Obama and the War on Brains

Dear Mr. Kristof,

You claimed that being intellectual was better than making decisions with emotions. In order to have a system that satisfies everyone- shouldn’t the president be both? If one person leans too far on the intellectual side, his reasons may be too stony and have no flexibility. But the same works the other way around- if one bases his decisions on emotions, he becomes unstable. A mix of both is needed to have a suitable leadership.

I do agree with you on the idea that intellectuals are for real- reading classics and have an appreciation for Sophocles and Shakespeare. However, using examples of other presidents makes the reader feel uncomfortable. You bring out some good points about George Bush, as well as Richard Nixon and Clinton- but what’s the point? I find your article confusing and very plopped. You back up your opinions with emotion. Where’s the intellect?