I don't think he is stupid, but he certainly cultivated an "average guy" persona that had a disdain for expert/elite opinion. It also doesn't excuse the (bad) decisions he made in office on a variety of issues.
> cultivated an "average guy" persona that had a disdain for expert/elite opinion
I think you need to untwist these opinions a bit.
Firstly, "cultivating" implies that his "average guy" activities were an act. From all accounts, it sounds like he has continued his activities after leaving public life (something I am eminently grateful to him for). I really don't think they were or are an act.
I would also say that "expert" and "elitist" are two very different things. Considering expert opinions does not sound like something he didn't do.
> doesn't excuse the (bad) decisions he made
I really can't agree more, but its the reasons why he made those decisions that I find important. Previously I just felt like he was an idiot, and therefore made stupid decisions. Now, I've basically come to the opinion that while I disagree with him on serious issues (for fucks sake, why did you invade Iraq!) he didn't do it from a malicious point of view or because he was an idiot. He was merely wrong, with terribly catastrophic results.
I think you need to untwist these opinions a bit.
Firstly, "cultivating" implies that his "average guy" activities were an act. From all accounts, it sounds like he has continued his activities after leaving public life (something I am eminently grateful to him for). I really don't think they were or are an act.
I would also say that "expert" and "elitist" are two very different things. Considering expert opinions does not sound like something he didn't do.
> doesn't excuse the (bad) decisions he made
I really can't agree more, but its the reasons why he made those decisions that I find important. Previously I just felt like he was an idiot, and therefore made stupid decisions. Now, I've basically come to the opinion that while I disagree with him on serious issues (for fucks sake, why did you invade Iraq!) he didn't do it from a malicious point of view or because he was an idiot. He was merely wrong, with terribly catastrophic results.