re: Intellectual Republicans

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re: Intellectual Republicans

TB — 7/2/2007 11:53:35 PM (archived)

Trouble with this discussion is I can't get past your premise that people like Gore and Clinton(!!) are geniuses by any standard other than their fans loudly declaring it (in between screaming 24/7 about how stupid Bush is.)

An intellectual is someone who deals with the abstract principles of human society and politics. Note that this has more to do with what somebody thinks about than it does with their raw brain power. Most politicians are technicians, dealing with the machinery of power, and applying their brains to that. Clinton is clever in the same way that a fox is clever, but foxes don't do a lot of abstraction.

Then again, raw brains are not always a guideline for political success.

I just noticed in that article: I have two dozen IQ points on Al Gore, and yet a lot of people here think I'm an idiot. ;)

Newt Gingrich could be considered an intellectual Republican politician. Steve Forbes comes to mind. Tom McClintock, who has a stupendous grasp of fiscal theory, lost to Arnold. A grasp of the principles that should drive politics doesn't help much when personality counts for so much more.

The whole thread (128 posts)

A hypothetical question: - Jody - 6/29/2007 10:37:17 AM
- Can we reverse this? - nick hoffman - 7/6/2007 3:47:39 PM
  - Two words: President Cheney - Mary Anne - 7/7/2007 10:02:49 PM
    - Yipe indeed - McFly - 7/8/2007 10:34:51 PM
    - I'd vote for Cheney in 08 if he chose to run. - SDAI-Tech1 - 7/8/2007 8:14:27 AM
      - Me too. Most fortunately, we won't have to. - TB - 7/8/2007 8:24:07 PM
      - I hope I live long enough to prove you wrong - Lindy - 7/8/2007 4:40:20 PM
        
        Most people discarded "war for oil" a long time ago. - TB - 7/8/2007 8:33:41 PM
        
        I didn't - Lindy - 7/8/2007 8:58:35 PM
      - heh. No doubt. - Mary Anne - 7/8/2007 1:54:50 PM
        
