Thugs Seldom Make the Best Presidents

Most Americans prefer the candidate for political office who is the most thuggish. That is even truer for their president. They also lean toward the candidate who is the most insane. During the Cold War, only those who vowed that they could incinerate all life on earth were considered for the highest political position. Only a person who had gone mad would do such a thing. The candidates had to convince most American voters that they were insane. They called the political philosophy MAD or mutually assured destruction. Strangely, total annihilation brought a feeling of security and comfort to most Americans. The madness was vividly described in the movie “Dr. Strangelove.” In the end, they were.

Ronald Reagan contributed to the fall of the Soviet Union, but not in the way most think. When Americans, aided by some acts of sedition and treason, installed Reagan in the White House, fear filled the bodies of Soviet leaders. Reagan called his wife Nancy “mommy.” Reagan was an infant in an adult body. He was crazy enough to launch Armageddon. The Soviet leaders decided it was better to be a capitalist than a burning radiated ember.

Richard Nixon also had gone mad by the end of his term. He talked to pictures on the wall and made Henry Kissinger, a Jew, knell down and pray to Jesus with him.

George W. Bush probably never was sane. His mother taught him that force was the only tool that could bring obedience, discipline and order to a society. Force needed to be used on foreign as well as domestic populations. Like most presidents, he is not capable of diplomacy or negotiation. Striking out with brutal force is his only option.

Thugs notoriously have little or no perception of the future. Their actions almost always bring twice as much reaction back on them and their nation. Eisenhower toppled the democratic government of Iran. He prevented North and South Vietnam from reuniting. Both those decisions had detrimental consequences for the U.S., and Iran continues to be a major thorn in the side of the U.S. George Bush’s bumbling actions will have consequences for centuries.

While the insane thug may seem like the person best able to keep us secure now, that rarely is true for the long run. The madman theory claims potential antagonists will avoid someone who seems to be crazy. The madman goes away eventually, and the opponents have had time to plan their revenge. Unfortunately, those who seek the protection of the madman seldom remember what the madman did.

All in all, it's best not to elect insane thugs to political offices, especially the presidency. We need to stop doing it now. We should start electing people who are capable of distinguishing right from wrong such as Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader.