[pierrem15]

I don't think someone has to agree with me theoretically to be brilliant, and moral probity is not a prerequisite for theoretical ability, which is why even ayoung person can be theoretically brilliant.

But in practice there is still the fundamental distinction between having one's thinking properly oriented towards the good vs. mere cleverness. Obama strikes me as very intelligent and well intentioned but ultimately merely clever, not brilliant.

Think of it this way: how much more remarkable would Obama be if he truly understood economics and the Constitution instead of mouthing leftist platitudes.

[BackInBlack]

“Think of it this way: how much more remarkable would Obama be if he truly understood economics and the Constitution instead of mouthing leftist platitudes.”

I’d certainly like him a lot more. But remember where this back-and-forth started: with the assumption that he must be some kind of affirmative action case just because he’s a black liberal. That’s a racist assumption. Plenty of white liberals are elected despite being wrong; Obama is by all appearances smarter and more talented than the vast majority of them, yet he’s the one with the AA tag. That’s what’s ridiculous.