I'm starting to feel pity for McCain.

[GePap]

Its funny to see Drake compare Obama to Palin. Really, its hillarious.

[Naked Gents Rut]

Whatev. "Personal assessments" of how politicians behave behind closed doors aren't worth ****. Sarah Palin has at the least demonstrated in public that she is incurious and ignorant.

You sound just like the dumbasses who have claimed for 8 years that Bush is a moron, despite all the assertions to the contrary by people (even Democrats) who actually interact with him.

Its funny to see Drake compare Obama to Palin. Really, its hillarious.

Why? They have almost exactly the same amount of relevant experience to be President. Obama has 2 years in the Senate, Palin has 2 years as Governor...

[GePap]

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut

Why? They have almost exactly the same amount of relevant experience to be President. Obama has 2 years in the Senate, Palin has 2 years as Governor...

Obama has 3 years in the Senate, and being a Senator from a large state (population wise) gives one far more exposure to national and international issues than being a governor of a physically large but sparely populated periphery state.

[Thue]

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut

She's obviously not very experienced and therefore lacks knowledge and gives some dumb answers because of it. Obama is no different, however...

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1031943.html

I don't care if she don't know all the answers. I don't expect anyone to know everything about anything. But I do expect people to know their own limits, and to not MAKE UP AND PEDDLE BULL**** about things they do not understand!

Also, knowing about fruit fly research is basic knowledge. For example, I would expect you to have a basic knowledge about it, unlike Palin. I do think we should expect basic knowledge from potential presidents.

While Obama may not know everything, there are orders of magnitude difference. Also, as I understand it one of Obama's strengths is in hearing opinions and integrating knowledge.

[Naked Gents Rut]

Obama has 3 years in the Senate

You can't count years where he was campaigning for President. He's been a Senator in name only since February 2007.

As for being a state senator, give me a break. That's not a qualification to be President of the United States.

[Jon Miller]

I mind a bit that Palin doesn't know things. I mind a lot more that she isn't curious to find out.

JM

[Naked Gents Rut]

Also, knowing about fruit fly research is basic knowledge. For example, I would expect you to have a basic knowledge about it, unlike Palin.

I know nothing about fruit fly research. Doesn't strike me as important.

I do think we should expect basic knowledge from potential presidents.

I don't give a **** about whether the President knows about fruit fly research or not.

I mind a lot more that she isn't curious to find out.

You have no idea whether this is true or not, unless you can discern a person's level of curiosity through the TV.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut


You can't count years where he was campaigning for President. He's been a Senator in name only since February 2007.

As for being a state senator, give me a break. That's not a qualification to be President of the United States.

And being a mayor of a small town in Alaska is?

You remind me of Karl Rove, attacking Gov. Kaine as a possible VP choice, calling him inexperience for having been a governor of Virginia for just 2 years and previouly having been the mayor of a "small city" (with only 105,000 people!), and then gushing about how experienced Sarah Palin was....

And then of course there are their lives and accomplishments prior to their political careers, which is a complete no contest, with regardas to having shown competence and intelligence.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut
You sound just like the dumbasses who have claimed for 8 years that Bush is a moron, despite all the assertions to the contrary by people (even Democrats) who actually interact with him.

If a politician doesn't want me to think that he's an idiot then perhaps he shouldn't say idiotic things.

Look, maybe Bush is a ****ing genius and his idiot persona is just a sop to the idiots who elected him twice, but why the **** should I believe that? Especially given the string of idiotic decisions that marked the first 5 years of his Presidency? I take, in general, a very dim view of politicians. Most of them are soft-headed loudmouths who have little understanding of the issues they attempt to legislate. This works well for them, because the electorate is mostly composed of soft-headed ignoramuses who have little understanding of the issues they are voting on. Politics is a classic example of what happens when control is divorced from knowledge. When a politician sounds dumb even for a politician then why should I take a charitable view of things? Because some other politicians think he's smart based on **** that I'm not privy to? Please.

[Naked Gents Rut]

If a politician doesn't want me to think that he's an idiot then perhaps he shouldn't say idiotic things.

I doubt you think Biden is less intelligent than Palin, despite the fact that he says far more idiotic things than her at a much higher rate. Don't pretend you're being objective on this.

I take, in general, a very dim view of politicians. Most of them are soft-headed loudmouths who have little understanding of the issues they attempt to legislate. This works well for them, because the electorate is mostly composed of soft-headed ignoramuses who have little understanding of the issues they are voting on.

Well, I certainly agree with you on this. Biden is the perfect example. I guess I should follow every use of the word "smart" in this thread with "for a politician." There are certainly no geniuses in our government.

And being a mayor of a small town in Alaska is?

Of course it isn't.

You remind me of Karl Rove, attacking Gov. Kaine as a possible VP choice, calling him inexperience for having been a governor of Virginia for just 2 years and previouly having been the mayor of a "small city" (with only 105,000 people!), and then gushing about how experienced Sarah Palin was....

Neither of them are experienced. Rove has to claim Palin is experienced because he's a GOP hack, just like you have to claim Obama is experienced because you're a Dem hack. I can admit that neither of them (or Tim Kaine) are experienced enough to be President.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut
You have no idea whether this is true or not, unless you can discern a person's level of curiosity through the TV.

It is the responsibility of politicians to present their positive personality traits through their TV appearances, as well as through print statements and through their policy initiatives.

That statement by itself shows she is either stupid, incurious, deliberately anti-intellectual or a liar. Which of those traits is positive again?

[GePap]

I think it would be lovely for once for the person who gets up there and pledges to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States to know enough about that which they pledge to defend and uphold that they could teach constitutional law at one of the premier law schools in the country for several years.

I know, an impossible dream, but one with appeal nonetheless.

[Naked Gents Rut]

That statement by itself shows she is either stupid, incurious, deliberately anti-intellectual or a liar. Which of those traits is positive again?

C and D are definitely useful for a politician.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut


I doubt you think Biden is less intelligent than Palin, despite the fact that he says far more idiotic things than her at a much higher rate. Don't pretend you're being objective on this.

I think Biden knows much more (at least in a superficial sense). He is also much more open with his thoughts. I don't rate his intelligence very highly from what I've seen of him. He seems to have spent more time learning at least basic facts than Palin has, as well as developing a cogent philosophy (which is, in general, fairly simple-minded).

EDIT: wording was a little awkward.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Naked Gents Rut
Neither of them are experience. Rove has to claim Palin is experience because he's a GOP hack, just like you have to claim Obama is experience because you're a Dem hack. I can admit that neither of them (or Tim Kaine) are experienced enough to be President.

You claiming you aren't a McCain hack is so very precious, but belied by your comments for the past month.

More importantly, experience is not the same as competence or judgement. After eight years of Bush (who supposedly was ready for the job thanks to his years as governor) and Cheney (you can hardly get more government experience than him), the "experience" meme should be seen as what it is , just one of many reasons to chose a leader.