        It all depends... - SDAI-Tech1 - 7/8/2007 4:30:39 PM
        
        Democracy places trust in the people. - Mary Anne - 7/8/2007 5:57:54 PM
        
        re: Democracy places trust in the people. - SDAI-Tech1 - 7/8/2007 9:27:10 PM
        
        One motivation you're forgetting - azstrummer - 7/9/2007 8:21:40 PM
        
        Does Cheney look like a rabid religionist? - SDAI-Tech1 - 7/10/2007 8:07:11 AM
        
        Mind Wars - Lindy - 7/10/2007 12:16:28 AM
        
        Where do you keep finding these nuts? - TB - 7/10/2007 1:00:46 AM
        
        I wouldn't exactly call him that - Lindy - 7/10/2007 3:43:03 PM
        
        What I find fascinating about this post... - TB - 7/9/2007 10:28:28 PM
        
        I wouldn't be a bit surprised - Lindy - 7/10/2007 12:20:07 AM
        
        What do you get when you fall in love with Power? - Eri - 7/8/2007 9:42:25 PM
        
        I agree with you Eri - Lindy - 7/8/2007 11:16:40 PM
        
        If one really loves power... - SDAI-Tech1 - 7/8/2007 10:13:22 PM
        
        re: If one really loves power... - Eri - 7/8/2007 11:53:42 PM
        
        Yeah...right... - SDAI-Tech1 - 7/9/2007 12:08:36 AM
        
        You really DON'T know what you're talking about - Eri - 7/9/2007 3:51:58 AM
        
        Wearing blinders - Lindy - 7/9/2007 4:51:51 AM
        
        re: If one really loves power... - Lindy - 7/8/2007 11:20:55 PM
        
        If one loves money, one stays a CEO. - Mary Anne - 7/8/2007 11:07:33 PM
        
        Lots of folks had things to gain... - SDAI-Tech1 - 7/8/2007 11:33:56 PM
        
        Most major politicians, unfortunately. - TB - 7/8/2007 9:56:43 PM
        
        Most major politicians go play golf - Lindy - 7/8/2007 11:27:13 PM
        
        Most major politicians go play golf - Lindy - 7/8/2007 11:27:05 PM
        
        Tom sees white when there is only black - Lindy - 7/8/2007 11:23:31 PM
        
        Where have I been? - TB - 7/9/2007 3:42:12 AM
        
        On the radio tonight - Eri - 7/9/2007 3:56:51 AM
    - President Cheney -- ACKKKKKK!!!!!! - Eri - 7/8/2007 12:29:34 AM
  - Snort! (n/t) - Eri - 7/7/2007 6:50:01 AM
- Eisenhower - azstrummer - 7/3/2007 10:12:57 PM
  - We'd be better off if all our presidents were drafted. - TB - 7/4/2007 4:24:12 AM
    - re: Presidential draft - Fox - 7/7/2007 6:05:52 PM
    - HERE we agree - ARRELL - 7/5/2007 7:44:11 PM
- Sam Houston :) - REB - 7/2/2007 3:55:27 PM
- Maybe we could use a man like Calvin Coolidge again :) - FrankC - 6/30/2007 10:30:22 PM
  - The Coolidge effect - FrankC - 7/3/2007 10:24:44 PM
  - Wasn't it - Buck Galaxy - 7/2/2007 8:05:39 AM
    - Yes, but I never liked Hoover (g) (n/t) - FrankC - 7/2/2007 4:27:35 PM
  - My Father was - Jody - 6/30/2007 11:00:50 PM
    - Getting off on a tangent - Lee - 6/30/2007 11:51:25 PM
  - My hero - FrankC - 6/30/2007 10:35:13 PM
- A tough decision - Fox - 6/30/2007 5:16:29 PM
  - Carter? - TB - 7/1/2007 5:55:19 AM
  - re: A tough decision - Lindy - 7/1/2007 3:28:29 AM
  - Not new, not old... - Robert - 6/30/2007 8:34:44 PM
    - re: Choices and aspirations - Fox - 7/7/2007 6:57:25 PM
      - I love the idea... - Eri - 7/8/2007 12:45:21 AM
    - http://draftgore.com/ - Buck Galaxy - 7/1/2007 7:05:12 PM
      - thanks - Robert - 7/1/2007 7:45:05 PM
        
        "been burnt by politicians " - Buck Galaxy - 7/2/2007 1:49:33 AM
        
        Just to be clear... - Robert - 7/2/2007 5:11:09 PM
        
        Gore as an independent - Buck Galaxy - 7/3/2007 2:54:37 AM
        
        How about Gore/Edwards? - Lindy - 7/2/2007 11:40:43 PM
        
        zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.... - Fox - 7/10/2007 2:27:07 AM
        
        Gore as an independent - TB - 7/2/2007 5:36:52 PM
        
        Profoundly ironic - Robert - 7/2/2007 8:41:35 PM
        
        Check your premises - TB - 7/2/2007 12:44:31 AM
        
        Intellectual Republican - Robert - 7/2/2007 4:42:13 PM
        
        re: Intellectual Republican - Marcia - 7/3/2007 4:50:06 PM
        
        re: Intellectual Republican - Robert - 7/3/2007 5:27:06 PM
        
        re: Intellectual Republicans - TB - 7/2/2007 6:13:25 PM
        
        re: Intellectual Republicans - Robert - 7/2/2007 9:14:16 PM
        
        BTW, it IS good to have you back in the saddle! - TB - 7/4/2007 5:39:49 AM
        
        Well shucks - Robert - 7/4/2007 6:35:11 AM
        
        "democracy is stronger when all citizens participate freely in debate about the issues of the day" - TB - 7/4/2007 4:58:49 PM
        
        I hate to say it but - azstrummer - 7/4/2007 5:24:11 AM
        
        Our politicians need training ala the British model - Eri - 7/4/2007 4:25:03 PM
        
        Any of them could - Robert - 7/4/2007 6:19:53 AM
        
        "Bet we could come up with a better platform" - TB - 7/4/2007 5:48:05 PM
        
        re: Intellectual Republicans - TB - 7/2/2007 11:53:35 PM
        
        re: "... raw brains are not always a guideline for... success." - Fox - 7/7/2007 7:49:53 PM
        
