(Cartoon image is by Sally Edelstein at Envisioning The American Dream.)From David Frum in The Atlantic:
“I can handle things. I’m smart! Not like everybody says, like dumb. I’m smart and I want respect!” This morning’s presidential Twitter outburst recalls those words of Fredo Corleone’s in one of the most famous scenes from The Godfather series. Trump tweeted that his “two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart,” and in a subsequent tweet called himself a “very stable genius.” Trump may imagine that he’s Michael Corleone, the tough and canny rightful heir—or even Sonny Corleone, the terrifyingly violent but at least powerful heir apparent—but after today he is Fredo forever. There’s a key difference between film and reality, though: The Corleone family had the awareness and vigilance to exclude Fredo from power. The American political system did not do so well. Genius, or just being smart, is something we easily recognize in others (just by watching how they interact with others, and with the world in general). We don't have to be told someone is smart (or dumb). It's pretty obvious to those who pay attention. And those who feel it necessary to tell the world how smart they are, probably aren't. It's just sad that the current occupant of the White House felt the need to claim his "genius" -- to correct the nation's (and the world's) opinion of him. The chart below reflects the results of the latest Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between December 31st and January 2nd of a random national sample of 1,500 adults (including 1,277 registered voters). The margin of error for adults is 3 points, and for registered voters is 2.9 points. Respondents were asked if they would use the word "intelligent" to describe Donald Trump. The results certainly don't describe a "genius".
