Who do you think is the most intelligent Democrat running ?

[kentuck]

I know that intelligence can be argued in different contexts, but which candidate has the best credentials from his educational background? Is this an important factor? (Perhaps a stupid question after seeing what ignorance can do, as is demonstrated by the present occupant in the WH) How important is intelligence in a President? I know that a lot of folks like to brag about Bill Clinton being a Rhodes Scholar, but did that really help him in office?

[sweetheart]

1. dennis kucinich

He knows which side of the toast has butter. Perhaps another knows this and thinks that by being secret about it, they might have greater chances.... well then we'll see.

Dennis Kucinch rocks.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. 2nd the Kucinich vote

[CityZen-X]

12. Kucinich It Is

Too bad an intelligence test is not a requirement for the office of President. That would have scrubbed the Shrub.

[WhosNext]

18. Kucinich is a moron.

Anybody who thinks we can just leave the WTO and NAFTA needs to have his head examined. Also the idea of just removing our troops from Iraq is a pretty uninformed idea. We have made that mess, we will be there for a while. To say "UN in, US out" is pretty idealistic, not realistic.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

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[Sir_Shrek]

3. Don't want to narrow it down...

...but I think that the Capitol Hill crowd actually comes across as a little more intelligent than either Dean, Clark, or Sharpton. Overall, Edwards seems to be the brainiest to me. I'll chalk it up to them having maybe a little more exposure to national politics, as well as note that I don't think Dean et al are stupid. And I don't necessarily like Edwards all that much.

[mikehiggins]

4. Clark

Unless you consider being S&B like Kerry and Dubya signs of intelligence.

The brightest, if not the smartest, is Edwards, who can be brilliant and is very well organised and focused. I really wish he would stay in the Senate. They can use people like him there. If Clark wins I hope Wes asks Edwards to be Att'y General. He may not be a general but he is one hell of an attorney.

I'd have to give Carol Braun the title of most experienced, in terms of intelligence. She reminds me of that joke about Ginger Rogers. Someone said she did everything Fred Astaire did, only she had to do it backwards. I'd like to see her UN ambassadoress for life, and then the first woman president.

As to the rest, they don't shine IMHO.

[Fleshdancer]

23. and in heels!

Ginger Rogers had to do everything Fred Astaire did, only she had to do it backwards and in heels...not an easy task!

[wndycty]

5. General Clark

Hands down!

[Another Bill C.]

6. Does it matter?

An absolute featherbrain got enough votes to make the White House in the last election. A very large chunk of American voters has been showing more disdain than respect for intelligence in recent elections.

edit for grammar.

[mlawson]

28. You're absolutely right.

IQ is NOT a criterion for *most* voters. For proof, I cite the elections of 1924, 1952, 1956, 1980, 1984, 2000. And many of the ones in the 1800s.

Hell, Ford almost beat Carter....

[kentuck]

30. Clearly not a criteria for winning an election but....

how about governing once in office? Does it matter then?

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. No surprise that I'd say Clark

Graduated first in his class at West Point
Rhodes Scholar
Masters in Economics, Philosophy & Politics
Taught Economics at West Point
Well traveled
Fluent in four languages (current occupant of White House not even fluent in one)

I think it all contributes - it gives him a greater understanding of the world around him.

Wrap it all up with a great deal of compassion and a great ability to think on his feet, articulate his thoughts and keep his cool through negotiations...

Sounds like a perfect package for the White House, if you ask me.

And yes, despite Clinton's stupidity in one particular area (more a lack of judgement, I guess), I think that his intelligence and education contributed to a successful presidency. He could evaluate what is presented to him, rather than relying on the biased opinions of his advisors.

Look at the current occupant - he doesn't even read the newspaper!!! No curiosity about the world, nothing on which to base a decision other than what he is told by his select few. How can anyone expect him to have empathy for what anyone else is experiencing; he is totally clueless!!!!!

[rucky]

8. Dr. Dean

MD

EOM

OK?

[GreenArrow]

14. I work with MD's, dentists, nurses etc.

By and large, I'm not terribly impressed. There are some real smart ones, and a whole lot of parrots.

[GreenArrow]

9. Clark

probably, from a strictly educational standpoint.

In terms of intelligence per se, I'd say Clark is still near the top, along with Kucinich, Sharpton, and Kerry. None of them are out and out stupid. Just my opinion, though.

[mitchum]

10. Clark (and he's not my candidate)

[JoePizz]

11. The problem with that question is...

Often times, the most intelligent candidates don't even run. They are too smart for it.

Of the group, I would say Kucinich is either the most intelligent or has the most intelligent staff. Just look at the detail of his proposals and how well thought out they are. Don't get me wrong- I don't think any of the others is a featherweight (certainly not compared to our illustrious Commander in Cheif.)

But if you have to look at intelligence in candidates, any democratic candidate in the last 25 years has been unqiestionably more intelligent than their republican opponent. Think- Carter vs Ford, Carter vs Reagan, Mondale vs Reagan, Dukakis vs Bush I, Clinton vs Bush I, Clinton vs Dole, Gore vs Bush the lesser. The most intelligent republican presidential candidate in recent times was Nixon. That's pretty sad.

What's even more sad is that despite the massive intellectual rift between the democrats and the republicans, the democrats have only won 4 of the last 9 elections, and only ended up in office 3 of those 4 times.

[Ediacara]

13. They're all smart

Some of them have underestimated inteligence though IMHO, Carol being a prime example.

[redqueen]

15. Don't know about IQ wise...

but I'd go with Kucinich. His ability to see the entire picture seems without equal in this group.

Some journalist remarked that Kucinich's speeches need annotations. I think this was in regards to his mentions of quantum physics theories, references to literature, etc.

[RedEarth]

16. Clark an dthen Dean

Clark too was a Rhodes Scholar. However, just being smart doesn't mean anything, unless a person is able to make reasoned decisions and then have the leadership to have those decisiions implemented.

[phillybri]

17. Clark

How many of the candidates finished 1st in their class?

[damnraddem]

19. I'm a Dean supporter, but ...

I think the most intelligent candidate is Kucinich.

[Zorra]

20. Kucinich. Obviously

Just look at his platform. His cognitive and problem solving abilities are incredible. Mix that with leadership ability, straightforward honesty, and genuine concern for people and you get the makings of a great President.

[Mattforclark]

21. Clark

All of them are more intelligent than Bush, of course.

[Fleshdancer]

24. Carol Mosely Braun

Because she's a WOMAN! :evilgrin:

[IronLionZion]

25. Clark and Dean have the most education

but education does not make someone intelligent. Remember Bush and his ivy league education? He got a Harvard MBA after Yale.

[smirkymonkey]

26. Kerry

n/t

[JohnKleeb]

27. Well Clark for best educated

but I think like a lot of people are saying that DK could likely be the smartest, now its the details on the issues as another said but I like how he relates real world experience to things, like when I Saw him speak in DC, he brought up a fight for a hospital back in Cleveland and stuff, he really does bring up real experiences he has had and how they affect him, like he told about being a kid who gave the letter no one wanted because it meant their kid had died in Nam.

[ThomWV]

29. Clark

Clark clearly.