Sarah Palin's a Brainiac

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

The thought with Palin and Bush is that they are simpletons.....or, to use a recent descriptive...bubbleheads.

Nobody thinks Obama is intellectually devoid, only that he is inexperienced.

Exactly. With enough intellectual capacity one can at least create the impression that the attainment of relevant knowledge is possible and that some degree of contemplation is likely.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

The thought with Palin and Bush is that they are simpletons.....or, to use a recent descriptive...bubbleheads.

Nobody thinks Obama is intellectually devoid, only that he is inexperienced.

I think that is the difference. just my opinion.

That is the impression successfully created. Whether it represents reality is another matter. I'm usually suspicious of public impressions specifically created for public consumption.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

Exactly. With enough intellectual capacity one can at least create the impression that the attainment of relevant knowledge is possible and that some degree of contemplation is likely.

That, for me, was the clincher with my going with Obama. Looking back, Bush isn't an idiot, but he's no intellectual heavyweight either. His problem is that he apparently has no curiosity, and didn't weigh both sides of an issue or consider carefully alternate points of view. He trusted his own instincts too much (looking into Putin's soul and all that), even though the first 40 years of his life were devoted to things other than developing the maturity and intellectual capacity that would make those instincts worth much.

McCain is certainly a step up from Bush, but even he seems to lack the analytical gifts I'd like to see in a President. In the two biggest decisionmaking/leadership moments he's had in recent months (picking a VP and responding to the credit crisis), he did nothing to allay my concerns.

Smart guys have gotten us into trouble before, but I'd prefer a president that is both intellectually gifted and willing to bring in opposing points of view.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

That, for me, was the clincher with my going with Obama. Looking back, Bush isn't an idiot, but he's no intellectual heavyweight either. His problem is that he apparently has no curiosity, and didn't weigh both sides of an issue or consider carefully alternate points of view. He trusted his own instincts too much (looking into Putin's soul and all that), even though the first 40 years of his life were devoted to things other than developing the maturity and intellectual capacity that would make those instincts worth much.

McCain is certainly a step up from Bush, but even he seems to lack the analytical gifts I'd like to see in a President. In the two biggest decisionmaking/leadership moments he's had in recent months (picking a VP and responding to the credit crisis), he did nothing to allay my concerns.

Smart guys have gotten us into trouble before, but I'd prefer a president that is both intellectually gifted and willing to bring in opposing points of view.

Do actual positions on the issues matter to you?

This reminds me of Christopher Buckley's endorsement of Obama. Impressed with his "first-class temperament and ... first-class intellect" he assumes that once in office, Obama will be bright enough to figure out "that traditional left-politics aren’t going to get us out of this pit we’ve dug for ourselves."

Ha.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar

Smart guys have gotten us into trouble before, but I'd prefer a president that is both intellectually gifted and willing to bring in opposing points of view.

Not trying to be difficult, but what evidence can you cite that Obama does this. Obama is generally accepted as intelligent, but the second point, I've not been privy to.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Not trying to be difficult, but what evidence can you cite that Obama does this. Obama is generally accepted as intelligent, but the second point, I've not been privy to.

Perhaps you should just call him and ask.

[landpoke]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

And further, that she's so very far in over her head; and what that implies about McCain's judgment.


Redhead, if you don't mind, help me with a political discussion from elsewhere: Do you think the PUMA phenomenon is a myth?

What the hell does that acronym stand for? I couldn't find a reference anywhere on their site.

UPDATE: Nevermind, I figured it out.

And for the record, I think it's real. They've got a website and everything.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Tex

Do actual positions on the issues matter to you?

there are an awful lot of people out there who feel that neither candidate represents their interests, politically speaking.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by landpoke

What the hell does that acronym stand for? I couldn't find a reference anywhere on their site.

Party Unity My Ass!

It's response from some Hillary supporters when they were told to "unite" behind Obama.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Not trying to be difficult, but what evidence can you cite that Obama does this. Obama is generally accepted as intelligent, but the second point, I've not been privy to.

I think he will actually make good on the rumors of his intent to bring in GOP cabinet members or advisors.

Once he wins next week, he has to think about 2012....and part of that strategy is bringing in folks that can help him out or take the fall, as the case may be.