In David Gelernter's book, America-Lite, he explains that the current breed of college-educated liberals are not like the old lions of liberalism. They don't have a set of (erroneous) values that they can discuss and defend. They have merely absorbed the liberal cliches and shibboleths in school through osmosis and regurgitate them. He calls them, Obama included, "Airheads".
I was not aware of this book (America Lite) or of this term but, I am definitely aware of what you are speaking about. I meet liberals who don’t understand the underpinning of the philosphy they champion. They have never heard of either John Locke or Rosseau.
A tenent of liberal thought is that man is basically bad. A tenant of conservative thought is that man is basically good. When I throw that fact out to the Omamanacs they get all mad at me. They don’t even realize how ignorant they are. When Obama counters Romney next time, he needs to argue in these terms and related concepts but, I’m certain he knows not one of them.
Obama just has this ‘classic’ chip on his shoulder about how rich people, banks, and big business are evil and how all poor people are virtuous and being held back by ‘the man’. These ‘chips’ play well on the emotions but, unless defended in some larger philosophical context one comes off looking like Obama did on Wednesday...that is like a dunderhead.
Also, he’s certain America deserves the contempt from other countries although he never says it because he’s too gutless. During last Wednesday’s debate, he was too gutless to say a lot of things he believed because he was afraid Romney would further embarrass him with his intellect.
My true impression is that Obama is a dunderhead. His good looks, charming personality, and his blackness (yes blackness) has carried him to the highest office in the land. These are all necessary attributes of a president to be sure (not counting the blackness) but, one also needs a resume of accomolishments, a proven track record of workig with people, and the kind of confidence that can only come from proven success during trial by fire.
Based on this criteria, there should be no question that Romney should win this election. If, however; Obama does win, I’m going to buy that book you mentioned. I’ll need to know more about the idiots running this country...and their supporters.