I don't mean to be un-american, but I find Menken fascinating

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents,
more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.
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."

H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

I really wonder what Mencken was railing against when he wrote this. In any event, it poses an interesting point, regardless of your political affiliation