Gee, Blue, I think every President has had at least one little area "of his own" that he took a special interest in -- and cared about. Nixon, for example,took a special interest in foreign policy, and prided himself on his knowledge of it.
And I doubt that Presidents always swallow their advisors' briefings whole; they must ask questions. The brighter, and the more knowledgeable about the subject the President is, the better questions he will ask.
In short, although all Presidents, by definition, are egomaniacs, some egomaniacs are better prepared than others. Maybe a dumb one would be preferable. But I rather doubt it.
As for advisors, I do not think the choice is limited. One thing is positive about recent administrations: they have reached out to find new people. Time was, when the same old boy network -- mostly corporate lawyers -- was recycled over and over and over again. Doesn't seem to be so any more.
Joan |
