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Brainy Candidates Need Not Apply: Is John Kerry too intelligent to be president of the U.S.?
The Los Angeles Times ^ | October 22, 2004 | Ariel Dorfman

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 He was subtle, full of cultural and historical references, elaborating each fine argument at length, with perception and nuance.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 ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: kerry
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1 posted on 10/22/2004 12:20:26 PM PDT by quidnunc
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To: quidnunc
Yeah right.

What were his combined SAT scores? 1190?

2 posted on 10/22/2004 12:21:49 PM PDT by Right Wing Professor
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To: quidnunc

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.


3 posted on 10/22/2004 12:22:19 PM PDT by wvobiwan (Kerry/Edwards Foreign Policy Slogan: Accept our surrender or we'll sue!)
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To: quidnunc

There are a lot of words to describe John Kerry, intelligent is NOT one of them...


4 posted on 10/22/2004 12:22:24 PM PDT by AbramsGunnerE5
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To: quidnunc
WHERE'S THE BARF ALERT?

Sheesh.

5 posted on 10/22/2004 12:22:30 PM PDT by sandalwood (Once we get Kerry out of the way, we're coming for you, Rendell!!)
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To: quidnunc

That paper has no way to go but up. What an ignorant piece!


6 posted on 10/22/2004 12:22:39 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Used to be sciencediet but found the solution)
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To: quidnunc
Looks like the lib MSM are throwing in the towel in their own condescending, bizarre way.
7 posted on 10/22/2004 12:22:51 PM PDT by mlbford2 ("Never wrestle with a pig; you can't win, you just get filthy, and the pig loves it...")
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To: quidnunc

Did anyone else hear Rush whoop up on this dork today?

It was magnificent. :)


8 posted on 10/22/2004 12:22:52 PM PDT by Constantine XIII
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To: quidnunc

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.


9 posted on 10/22/2004 12:23:24 PM PDT by pikachu (The REAL script)
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To: quidnunc
Brainy?
ehhhh . . . .
10 posted on 10/22/2004 12:23:29 PM PDT by BenLurkin (We have low inflation and and low unemployment.)
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To: quidnunc
I recall that Ann Coulter succinctly covered this issue in her book "Slander." In the Leftists' eyes, every Republican is "dumb," "stupid," and "unsophisticated" while every Democrat is "brilliant," "intelligent" and "incredibly sophisticated."

Sorry, li'l Leftists. This "too smart for his own good" bullcrap doesn't fly. Smart people win elections, jackass.

11 posted on 10/22/2004 12:24:28 PM PDT by Prime Choice (The Leftists think they can tax us into "prosperity" and regulate us into "liberty.")
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To: quidnunc

Most liberal "intellectuals" are simply educated beyond their intelligence.


12 posted on 10/22/2004 12:24:50 PM PDT by petercooper (Everything I ever needed to know about Islam, I learned on 9-11-01.)
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To: quidnunc

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!


13 posted on 10/22/2004 12:24:58 PM PDT by small voice in the wilderness (Quick, act casual. If they sense scorn and ridicule, they'll flee..)
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To: quidnunc

"...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?


14 posted on 10/22/2004 12:25:07 PM PDT by wvobiwan (Kerry/Edwards Foreign Policy Slogan: Accept our surrender or we'll sue!)
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To: quidnunc
This anti-intellectualism has, unfortunately, a long history in the United States.

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.

15 posted on 10/22/2004 12:25:11 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
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To: Constantine XIII

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........


16 posted on 10/22/2004 12:25:15 PM PDT by t2buckeye
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To: quidnunc
Didn't they try this with Clintoon???? And I supposed President Bush is a grade school drop out. You sure as sheet never hear that about a Republican...we're just smart enough I guess.
17 posted on 10/22/2004 12:25:16 PM PDT by 4everontheRight (John Kerry - Serving the UN, not the US)
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To: quidnunc
intelligence is overrated.

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...

18 posted on 10/22/2004 12:25:46 PM PDT by chilepepper (The map is not the territory -- Alfred Korzybski)
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To: quidnunc

John Kerry is only superficial 'on the outside' :)


19 posted on 10/22/2004 12:25:49 PM PDT by YouPosting2Me
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To: quidnunc
This Just In—Kerry's IQ Likely Lower than Bush's!
20 posted on 10/22/2004 12:26:11 PM PDT by SuperSonic (We will win with W!!)
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