I suspect the distant history of these times may show American dithered in various and numerous naval-gazing, wheel-spinning, time-wasting minor squabbles over how to best line their pockets, as the world decended into madness — and dragged America right along with it.
...and they will all claim they had NO idea.
They probably don’t have an idea. So many elected officials seem to be only popularity contest winners, not leaders.
And the public decides along perceived, but not vetted, character.