I'm amused that the ComPost managed to slip the word 'intellectual' into the conversation without bothering to provide any background for why Sen. Conrad should be thought any more intelligent than the average bureaucrat and despite the fact that whether he's an intellectual has any bearing on the story. He's retiring because he sees a tough fight to keep the seat with poor odds and he knows his ticket is punched. So hasta la vista, America, been nice to rule ya and thanks for the fish.
For those who like the odd, I call this a 'fnord' which is what one calls a word you are supposed to absorb but never remember that you saw. The intent is subliminal, but with this article we see a stark example of how the ruling-class press does it (and no, it's not mine to begin with: I cribbed it from Robert Anton Wilson, who is no particular role-model, but did come up with a neat word for something that should really get more play than it does).
Strangely, the Conrad '12 campaign has been running ads to counter negative ads already running against him. In his ads, they cite sources that call him an economic genius.
Yeah, right. If I can balance my checkbook, I'm already more of a genius than him.