Empty image appeals and personality-based politics are now the norm

Once again, the latest in the Pierre Capital Journal.  It begins thusly: 

In Graham Greene’s classic novel, “The End of the Affair,” a mediocre government functionary is described as being “important rather as an elephant is important, from the size of his department.”

The biggest “elephant” in the nation would seem to be the most important man in the nation, President Barack Obama. Obama is remarkable in that in memory no one has risen to such heights based on so few apparent accomplishments.