Sunday, February 08, 2009

Quote of the Day

"Beginning with the election of John F. Kennedy in 1960, the occupant of the White House has become a combination of demigod, father figure, and, inevitably, the betrayer of inflated hopes. Pope, pop star, scold, scapegoat, crisis manager, commander in chief, agenda setter, moral philosopher, interpreter of the nation's charisma, object of veneration, and the butt of jokes -- regrdless of personal attributes and qualifications, the president is perforce all these rolled into one."
-- Andrew Bacevich, in his new book, "The Limits of Power: The End of American Ecceptionalism," which averages a memorable quote or particularly well expressed insight every other page or so. Just in case you thought it started with The One.