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To: wastedpotential
Palin has strong core principles, but comes across as an intellectual lightweight.

Let's assume you are correct, which I don't believe, what could not a 'President Palin' do or accomplish?
And I'd like to ask if you would list three Presidents whom you think were intellectually adept.

102 posted on 06/14/2010 7:51:03 AM PDT by jla
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To: jla

“And I’d like to ask if you would list three Presidents whom you think were intellectually adept.”

First - I like Sarah Palin, but when she could not answer the question about a Supreme Court case she disagreed with, other than Roe v. Wade, it disappointed me. She comes across as too folksy in my opinion, but that is just that, my opinion.

As for the question, the left has always viewed their candidates as intellectually superior, but frankly, that is just snobbery. They believe that being in agreement with the Ivy League or Europe somehow is more enlightened than being in agreement with the common man. With that in mind, here are my three:

#1 - Ronald Reagan. He had a folksy way about him too, and was dismissed by media elites as non-intellectual, but he communicated with a much larger vocabulary and in a way that expressed a deep understanding of what is needed for this country. He believed in cutting taxes, stronger defense and in moral absolutes of right and wrong, good and evil. He spent more time in public office than Palin has, so he probably was better versed in “government speak” than she is. As for communication - there is not, and probably never will be, any one better. He could make even his harshest critic feel at ease with a joke, but then turn around and make the boldest of statements, such as calling the Soviet Union “evil.” Palin seems to lack his “gravitas,” but that is just my opinion.

Not impressed by our recent crop, although I do like Dubya better than most. Here are the other 2 then:

#2 - Richard Nixon. While he was a fool for getting caught up in the Watergate scandal (he was going to win anyway, so why do it?), he was very adept politically. He opened our relationship with China to begin the weakening of the soviet union, got us out of the Vietnam mess and brought the country out of the tumultuous 60s that Lyndon B. had left him. Kissinger probably was the true brains of his foreign policy, but I will give Nixon credit. He came across as intellectually adept.

#3 - Hmmmmm......... can’t think of one that actually served as president that I would classify that way that has served in my lifetime, so I will have to go with some candidates that did not make it.
Fred Thompson was very intellectually adept, even if he was emotionally inept during his 2008 campaign.
Dick Cheney is one of the most intellectually adept Republicans of the past 50 years (did he ever run for prez?).
Newt Gingrich, while I find his global warming ideas to be ridiculous, his masterminding of the 1994 election and the subsequent showdown with Clinton was brilliant - if only he had had the media savvy of Bill.

What do you think?


105 posted on 06/14/2010 10:42:15 AM PDT by wastedpotential (McCain always said I was an agent of intolerance - but in 2008 those like me tolerated him most)
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To: jla

BTW - I also think a president Palin could accomplish quite a bit - but I do not think she is electable by the majority of Americans. Her appeal is to no more than 45% of the population in my opinion.


106 posted on 06/14/2010 10:44:16 AM PDT by wastedpotential (McCain always said I was an agent of intolerance - but in 2008 those like me tolerated him most)
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