Blast from the past blasts "clueless bozos" of the present

If you're pleased with the current batch of political leaders in the United States, there's a guy here who urges you to reconsider.

He's using terms like "clueless bozos" to describe many running the show in the executive branch.

You feeling uneasy about where things are headed? This guy says don't sit on your hands. "This is America, not the damned Titanic," he declares. "I'll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums out!"

As for our faith in the private sector, he says "the most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs."

Say what? These are the words of the long-retired but still smoldering Lee Iacocca. These quotes and more come from just the first chapter of his new book, Where Have All the Leaders Gone?, due for release on April 17.

So Lee's back after a decade since his last book, hopping mad about dereliction in the U.S. government, crooks in high places, Congress and tax cuts for rich people (he says he doesn't need the tax break, thanks). He's also angry at regular folk for sitting around and watching it all happen. "My friends tell me to calm down," he writes. "They say, 'Lee, you're eighty-two years old. Leave the rage to the young people.' I'd love to--as soon as I can pry them away from their iPods for five seconds and get them to pay attention."

Whoeee. Nothing like a volcanic diatribe to get the chattering classes chattering. S'pose Lee doesn't use an iPod at all?