The president is at least light in some mental areas where a president shouldn't oughtta be, that is clear. However, he has some smarts, certainly in picking his behind the scenes schemers, anyway. (Course, Daddy helped.) Unfortunately, his apparent popularity in the face of his obvious huge gaffs and gaps has everything to do with the consolidation in the news media and the fact that the story has less and less chance of getting out. It also has everything to do with the money trail, which is why the almost-campaign finance reform that was only barely passed before being challenged in court and totally circumvented was and continues to be so crucial.

With fewer news outlets taking fewer risks, and more money controlling advertising in those media, the voters are less and less relevant to the process. Throw in the latest, that many or most of the electronic voting machines making their way into operation can be overidden, nullifying dozens or thousands of votes. So nevermind Florida, it could be that none of us can ever be sure our votes get counted.

This is what happens when large numbers of people abandon their duties as citizens to learn and vote accordingly.