What if they really are "that stupid" at the White House?

Where was this woman educated?

Perino's 'Missile Crisis' Confession
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/09/AR2007120901336_pf.html

...Appearing on National Public Radio's light-hearted quiz show "Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me," which aired over the weekend, (White House Press Secretary Dana) Perino got into the spirit of things and told a story about herself that she had previously shared only in private: During a White House briefing, a reporter referred to the Cuban Missile Crisis -- and she didn't know what it was.

"I was panicked a bit because I really don't know about . . . the Cuban Missile Crisis," said Perino, who at 35 was born about a decade after the 1962 U.S.-Soviet nuclear showdown. "It had to do with Cuba and missiles, I'm pretty sure."

So she consulted her best source. "I came home and I asked my husband," she recalled. "I said, 'Wasn't that like the Bay of Pigs thing?' And he said, 'Oh, Dana.' "

This explains a lot. What if they’re not *evil* motherfuckers? They may just be wildly *ignorant* motherfuckers. For example:

Reporter: Mr. Cheney, do you think your argument for a unitary executive is consistent with the Constitution?
Cheney: The what?
Reporter: The Constitution, Mr. Vice President. The legal charter that sets out the limits of law and government in the United States.
Cheney: (thinks for moment) I’m sorry, I’m gettin’ nothin’ here, the Consti-what?
Reporter: Surely you’ve heard of the Constitution, Mr. Cheney.
Cheney: No I haven’t. I’ve heard of “Shirley—“—she’s one of Giuliani’s girlfriends, isn’t she?
Reporter: Jesus Christ—
Cheney: Or is she one of his ex-wives? I can’t keep all that shit straight—You know what? Go fuck yourself, how’s that for an answer.

Chinese Ambassador: Naturally we are concerned with our image on human rights, Mr. President. The last thing we want to have is another Tiananmen Square—
Bush: Oh, yeah. My doctor told me to lay off those, too.
Chinese Ambassador: I beg your pardon, Mr. President?
Bush: Those whatchamacallit squares, those, uh, cookies you guys make out of marshmallow and rice krispies. Doc says I gotta lay off those. (pats stomach) Waist line.
Chinese Ambassador: Mr. President, I have no idea of what you are talking about.
Bush: (stares him down, then winks) Okay, I getcha. “State secret,” huh? “Ancient Chinese secret,” about the cookie industry. Don’t worry, I won’t blow the whistle on you and your Teeny Weenie Squares—but in return, you gotta let us dump some Fords over there in your vast, untapped automobile retail market. International trade goes two ways, get me?
Chinese Ambassador: (stares at President impassively, even stoically.)
Bush: Caught you by surprise there, didn’t I? Didn’t think I knew about your Tinnamon Squares, didja? (taps side of head) It’s *aaaalllll* up here, my oriental friend. The only thing I couldn’t figure out is how to get my “fortune” out of one of those thing—they’re all sticky inside, you know? So how am I supposed to get my fortune out, without tearing the little paper? Hell, I probably ate all my fortunes in my...haste...to...consume... (suddenly angry, yells at ambassador) What do they say? What do my fortunes say? Tell me or I’ll send nuclear arms to Taiwan!

Moral of the story: we have to give this administration the benefit of a doubt. They may not be getting tens of thousands killed every year because they’re sociopathic power junkies; they may be taking all these lives because they’re incredibly fucking stupid.

Or possibly some combination of the two. I’ve given up trying to decide.