Posted on 10/22/2004 12:20:26 PM PDT by quidnunc
It was what I felt instinctively the first and only time I met him, at a lunch at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 1998. He was subtle, full of cultural and historical references, elaborating each fine argument at length, with perception and nuance. I commented to one of his aides afterward that I regrettably thought his brains could turn out to be the biggest impediment to a man like him ever occupying the White House.
All these years later, with most polls still showing George W. Bush ahead of his opponent after three debates in which Kerry proved himself more articulate and thoughtful and flexible and able to understand an increasingly dangerous world, I am afraid I may have been right. Yet it still seems inconceivable to me that someone as incompetent, incoherent and obtuse as Bush could possibly command almost half the votes of his fellow countrymen.
Is it that Americans actually like Bush's know-nothing effect? Or is it that Kerry strikes Americans as too highbrow? As pretentious? Do they see his complexity as excessive effeminate suppleness?
This anti-intellectualism has, unfortunately, a long history in the United States.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
How on earth do they expect us to follow them when they insult our intelligence all the time!
Nah, sKerry's not brainy just like albore but both have LARGE egos. They've grown up with silver spoons in their mouths. If they ever had to get their hands dirty doing manual labor, they'd have a heart attack. They become an "intellectual" because of all the money and connections behind them. They're acknowledged as smart by their own cliques.
The standard DU loser line: We lose because we're so much smarter than everyone else. Whatever gets you through the night, I guess...
Intelligent or an educated BS artist? Judging by his legislative career, I vote for the latter.
Dubya's was over 1200, was it not?
Viva Bush!
I hear Kerry supporters call radio shows all the time trying to explain why an intellectual Kerry is better than a down to earth Bush.
The funny thing is that these "intellectual" liberals struggle with the very words they use to describe Kerry, or better yet, don't know the meaning of the words they're attempting to use.
Dubya's was over 1200, was it not?
Viva Bush!
I respectfully beg to differ. THK as a good choice? Not for me!!!
Yeah, and yet, we are still the greatest, most prosperous, most industrious nation in the history of the world, by far.
There is that word "complexity" again.
No. Probably the opposite. Much has been made about Bush's grades at Yale, but sKerry's were lower and Bush got into, and graduated from Harvard Business School. sKerry couldn't get in, so he became a professional gigolo.
So, when Kerry loses, they will say he was too smart and the electorate obviously stupid.
Oh well.
At least they got the first part right - Kerry is going to lose.
Probably the single biggest problem with France is their blind worship of intellectuals.
I think there's a point where anti-intellectualism can go a bit too far...I think it does here on FR with regard to the hard sciences; the problem is people reading MSM articles on the hard sciences, though, which are poorly written and make the scientists look like idiots.
Kerry strikes me as intelligent enough. So does the president. And yes, intelligence is an important attribute to have if you want to be president. But it's not the only one. Just as important I would name heart, courage, decisiveness, discerning of right and wrong, good and evil. From what I can tell, Kerry is empty of these and the president is filled abundantly with them. On a scale, it will tip to the president every time!
Kerry is so intelligent, he knew that
--national exposure as an anti-war activist was a free ticket to getting elected in Massachusetts
--getting elected in Massachusetts meant he'd be Senator-for-life
--as a Senator with a safe seat, he could marry heiresses, and from then on, life would be all play and no work.
That's not the kind of intelligence we seek in the leader of the free world. John Kerry, besides being a despicable phony, is just plain lazy.
Why is it that Democrats put so much stock in the book's cover?******
One look at THAT cover - and I wouldn't be inclined to open it - barf
Two weeks to go, time to roll out the "Libs are smarter then pubs" articles.
It works everytime in fly-over country.
Stupid is as stupid does.
"He was subtle, full of cultural and historical references, elaborating each fine argument at length, with perception and nuance."
I think Ariel Dorfman
needs to get out more.
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