Doug Casey on Presidents: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Doug Casey on Presidents:

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Doug: That's all true, although George Bush Jr. arguably had the potential to be an even worse president. At least Lincoln was intelligent and articulate. Baby Bush was stupid, evil, pig-headed, thoughtless, and hugely destructive.

L: So, was Bush Jr. worse than, say, Obama?

Doug: I'm not sure — Obama could be worse. He's smart and persuasive, like Lincoln, which makes him very dangerous, because his ideas are totally destructive. He's not just doing all the wrong things, but exactly the opposite of the right things — and not just economically, but in every field. Obama could well be the president who pushes the U.S. over the edge.

One major problem is that people conflate a president's style and personality with his quality as a leader. An example of that is Teddy Roosevelt. He was athletic, personally brave, a great outdoorsman, a prolific writer, something of an intellectual — the kind of guy who would make for an altogether amusing dinner guest. But he was also a militarist, an imperialist, and a complete economic fascist. Teddy the Trust-Buster, popularized the idea that business is evil from his "bully pulpit." He gets an A for charisma and style, but an F— if you value peace, prosperity, and liberty.....
EXCERPT
*****