Posted on 12/21/2010 3:07:28 AM PST by Scanian
Since Obama first stepped on the national stage, pundits have fallen all over each other in a race to declare that Obama is special type of genius. Tom Shales of the WaPo recently called Obama "the smartest kid in the class." Billionaire Julian Robertson claimed, "Obama, from all I read, thinks that on every occasion that he is the smartest person in the room. And I think he often probably is. ..."
Robertson may be half-right. Obama apparently does consider himself the smartest person in every room. According to Peter Baker of the NYT, "One prominent Democratic lawmaker told me Obama's problem is that he is not insecure -- he always believes he is the smartest person in any room and never feels the sense of panic. ... [Emphasis added.]"
How do Shales, Robertson, and even Obama know that the president is the smartest kid in the class or the smartest guy in the room? There is an interesting and little-discussed quandary (in logic it is called an aporia) in the assertion that person X, whoever that might be, is the smartest person in the room.
Before we examine this problem, let's set down some parameters. What do these people mean by "smartest"? Since the discussion is about politics, it is fairly safe to assume that "smartest" does not refer to some standard test for intelligence.
Thinking it through, Obama's admirers cannot be referring to his IQ. In terms of IQ, Obama is clearly not the smartest person in any room he enters. The fact of the matter is that Obama's IQ scores have not been made public. Guesses by enthusiasts of his IQ range from 140 to 170 [i]. Obama's detractors calculate a much lower IQ.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Nice concept for an essay but riddled with holes. :-(
I'd like to see Obama giving the justification for vetoing the bills containing this requirement.
My non-expert opinion: He is not the smartest person in every room. He is unquestionably the biggest jackazz in the world at this time. I am certain that in the fullness of time, his truth will be exposed.
Haiku Guy’s First Law:
If someone mentions IQ,
They are a moron.
Obama is a legend in his own mind.
O is the smartest person OR living creature in the room if he is with a gerbil, cockroach, and bunch of carrots.
but then some might even challenge that.
way over your head big boy
Good call. I think Obama's narcissism really shines through in this sort of observation. There are a lot of smart freepers who have worked with some very special individuals in their lives. Anyone who has had that sort of experience ought to be fully aware that overweening self-confidence is an error -- the guy next to you might well be three steps ahead of you in his thinking. Smart people like to work with other smart people -- and having someone possibly out-think you is part of the adrenaline rush.
If Obama always thinks he is the smartest person in the room, then he is a fool, and probably crazy to boot.
To hell with Obama's problem. Our problem is that Obama is afflicted with narcissistic personality disorder.
"Narcissistic Personality Disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of grandiosity (either in fantasy or actual behavior), an overwhelming need for admiration, and usually a complete lack of empathy toward others.... While this pattern of behavior may be appropriate for a king in 16th Century England, it is generally considered inappropriate for most ordinary people today."
...as long as “the room” is a closet...
The work is still above his pay grade...
“probably crazy to boot”
One of the basic traits of a lefty, wouldn’t you say?
Somebody needs to do a photoshop of 0 as Henry VIII.
Maybe chewing on a big turkey leg.
He thinks corpsman is pronounced corpseman and that Austrian is a language. How smart could he be?
My guess is that they’re not releasing his IQ because it’s lower than GWB’s, and how would the media spin that?
The suggestion that 0 has “street smarts” may have validity...but even that is fake since he had to move to the Southside and hook up with The Wookie and “Rev” Wright to learn them.
Nothing real or authentic about 0.
He also thinks there are 57 states and Penn State’s team is the Nittaly Lions. Oh, and Cominskey Field.
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