I think there are idiots on both sides. Fascists of thought that presume the liberal agenda is people with geniuses, and the conservative agenda, moron; fascists of thought that presume the liberal agenda is peopled with unprincipled loons, and the conservative agenda, principled culture-heroes. They're both fascists. That said, I dunno, take it for what you will - as a French chef, serving French food, did it have to be an honest to god affirmation of patriotism to insist on asking for "freedom fries" over the menu's "frites:" The mentality is there, just as it is there in applauding Bush's appeal to "common man" sensibilities in boasting of his C average before an audience of college students. It is there, and it is basely ignorant.
There seem to be conflicting arguments in place. If (1) a good transcript guarantees success at what you do and (2)Republicans are often characterized as the rich... wouldnt that disprove boasts liberals are of uniformly higher intelligence? Those are both liberal arguments, but cant co-exist in the same reality. Grades mean less after you get out of school than does what you've done. Al Gore had lower grades than George Bush, having even flunked out of divinity school, but I seldom hear his proponents denigrating Gore or considering him to have low intellect because they dont like his transcript. OTOH, if ancient academic performance is an indicator of vast capability... well... I scored in the top 2 percent nationally on my ninth grade standardized test (whopptiefreakindo)... are you ready to elect ME President now? LOL
GPA does not measure intelligent. Obama, Bush, Palin, Biden, McCain are all very intelligent even though they may not be as smart as you. What about common sense and drive in a leader? I'd be proud to have someone with Obama's mind in the White House as a janitor.
Good point, Rob. I think we will find that fannie, freddie gave the dems big bucks and have had a lot of defenders in congress on their behalf. I believe the finance, real estate, insurance industries provide more money to elections than any other industry. The entire industry spread it around to everyone...but Fannie and Freddie have apparently been in bed with Dems. As much as I'd like to put ALL the blame on some guys....it looks like there is enuff blame for everyone.
Rob, and Homebiz - it is the the culture of idiocy endemic to this president's tenure I'm speaking of. I love principled, thoughtful conservatism. I can talk with it. There couldn't be any grander difference between Bush's mind, and Kennedy's - and I'll take Kennedy's. In this same vein, I'll take Obama's, any day of the week. It isn't transcripts, but what is valued in terms of thoughtful inquiry over stubbornness and intractability, that I'm speaking to.
Hot damn... I'm gonna go look up "endemic"... then really give u a peace uf my mind fer cussin at me.
Well Harold, who is our boy trying to insult here. you or me? Grim is just like OBAMA. He can talk all day. Never an original idea, never a position. Always taking the middle ground. "Both sides suck. I'n not voing for either. I'm just sayin'..." Oooo wait... I forgot to pretend that he hurt my feelings.
I actually do have positions, strong positions, I also have ideas all the time. You however appear to copy and paste, nothing more. Yes both sides to suck, I will vote, I however will not sell out my soul for the lesser of two evils. Wasn't trying to hurt your feelings.
Just curious, since this is the Sarah Palin Thread... After all the talk of “not being scared to fight partisanship“, and “Mavericks who will change the system“, it seems that VP candidate Palin has the perfect opportunity to take the fight to them and prove her innocence. Instead of fighting, she is running and avoiding the issue. It seems to me that if she had nothing to hide, would be forth coming in their cooperation, the way the she defiantly stated in the beginning, regardless of what ever perceived partisanship she claims. That is supposed to be her strong point. Fighting the "big 'ole boys". Well where is she ? Why is she running from this investigation in Alaska ? It started back in July, before she was asked to run as V.P., and she swore to cooperate, now everyone involved, including her husband is ignoring the request of the State Investigator to answer a few questions. How did all of a sudden it go from "I have nothing to hide" when she was Governor, to a all of a sudden a partisan which hunt. She doesn't seem to be that fearless now. JMO
I'd have to say, it seems this is true, sad as that sounds to me. You would have a man schooled in International Relations out of Columbia University, President of the Harvard Law Review (with the additional honor of breaking a color line in the post), Magna Cum Laude, work as a .... janitor. In truth, Biz and others, a comment like the above is precisely what I'm talking about. Intellectual ability, and doing something with it, isn't anathema, though we've seen the development of a culture decrying such achievement over the last stretch of time. It wasn't a bad thing for Kennedy: And it isn't for Obama. It's one of the things I admire about him. Yes, I think our President is an imbecile, and, with his Imperial Vice Presidency, a liar to boot. I think he has supplanted arrogance and obstinacy for moral courage. I think he has imbued our country's political climate with a cynicism and selfishness that has infected every corner of our national debate, and I think he has trashed a good many things I happen to hold dear. Such a legacy is not simply something that will go away with the end of his presidency, and it will certainly not go away with some of the sentiments I continue to see expressed here. @Hmansfield: I agree. Nature abhors a vacuum, and the best thing Palin could have done was to stand tall, answer transparently, and make all her supposed "enemies" look like fools, if in fact they had nothing but a political gambit to play. As it stands, she merely invokes more of the cloud of suspicion she and her running mate so stridently call "unfair."