        re: a guideline for success - TB - 7/7/2007 11:04:10 PM
        
        re: Intellectual Republicans - Robert - 7/3/2007 5:19:00 PM
        
        re: Intellectual Republicans - TB - 7/3/2007 11:59:37 PM
        
        Republican intellectual? - Eri - 7/1/2007 9:06:34 PM
        
        Intellectual politicians is the oxymoron (n/t) - FrankC - 7/2/2007 6:41:50 AM
        
        ...and that was one of Al's points. (n/t) - Robert - 7/2/2007 9:15:43 PM
    - OMIGOD...Robert's posting! - Lindy - 7/1/2007 3:36:00 AM
    - Excellent analysis. - Eri - 6/30/2007 10:56:02 PM
  - If your brave enough to say Carter then I'm going to say Reagan. (n/t) - RobVG - 6/30/2007 7:35:52 PM
    - Reagan?? !! - Lindy - 7/1/2007 3:41:05 AM
      - re: Reagan! :) (n/t) - Marcia - 7/3/2007 2:11:18 AM
    - "You're" (n/t) - RobVG - 6/30/2007 10:48:22 PM
    - LOL...notice how I have not said, yet???!! (n/t) - Jody - 6/30/2007 8:30:53 PM
      - Well, fess up! (n/t) - Eri - 7/1/2007 3:07:43 AM
        
        Yes Ma'm!...;) - Jody - 7/1/2007 11:32:35 AM
        
        Another vote for Jefferson! - TB - 7/2/2007 12:57:02 AM
        
        re: Another vote for Jefferson! - I know, him too. - Marcia - 7/3/2007 2:13:03 AM
        
        Very interesting Jefferson Quote - Lindy - 7/1/2007 6:27:44 PM
        
        Ironically... - Jody - 7/1/2007 12:06:36 PM
        
        re: Same to you, Jody! (n/t) - Marcia - 7/3/2007 2:15:20 AM
        
        As will I! - Eri - 7/1/2007 3:25:53 PM
      - Yes, somewhat catty on your part.:P (n/t) - RobVG - 6/30/2007 10:47:04 PM
        
        meow (n/t) - Jody - 6/30/2007 10:51:34 PM
- Clinton - Buck Galaxy - 6/30/2007 5:48:01 AM
  - I concur - McFly - 7/2/2007 2:19:23 AM
  - But don't you think that we have that "ability" now? - Jody - 7/1/2007 1:22:08 PM
  - You'd be for Hillary then. - TB - 6/30/2007 5:29:51 PM
  - I'll sign the petition (n/t) - Eri - 6/30/2007 2:41:47 PM
- Lincoln (n/t) - Eri - 6/30/2007 12:41:16 AM
- Wilson (n/t) - alcaray - 6/29/2007 8:44:30 PM
- Truman (n/t) - Bowser - 6/29/2007 5:34:54 PM
  - re: Truman - ds - 6/30/2007 2:11:42 AM
    - LOL! (n/t) - Eri - 6/30/2007 5:51:32 PM
- Jefferson or Teddy (n/t) - Lee - 6/29/2007 4:00:09 PM
  - It surprises me Lee, - Jody - 7/1/2007 12:15:43 PM
    - "Widely acknowledged." - TB - 7/2/2007 12:51:48 AM
    - He did have his flaws. - Lee - 7/2/2007 12:28:52 AM
      - Lee, you're starting to turn into a caricature. - TB - 7/2/2007 12:49:40 AM
    - She got you on that one - Lindy - 7/1/2007 6:26:35 PM
      - Mary J, Pam Grier, and Tina. - RobVG - 7/2/2007 4:11:29 AM
        
        Denzel Washington, Blair Underwood,and Sidney Poitier for me!!! (n/t) - Jody - 7/2/2007 4:24:56 AM
        
        Good grief, Sidney Poitier is about 80 years old! (n/t) - TB - 7/2/2007 6:03:44 AM
        
        Nature is full of freaks, and now - Jody - 7/2/2007 10:35:48 AM
      - No she didn't. - Lee - 7/2/2007 12:30:37 AM
- JFK (n/t) - Lindy - 6/29/2007 1:09:20 PM
  - LaRouche - ds - 6/29/2007 8:27:39 PM
    - Damn it ds!!!!! - Jody - 6/29/2007 9:23:38 PM
      - re: Damn it ds!!!!! - ds - 6/30/2007 2:11:11 AM

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