NationStates Jolt Archive

A forgotten name in US history is Henry Louis Mencken. A prominent newspaperman and political commentator during the first half of the 20th century.

From the book On Politics: A Carnival of Buncombe, he wrote of the difficulties of good men reaching national office when have to campaign remotely:

The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum.

The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

A few of you have seen me use the quote a few times. But, I would suggest for anybody that likes a "real" political commentator, Mencken is for great reading. He has been quoted many times.....

H.L. Mencken is God. Everything he's written is more valuable than the whole of the Old and New Testaments and the Koran combined. Jesus' and the other prophets and all related divnities are nothing compared to his Holiness.

I'm more interested in why more good women don't reach national office in the West...they seem perfectly capable of being national leaders in the rest of the world...are Western women just dumb?

Why would any good man choose to take on a career path that involves earning money from breaking promises, lying, deceiving the people, and other general darstardlyness? It is no surprise that there have been so few good men in office, anywhere in the world.

I'm more interested in why more good women don't reach national office in the West...they seem perfectly capable of being national leaders in the rest of the world...are Western women just dumb?
Admire the patriachal influences of desert monotheism!

On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

Are you sure that wasn't Nostradamus?

I'm more interested in why more good women don't reach national office in the West...they seem perfectly capable of being national leaders in the rest of the world...are Western women just dumb?


I'm gonna give that a big fat NO.

It's all about money. Good people can't raise enough to buy TV spots because they aren't willing to compromise their principles for a few extra campaign bucks. Meanwhile people who are willing to sell their power and influence to the highest bidder rake in a ton.

I'm gonna give that a big fat NO.
Then.....explain it.

Then.....explain it.

See post #4

Then.....explain it.

explain why we havent gotten a woman president yet? how bout a black one? hispanic? I cant. But for you to assume all western women are "Dumb'' is just kinda.....oh I dunno.....dumb?

I guess all the black people and hispanics are also dumb since they havent been elected yet...... :rolleyes:

"The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it's good-by to the Bill of Rights." -- H.L. Mencken

explain why we havent gotten a woman president yet? how bout a black one? hispanic? I cant. But for you to assume all western women are "Dumb'' is just kinda.....oh I dunno.....dumb?

I guess all the black people and hispanics are also dumb since they havent been elected yet...... :rolleyes:
Clicky! (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=joke)

Clicky! (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=joke)


Sinuhue wasnt joking I dont believe.

"The only good bureaucrat is one with a pistol at his head. Put it in his hand and it's good-by to the Bill of Rights." -- H.L. Mencken
Other good quotes:

"Conscience is the inner voice that warns us somebody may be looking."

"Conscience is a mother-in-law whose visit never ends."

"It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office."

"A man may be a fool and not know it--but not if he is married."

"Misogynist: A man who hates women as much as women hate one another."

"Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy."

"Immorality: The morality of those who are having a better time."

"Self-respect: The secure feeling that no one, as yet, is suspicious."

explain why we havent gotten a woman president yet? how bout a black one? hispanic? I cant. But for you to assume all western women are "Dumb'' is just kinda.....oh I dunno.....dumb?

I guess all the black people and hispanics are also dumb since they havent been elected yet...... :rolleyes:

The next president of the United States wiill be Condi Rice, mark my words.

The next president of the United States wiill be Condi Rice, mark my words.

Consider them marked. By tears of utter terror. :p

Consider them marked. By tears of utter terror. :p

By sheer force of will we shall overcome you naysayers!

The next president of the United States wiill be Condi Rice, mark my words.

I don't think so. She has the personality of a rock. Even the shrub could reach out to people.

If she was easily offended by Bab's questioning her integrity, then the others would eat her alive......

The next president of the United States wiill be Condi Rice, mark my words.
Kindasleezy Rice is not an amicable or charismatic person in any respect. Sure, she is indeed extremely intelligent, but she would never make it as a persidential candiate. It might, might be possible to be a running mate, but I doubt anyone would choose her.

One of the primary reasons so few accomplished men ( or women ) even enter politics, especially in the US, is because their lives are subjected to such critical scrutiny. It's like having every transgression you ever did smeared accross the front page of every newspaper in the Country. When the CEO of a medium sized company can make easily six times what the President of the US makes, why subject yourself to the dirt-slingers when you can avoid them and make even more money?

