Editorials & Other Articles

FedUp_Queer

(975 posts)

28. I'm very sorry.

Thu Feb 16, 2012, 01:39 PM

Feb 2012

That you lead such a humorless life. IQ? Are you kidding me? That sounds like something a kid would say on the playground. It's an utterly meaningless metric (since it's changeable). Where he graduated? It means nothing. Smart guy? Yes. Brilliant? Sorry. Einstein? Brilliant. Sagan? Brilliant. da Vinci? Brilliant. A "brilliant constitutional scholar" would not approve the extrajudicial killing of American citizens or argue for the indefinite detention of (which he did in a speech in 2009 at the National Archives) for uncharged and acquitted individuals. But, you go with that.

Now, let me clarify so you don't mistake me. Do I think he's "brilliant?" No. Do think he's an "intellectual?" Yes. Do think he's "very smart?" Yes. Do I think he's "dumb?" No. Do I think he's one of the smarter presidents we've had lately? Yes. Would we do well to have more scientists in government? Yes.

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Highlight:

Why Don�t Americans Elect Scientists? (NY Times OpEd) [View all] pinto Feb 2012 OP

Unlike politicians, scientists are expected to actually know something. razorman Feb 2012 #1

Scientists know where they aren't wanted Demeter Feb 2012 #8

This is America, dammit! We don't need no smarty-pants edumacated leaders! Myrina Feb 2012 #2

Exactly. FedUp_Queer Feb 2012 #6

Lame...President Obama has plenty of that. whathehell Feb 2012 #16

Somehow, I don't think that was the point. FedUp_Queer Feb 2012 #17

Really? whathehell Feb 2012 #18

Dude, really. FedUp_Queer Feb 2012 #21

Dude, really and truly whathehell Feb 2012 #25

Ok. FedUp_Queer Feb 2012 #27

LOL. whathehell Feb 2012 #30

Please...One can be brilliant without being a scientist. whathehell Feb 2012 #13

As I've said... FedUp_Queer Feb 2012 #22

And again, what I am saying, whathehell Feb 2012 #26

I'm very sorry. FedUp_Queer Feb 2012 #28

Project much? whathehell Feb 2012 #31

Sorry...I'm not that important. FedUp_Queer Feb 2012 #32

Since when does one have to be "important" to start a thread on DU? whathehell Feb 2012 #35

Well, I think a couple of reasons frazzled Feb 2012 #3

You point out one of my pet peeves ... Myrina Feb 2012 #12

Folks need to be able to "slip in and out" of Congress (state legislatures, as well) KansDem Feb 2012 #4

American politics is incompatible with rational thought... Blue_Tires Feb 2012 #5

Jimmy Carter, with a degree in physics, was beat by Ronald Reagan, who had a degree in libinnyandia Feb 2012 #7

I didn't know he had a degree back then Ron Obvious Feb 2012 #10

Scientists are, for the most part, logical thinkers and too damned smart to get into monmouth Feb 2012 #9

As stated above, scientists are not alone in being "logical thinkers" or in being "smart". whathehell Feb 2012 #14

They think in overly exact and black and white ways treestar Feb 2012 #11

Thank you...n/t whathehell Feb 2012 #15

Science is not all about 'absolute predictable precision' LeftishBrit Feb 2012 #19

I realize that treestar Feb 2012 #23

Scientists tend to look for 'the answers, plural' and even more for 'the questions'.. LeftishBrit Feb 2012 #33

There are TWO possible right answers. I have a law degree. Manifestor_of_Light Feb 2012 #20

My scientist father is always hearing about some court case in the news treestar Feb 2012 #24

I think there's a much simpler explanation: scientists would be embarrassed to lie about facts yurbud Feb 2012 #29

Please...Were the scientists in Nazi Germany embarrassed about that? whathehell Feb 2012 #36

I think there's a difference between different sorts of scientific backgrounds LeftishBrit Feb 2012 #34

Scientists are prototypes of what the teabaggers hate - Doctor_J Feb 2012 #37