Intelligence and skills play almost no part in this.
I've know a lot of GS-15s, SES, and O-6 and above. On the whole, they are not impressive people at all. But you can go pretty far if you're just a great big jerk. Mind you, they all seem to think they outrank God.
“On the whole, they are not impressive people at all. But you can go pretty far if you’re just a great big jerk.”
You just very eloquently captured the major problem in politics and the media who base their stature on politicians. It’s one big self-congratulatory cesspool of mediocrity. Thanks!