Why is intelligence a bad thing?

The Republican party has this thing they started doing (probably around when W was running for the first time – cause they had to) where they mock and put down the concepts of  “elite” & intellectualism".

Look – I want my leaders to understand and be aware of the issues that most Americans face. And if they are one of us regular folks, that’s fabulous – it’s happened. Not all of our Presidents have been trust fund babies (see Clinton, Bill).

However, I want a President (and VP!) that is intellectually curious. I want them to be aware of the rest of the world, current events, past events, concerns and issues that are affecting us – even indirectly.

Must they have attended an Ivy League college? No – that’s not a requirement as far as I am concerned. But they have to have demonstrated that they have a broad understanding and interest in world and national affairs.

The few Republicans who have been speaking out about SarahP being unfit to be President are being mocked by the talking head Repubs as the Republican party “intellectuals” who aren’t connected with real Americans.

Do “real Americans” want someone who is unaware of world issues, our relationships with different countries, and current events? I don’t care whether SarahP has a new baby or not – that’s for her to figure out how to juggle. But I really care that she displays ignorance about world and even national affairs, cannot name the magazines and newspapers she regularly reads (can you imagine what Barry would have said?), isn’t aware of a Supreme Court decision other than Roe v. Wade? (slightly off-topic: a favorite author of mine, Sarah Vowell was on the Letterman show last night & when referring to this, indicated that she would have answered that she disagreed with the Supreme Court decision that made W the President. Heh.)

The fact that she (back to SarahP here – stay with me) went to six colleges before she graduated does concern me (and I’m a college dropout. Okay, flunkout. But I was busy in rehab. I’m fine now. Thanks for asking.). Again, it displays a lack of intellectual curiousity to me (or maybe she was in rehab?). But what’s she done since then? I have a pretty strong resume and a lot of people in big (medium and small) corporations who will tell you about my intellectual skills post-rehab. I’ve been making up for lost time post-rehab (it’s been almost 24 years, for those of you keeping score at home. You can congratulate me on my 24th sober anniversary on November 28th.)

Of course, people learn and develop all kinds of skills through their life experiences that are useful in decision making and prioritizing – BUT THAT’S NOT ENOUGH TO BE PRESIDENT! You can’t just have skills. You have to have knowledge.

I really want a President that I think is smarter than me. I’m awfully confident that I’m smarter than the current oval office resident. I think I may be better read than him too (I’m taking him at his word that he doesn’t read any newspapers). I don’t really care who he’s screwing – or how he’s doing it – or where he’s doing it (but he should not lie about it under oath cause that is breaking the law. Of course, he should not have to answer questions about that under oath, but that’s a whole another rant.).

I want a President that looks at different sides of an issue – listens to diverse opinions, is willing to ask the tough questions – and is willing to hear the tough questions. Does that make them an intellectual? I sure hope so. I want someone super smart, super well read, super interested in what’s happened in the past and the result who surrounds themself with other super smart people. Does this make them elitist? Who cares!?! Give me the smarty pants!

/rant