I don't think so. She has the personality of a rock. Even the shrub could reach out to people.

If she was easily offended by Bab's questioning her integrity, then the others would eat her alive......

First, she seemed like a nice enough person when I heard her on television. Regardless, we don't need 'personality'. We need effectiveness. I hope she's a total demon. Maybe she'll castrate Ted Kennedy or something.

Second, Babs invalidates herself just by being who she is. She is irrelevent. There could be a difference between being angry and being offended. Offended implies that she was hurt in some way.

One of the primary reasons so few accomplished men ( or women ) even enter politics, especially in the US, is because their lives are subjected to such critical scrutiny. It's like having every transgression you ever did smeared accross the front page of every newspaper in the Country. When the CEO of a medium sized company can make easily six times what the President of the US makes, why subject yourself to the dirt-slingers when you can avoid them and make even more money?


well then its safe to say i wont be running for office. Thats all I need is a graveyard full of skeletons in the closet coming out.

well then its safe to say i wont be running for office. Thats all I need is a graveyard full of skeletons in the closet coming out.

I rest my case! :)

Um ... "skeletons?" What "skeletons" could YOU possibly have??? :eek:

I can pretty much rule out being elected too.

The christian right would tear me apart. And I'd help.

"He once had a homosexual encounter!"

"Actually, I've had several. I mean... oops." :(

First, she seemed like a nice enough person when I heard her on television.
Did you actually look or listen to her?

Um ... "skeletons?" What "skeletons" could YOU possibly have??? :eek:
I can not tell to what extent you are joking, so I will state this just in case. He's referring to the colloquialism of skeletons in the closet, referring to things that happened in the past that can harm your reputation now.

I can not tell to what extent you are joking, so I will state this just in case. He's referring to the colloquialism of skeletons in the closet, referring to things that happened in the past that can harm your reputation now.


actually "she" is referring to above ;)


Poppy.....you have NOOOO idea! :eek:

I found a bone in my shoe the other day actually.

I can not tell to what extent you are joking, so I will state this just in case. He's referring to the colloquialism of skeletons in the closet, referring to things that happened in the past that can harm your reputation now.

Yes, yes. I know the meaning of the term "skeletons in the closet," and Peechland is female.

Poppy.....you have NOOOO idea! :eek:

I found a bone in my shoe the other day actually.

Somehow I just can't imagine you doing anything illegal, immoral or ... well ... perhaps a few things fattening ... but ...! :eek:

Somehow I just can't imagine you doing anything illegal, immoral or ... well ... perhaps a few things fattening ... but ...! :eek:

I can imagine you doing a few. :)

Somehow I just can't imagine you doing anything illegal, immoral or ... well ... perhaps a few things fattening ... but ...! :eek:



mmmmm....chocolate cake......YUM. I;ve been known to sin with chocolate before.

lets just leave you believing I'm the angel youve imagined. St. Peechland-lol

I can imagine you doing a few. :)


can or do? ;) ........LOL

can or do? ;) ........LOL

I have a very vivid imagination.

P.S. I'd like to hear more about your sins with chocolate. Like I said, I have a very vivid imagination. :)

actually "she" is referring to aboveand Peechland is female.
Sorry! I am really quite terrible with associating names with personae. In reality, books, wherever. Which really sucks in books like, say, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.

All your base are belong to us

Sorry! I am really quite terrible with associating names with personae. In reality, books, wherever. Which really sucks in books like, say, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.


thas ok doll.....I'd only be offended if you mistook me for a man based on my physical appearance-lol.

LG.....milk chocolate or semi-sweet?

Second, Babs invalidates herself just by being who she is. She is irrelevent. There could be a difference between being angry and being offended. Offended implies that she was hurt in some way.

An offended person talks their integrity.

But since you said that about Babs. It only shows who weak of a candidate she would be. A person that is irrelevent, should not have bothered her.

Again, national politics is about personality. Look at Bill. If he ran against the shrub, he would have wiped him out.

Ahh well....