is one more example of how the Republicans are the party that wrecked America. (spread the meme)

A fundamental of America’s founding was that a meritocracy would rule. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were not "just like us." Nor were Franklin Roosevelt, Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson or Ronald Reagan. Willful ignorance and voting by emotion ("passions") were the rule of the mob that the Founders feared. I don’t want a president "just like me." I sure don’t want one dumber than me.