while americans play monopoly, russians play chess...

Stepping outside the American media bubble, this from the Asia Times:

The fact is that all Russian politicians are clever. The stupid ones are all dead. By contrast, America in its complacency promotes dullards. A deadly miscommunication arises from this asymmetry. The Russians cannot believe that the Americans are as stupid as they look, and conclude that Washington wants to destroy them.

Meanwhile, it looks like Obama's finally getting a clue that engaging in bean bag with the Republicans (even if they are epitomized by simpletons like Bush and McCain) is dullard's play.