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 He was subtle, full of cultural and historical references, elaborating each fine argument at length, with perception and nuance.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 ...
What were his combined SAT scores? 1190?
If by that you mean John Kerry is too 'smart' to see that his 'intelligence' is completely devoid of ties to reality and the truth, then yes.
There are a lot of words to describe John Kerry, intelligent is NOT one of them...
Sheesh.
That paper has no way to go but up. What an ignorant piece!
Did anyone else hear Rush whoop up on this dork today?
It was magnificent. :)
As fasr as I can tell, he has made two good choices in his life and had to divorce one to get to the other one.
Sorry, li'l Leftists. This "too smart for his own good" bullcrap doesn't fly. Smart people win elections, jackass.
Most liberal "intellectuals" are simply educated beyond their intelligence.
The same thing was said about algore. He's just TOO intelligent for us to understand or appreciate. I laughed then, I'm laughing now!
"...incompetent, incoherent and obtuse as Bush"
Bush has a Harvard MBA, Kerry got Cs as a Yale undergraduate. However, Kerry learned how to lie smoothly and effectively in the Yale Debate Club.
So who's smarter? Why is it that Democrats put so much stock in the book's cover? How about it's substance?
As someone who holds a degree in classical LAtin and Greek literature, I would prefer to say that this anti-intellectualism has, fortunately, a long history in the United States.
As a rule, there is no one less fit for executive power than a lifelong academic.
This is the typical lib mantra...when they are losing, they say their candidate is too smart (i.e. the public is too dumb to appreciate them) and implying that if Bush does pull out a win, it's because the American people are as dumb as Bush is.
Yawn........
much, much more important is wisdom, something the left never seems to understand.
most of adolph hitler's top staff had IQ's in the genius range...
John Kerry is only superficial 'on the outside' :)
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