You're Probably An Idiot

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In a recent email exchange with Bill down South, he forwarded a long commentary about Mitt Romney written by another person. It was a litany of quotes from well-known people and organizations concerning Romney's handling of the "Mormon issue"... most of it highly praising Romney for managing to deflect the religious issue by calling upon the words of Samuel Adams and John Kennedy.

I don't have much concern about a person's religion unless they want to use the power of their office to try to force their religious beliefs upon me. Other than the political red herring of abortion that comes up every election, there is little chance of a president's religious beliefs affecting the course of the U.S., given the array of hurdles to achieve anything these days. More than likely, a Mormon president would take extra pains to avoid even the slightest hint of using or abusing his office to accommodate his religion.

I wrote:

There needs to be a large pre-filter for any presidential candidate: integrity. That's not about changing one's mind about issues; it is about being honest and principled. If you've never been convinced that your original thoughts on a subject needed rethinking, you are probably an idiot. But if you change your mind and then say your present position is the one you've always had, you are unprincipled and lack integrity.

Can you identify any candidates who are examples of the latter?

Bill wrote back:

Your closing questions nails Clinton and the G-man (my new nickname for the NY Thug). And many of the other Democrats hugging Clinton's skirt or should I say pantsuit. Not sure about the other Republicans - most appear to have strong value systems, however unhinged they may be. Most of the Dems are clueless on character traits. Feet of clay.

I liked your line: "If you've never been convinced that your original thoughts on a subject needed rethinking, you are probably an idiot."

I've met a few idiots - mostly arrogant senior military officers at the O-6/O-8 levels and perhaps 400 second lieutenants (including myself, of course). The others I have met were primarily military retirees and factory workers. Lockstep thinkers...not unintelligent in terms of mental capabilities, but stupid for being so arrogant and self-righteous when their scope of knowledge was not much better than a Rush Limbaugh radio show. No deep thinking.

Well, that's among the Republican crowd.

As for the Democrats, I've never met that many who could stick to one thought, belief, or idea for more than a few weeks at best. Still, I have to admit that I had my greatest success moving legislation or funding needs through the two Houses of Congress with the Democratic Party office holders and staffs. Never did understand that, other than to note that many of the Republicans thought they knew everything in the world - arrogant beyond compare. Some deserved good ol ass whippings out behind the barn - but that needed correctional opportunity apparently didn't occur during their youth or early adult experiences.

I am supporting Romney and perhaps Huckabee. At least they believe in something of value and stands behind it. I believe that I could trust either of these gentlemen. Can't say that about any Democrats, though there must be one out there somewhere that has that level of conviction and character.

Bill is a difficult man to please. Maybe he just thinks more than most. But I'm less interested in a personal "values" [which is often a code word for a specific set of immutable beliefs] than a candidate with integrity, intelligence, and an approach to government that doesn't see it as the cure for every perceived ill... and who will surround himself with like people.

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