Sam Harris Nails Palin

[Jeff Lebowski]

Uh.... Sort of.

Unlike our token atheist (who is in the midst of a major hitting slump), this atheist is dead on the money regarding Palin and (more importantly) the sorry state of US politics:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160080

Highly recommended.

A sampling:

Palin may be a perfectly wonderful person, a loving mother and a great American success story—but she is a beauty queen/sports reporter who stumbled into small-town politics, and who is now on the verge of stumbling into, or upon, world history.

The problem, as far as our political process is concerned, is that half the electorate revels in Palin's lack of intellectual qualifications. When it comes to politics, there is a mad love of mediocrity in this country. "They think they're better than you!" is the refrain that (highly competent and cynical) Republican strategists have set loose among the crowd, and the crowd has grown drunk on it once again. "Sarah Palin is an ordinary person!" Yes, all too ordinary.

Ask yourself: how has "elitism" become a bad word in American politics? There is simply no other walk of life in which extraordinary talent and rigorous training are denigrated. We want elite pilots to fly our planes, elite troops to undertake our most critical missions, elite athletes to represent us in competition and elite scientists to devote the most productive years of their lives to curing our diseases. And yet, when it comes time to vest people with even greater responsibilities, we consider it a virtue to shun any and all standards of excellence. When it comes to choosing the people whose thoughts and actions will decide the fates of millions, then we suddenly want someone just like us, someone fit to have a beer with, someone down-to-earth—in fact, almost anyone, provided that he or she doesn't seem too intelligent or well educated.

[ERCougar]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Uh.... Sort of.

Unlike our token atheist (who is in the midst of a major hitting slump), this atheist is dead on the money regarding Palin and (more importantly) the sorry state of US politics:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160080

Highly recommended.

A sampling:

Yet another misleading thread...

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by ERCougar

Yet another misleading thread...

how funny. I could seriously see the two trying to evangelize to each other, but anything more than that...notsomuch.

I've gotta say, though, for one of the world's leading secular atheists, Sam is pretty hot. He can try to convert me. I'm okay with that.

[landpoke]

Originally Posted by ERCougar

Yet another misleading thread...

This is what happens when there is no accountability.

[UtahDan]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Uh.... Sort of.

Unlike our token atheist (who is in the midst of a major hitting slump), this atheist is dead on the money regarding Palin and (more importantly) the sorry state of US politics:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160080

Highly recommended.

A sampling:

Hmmm. I see what he is trying to say but going from people wanting someone who they can relate to and feel comfortable with to the notion that this is an anti-intellectual anti-education impulse is a big leap, and not one supported by the overwhelming evidence.

I'm sorry, but no one gets to be a Senator or a Governor if they are stupid and uneducated. Palin may not be the greatest mind our country has to offer and I'm not arguing she has an Obama like intellect. But when someone argues that she is nothing more than a sideline reporter who somehow stumbled into a VP candidacy they marginalize themself with me.

Is he seriously arguing that Republicans want stupid people leading them? That is maybe the dumbest thing, or the most disingenous, I have heard a pundit say in a while. No doubt that flatters the world view of some on the left but it is not a serious thing to say.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

That is maybe the dumbest thing, or the most disingenous, I have heard a pundit say in a while. No doubt that flatters the world view of some on the left but it is not a serious thing to say.

I take it you haven't read much Harris?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

Hmmm. I see what he is trying to say but going from people wanting someone who they can relate to and feel comfortable with to the notion that this is an anti-intellectual anti-education impulse is a big leap, and not one supported by the overwhelming evidence.

I'm sorry, but no one gets to be a Senator or a Governor if they are stupid and uneducated. Palin may not be the greatest mind our country has to offer and I'm not arguing she has an Obama like intellect. But when someone argues that she is nothing more than a sideline reporter who somehow stumbled into a VP candidacy they marginalize themself with me.

Is he seriously arguing that Republicans want stupid people leading them? That is maybe the dumbest thing, or the most disingenous, I have heard a pundit say in a while. No doubt that flatters the world view of some on the left but it is not a serious thing to say.

Oh come on. You are twisting his thesis. He is not saying that they value stupidity or that they purposefully sought out a dimwitted candidate. He is saying that the Palin choice indicates that they sometimes find other traits more important. Or that they cynically manipulate the "she's one of us" angle to deflect attention from her shortcomings.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by UtahDan

I'm sorry, but no one gets to be a Senator or a Governor if they are stupid and uneducated.

Sincerely,

Jessie Ventura


Sorry, couldn't resist. The characterization has to be put in context. Nobody is saying she is literally "stupid and uneducated" in the same way that you would describe one of your neighbors or co-workers. But her interviews thus far have illustrated that she is shockingly ill-prepared to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.

[exUte]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Uh.... Sort of.

Unlike our token atheist (who is in the midst of a major hitting slump), this atheist is dead on the money regarding Palin and (more importantly) the sorry state of US politics:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160080

Highly recommended.

A sampling:

elite and BEING elitist. Not only is this guy an atheist, he clearly doesn't understand the difference.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Oh come on. You are twisting his thesis. He is not saying that they value stupidity or that they purposefully sought out a dimwitted candidate. He is saying that the Palin choice indicates that they sometimes find other traits more important. Or that they cynically manipulate the "she's one of us" angle to deflect attention from her shortcomings.

He overvalues politicians and what they do for us. I disagree that our brightest should be engaged as government employees, even those at the pinnacle, but rather they should be our puppets.

I disagree with his thesis that what they do is more important than pilots. Harris appears to be part of the arrogant entrenched media believing traditional views of government.