Dumba** for President!
 

How many here are tied of the onslaught against "academia" and "intellectuals" in the right-wing media?

I, for one don't see how gauging candidates by their comparability to our neighbors can lead to anything good. Many of my neighbors are white-trash losers. I wouldn't put any of them in charge of a treehouse, let alone the Whitehouse. (It sounds harsh, but it's true.) Do I want an intelligent, educated Ivy-Leager as my President? Darn right I do. Only the best and brightest.

That's not to say that one MUST have an Ivy League degree to get my vote. Heck, they don't really have to have a degree at all to get my vote. Could be a Teamster truck driver, as far as that's concerned.:p. But, they do have to strike me as being highly intelligent and not afraid to lead. (Which would mean sometimes making decisions that huge mobs of noisy, stubborn Tea Baggers will vehemently oppose, for example.:rolleyes:)


The last thing I want is some hokey, slogan parroting, squirrel hunting nincompoop whose popularity stems from the fact that she reminds us of the highscool dropout ditz in the trailer next door.

Thoughts, comments?

Dave

I generally agree. However, my experience with really smart people (I work with and around lots of PhD's and have a PhD nuclear physicist for a brother) is that they often lack in common sense what they have in "book learning." Plus, their management skills aren't necessarily commensurate with their intelligence.

Striking the balance between intelligence, common sense and leadership is indeed difficult. BTW, who with a lick of common sense and humility would want to be President just now?

qft!:)

My though is, you are still the best poster here!;)

Personally, I find Perry's popularity is a sad commentary on our country and I still cannot believe we did not declare all the Palin supporters imbeciles and take all sharp objects away from them.

Speaking of dumba$$es, Michele Bachmann said the following (in jest, she insists):

"I don’t know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We’ve had an earthquake; we’ve had a hurricane. He said, ‘Are you going to start listening to me here?’ Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we’ve got to rein in the spending.”

What's worse is that a Public Religion Research institute/ Religion News Service poll from earlier this year found that nearly 40 percent of Americans “believe that earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters are a sign from God.”

It seems she's preaching to the choir.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...6QnJ_blog.html

And then there's Dave's neighbor, Pat Robertson, interpretor extraordinaire of catastrophic events:

“It seems to me the Washington Monument is a symbol of America’s power. It has been the symbol of our great nation. We look at the symbol and we say ‘this is one nation under God.’ Now there’s a crack in it... Is that sign from the Lord? ... You judge. It seems to me symbolic.”

Michelle...ditzy presidential wanna be.
Pat Robertson...needs to retire.

That is exactly my position Finn. The more brilliant tend towards less engaging personalities. Of course, there are occasional exceptions.

Yeh, but how about the 40% of Americans who believe this drivel?

There is no such thing as public opinion. There is only published opinion.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

True. But around here, I have personally met people who believe this nonsense.......fanatically.

Dave

As long as the intelligence is there... AND recognized...others can follow suit with their contributions.
I have done much research and worked with a leading expert on just that subject. There are geniuses in all walks of life (not excluding the prison system). It is always nature AND nurture that determines the outcome. ;)

Damn, Painter,

You're last three posts on this matter have been spot on.

But I do have a bit of curiosity as to why you mentioned the penal system.

Are you a former member of the only branch of law enforcement which receives no respect at all?

Chas

No Charles I was not. But that fact about the penal system... gets to the core of those that have delusions of grandeur. We are all special people and possess talents. With some...you just have to look harder. :)

I find... an opinion different from my own makes me think. In the end...the majority rules...unless SCIU shows up!! :eek:
Joking here...

A very pithy, but ultimately stupid, quote that likely came after a quart of gin.

That said, painter, I dig your posts. Keep 'em coming.;)

Hey, Finn. Think Chance could have ever made the leap from philosopher to president?

Talk about appealing to Joe Six-Pack: "I can't write . . . I can't read . . . . I like to watch TV."

Regards,

D-Ray

I think Chance is smarter than at least several of the GOP hopefuls. I wouldn't trust Bachmann to do my gardening.;)

I expected no less from you finnbow. :rolleyes:

There was an interesting article in the Atlantic a couple of issues back. It was about how much free will do we all really possess. The author noted that the mass murder in that Texas university tower (sorry I have forgotten his name) left a note about strange thoughts. The autopsy turned up a tunor in his brain in an area governing one's volition.

I have always been curious about odd behaviour and people like those we call "Idiot savant". I remember one regarding a young man who had a measurably very low IQ yet upon hearing a piece of music once could play it, as well as sing it if it had words.

Dr. Wilder Penfiel a noted Canadian brain surgeon was operating on a patient one time and the following occured. The patient was conscious with his head held in a precise position. Part of the skull was opened so that probes could be inserted. (They tell me that the brain has no feeling.) Dr. Penfield was seeking the precise area of the brain to treat and energized the probe. The patient lifted his arm and when Dr. Penfield asked him about it the patient said "Yes, my arm lifted but I did not will it to do so."

Is that an argument for the human soul? I will leave you to ponder that.

As a matter a fact...I just read that article. If you get chance...look up left brain/right brain issues. I have been experimenting with my painting styles and found it most interesting. :)

The favourite joke of a left-handed aquaintance was that it is only left-handed people who are in their right minds, my Sister, being left-handed, would appreciate that.:)

Charles Whitman was the Texas tower shooter. He sure proved how deadly a Marine can be.

I thought he wrote "Leaves of Grass".

Chas

Nope, that was Walt.

Ever the fisherman, I think Chas reeled you in on that one Rob. ;)

Regards,

D-Ray

Don, could you hand me the landing net?

I think I've just hooked the granddaddy of the all.

Chas

This is probably my first post here. In response to the OP, who among the current crop of "Republican" wannabes satisfies the criteria put forth in the last paragraph? Only one, IMHO.

And the "Right-Wing Media"? Tools of the Republicrats. I quit paying attention to Fox and Rush long ago. They are not to be trusted, and any spin they put on "academia and intellectuals" is purposely designed to ensnare your mind in an insidious trap. Again, IMHO. All the so-called front runners, Perry, Cain, Romney, Bachman, et al. can be differentiated from our current Commander in Chief by barely the breadth of a human hair. I'll stop here.

You think Cain and our current Prez are really no different? :confused:
Cain has actually had a job...did you miss that?
Please, don't stop now.

Beyond his "999" plan what has he offered socially, militarily, or economically, that is substantially different than the status quo?

Good post.

Oh and; "AuH2O64"? Barry Goldwater in '64? Elaborate, please.

Dave

"999" plan? Flip that over----666:eek:

OMG, Herman Cain is the anti-Christ!!!!:p

Dave

What the Hell do you want?
Socially, he would be the 1st REAL BLACK prez and that would make 2 consecutive minority presidents.
Your question about "economically" is fucking stupid since that is exactly what 9-9-9 is addressing.
The military...? I can't even fathom you making any comparison between that POS leader we have now and ANYONE else PERIOD!!!

As I read it, 999 addresses taxation. That is narrower than the economy in general.

Regards,

D-Ray

Maybe from you're socialist point of view.