Harold - Cant speak for her, but if I were running for the White House role I wouldnt spend my time on the trooper thing during the campaign either... the story has no legs. The trooper himself is still gainfully employed in the same job he was in at the time, and the guy she fired worked "at the pleasure of the Governor"... meaning she could fire him at will. WHY doesnt matter in that situation. Perfectly legal. In municipal government I've served in appointive roles at the mayors pleasure, so I understand the concept from experience. Try looking up how that works. Its probably in the same government textbook you should have read before the comments in the other thread that kinda showed you were clueless to the fact that Russia has veto power at the UN. It isnt that she's fearful, she's just smarter than you.
It's a word that I think is overused and abused, but I think it may be appropriate here, this comment seems elitist.
Then it seems she could disprove illegal malice and interference if she were to simply point these things out, Rob. I don't really care, too much, as I think so much else about her raises flags - but I do think the thing can prove viable, and if she doesn't want to invoke a cyclone, dispel it - if indeed there is something to dispel. I understand this wasn't directed to me, but I can tell you that as a Field Rep, California State Senator,*** and a communications liaison, County Supervisor, and other capacities back in my activist days, I do understand how it works, and understand what an at-will regime means in addition. But this doesn't encompass illegal interference in the performance of another's duties. Meaning, I made speeches and presented awards alot when my boss was busy not being available to his constituents, which was quite often. Best story was being chased down by Secretary of State March Fong Eu's goon/tactical squads, thinking I was a terrorist, I guess, about to crash the gates to an award ceremony. Cars careened on mine, automatic weapons drawn, whole bit. I gamely crawled out from my yellow Honda, plaque in tow, "I'm Senator ________'s Field Rep - I'm here to honor Pastor ______________." Click, click, click - guns reholstered, "oh."
But to be honest, wouldn't a C average at Yale be like a B+ or even A at most colleges? I don't know if they graded on the curve back then, but if so then an average of x at Yale was probably even that much harder to maintain.
Again, Logic, to me it is less the fact that he maintained a "C" average but that he used that to say, "see? Ain't it great! Work hardly at all, and you, too, so long as your pappy was Prez and has the connections, can also be Prez!" (OK, I paraphrase). I do compare it unfavorably with Kennedy's sensibility, above. Maybe I'm just bitter. I dropped out of school at 14, and worked hard to eventually fulfill whatever native abilities were afforded me; worked my ass off while at Berkeley, was grateful for the opportunity as Obama appears to be for what was given him, and maintained a 3.97, as an undergrad. While I know that qualifies me for the janitorship of some pretty swell joints, apparently, if I had only known it was mediocrity in school that mattered in life....if I only knew....
reminds me of attorney general Alberto R. Gonzales http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/washington/27cnd-gonzales.html
OK, I guess I missed the point. It's not that he got a C average, but that he made a joke of it, as to imply that mediocrity is OK.
But investigation backers note the probe is broader than simply Monegan's firing. They cite a bipartisan legislative panel's original mandate: to investigate "potential abuses of power and/or improper actions by members of the executive branch." Source ADN. For those that say you wouldn't answer any questions on a State investigation merely because you are running for office..I don't believe that. Just from how far some will go to seemingly "protect" their character on a simple forum...yet you wouldn't answer questions of ethics violations in a state investigation to prove to the people you want to hire you that you have nothing to hide? I'm not buying that. Besides, that investigation started in July. She wasn't asked to run as V.P. until a few weeks ago. Looks even weaker to use running for office as a reason not to cooperate, when you swore to the voters of your state that you would. If that is what we can expect from her..to run from a fight when she is supposed to be the fighter..then she is in for a world of hurt in Washington, and they will tear her apart. From what I have seen, all it will take is some bad press and she will claim sexism, and everyone's out to get her. Know what I mean ? I don't know what you are talking about concerning the other thread and Russia, but it may be a good idea not to address me directly, or insult my intelligence yet again, as I am trying to be the bigger man. You don't know when to quit. JMO.
Northpointe - Burden of proof is on the appointee that got canned, and its gonna be hard to prove she fired him so she could get rid of the trooper when the appointee is gone and the trooper remains. Her story that he was insubordinate on other areas otoh wont be tough to show. Still would not waste time on it during the race for the white house. Looks like no matter how much the Obama fans *wish* this was the ultimate smoking gun that'll bring down the candidate thats thrown their campaign into panic... their time would be better spent getting issues out. One good way would be to get their purportedly brilliant candidate to accept McCains repeated invitations to meet him in town hall venues to discuss specifics and take questions... but Obama seems to be unwilling to meet in a format where a canned speech on a teleprompter wont bail him out. He'll pale by comparison 1-on-1 with McCain, he knows it... but dodging this makes it appear he isnt as good on his feet as everyone thinks. Dont wanna hear how smart he is if he's scared to prove it by his actions.
You got it, Logic - that was my problem with it. And I am serious when I say I feel that kind of thinking really has infected our culture. Biz, I'm sorry if you're offended by this - I really am - but Biz's comment on "Obama the Janitor" for his intellectual achievement and native mind is precisely what I'm talking about. The glorification of mediocrity, the eschewal of anything resembling intellectual effort - the antithesis of what I think we can and should be shooting for in this country.