Lisa Murkowski: Sarah Palin Lacks "Intellectual Curiosity" to be President

[Newsjock]

Source: CBS News

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowki told CBS News' Katie Couric today that she would not support Sarah Palin for president because Palin lacks the "leadership qualities" and "intellectual curiosity" to craft great policy.

"You know, she was my governor for two years, for just about two years there, and I don't think that she enjoyed governing," Murkowski said. "I don't think she liked to get down into the policy." The Alaska senator added that she prefers a candidate who "goes to bed at night and wakes up in the morning thinking about how we're going to deal with" important issues.

... When Palin resigned as governor, Murkowski released a terse statement saying she was "disappointed" that Palin quit. And when she announced her write-in bid, Murkowski promised to be "a Republican woman who won't quit on Alaska" - a not-so-subtle shot at Palin for resigning the governorship before the end of her term.

The criticisms haven't been one sided: Following an Alaska Senate debate in October, Palin wrote on Facebook, in reference to Murkowski, that she had "never seen a candidate stoop as low as was seen last night in Alaska's senatorial debate."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20022884-503544.html?tag=stack

[Skittles]

1. so did bush

but look what happened

[John Commonsense]

3. Bush had the backing of his father's cronies: Scalia, Thomas etc.

Palin has the backing of America's dummards. 2012 will not be dancing with the stars, but I hope that she runs anyway. I hope that the GOP has a nice split and Sarah takes it down.

[Skittles]

5. there are a LOT of stupid Americans

look how many voted to give more power to party that got us into this mess

[Mz Pip]

9. Sarah is the poster child

for the intellectually incurious. They live through her. The whole idea that "She's JUST LIKE MEEE!" validates them. She's not Ivy League, she's just a working class Mom (who happens to be making gazillions off the books about her that she doesn't write, the speeches she gives that she doesn't write, etc. etc.but never mind that)and makes them feel special. she validates their suspicions, their paranoia, their prejudices.

She's managed to plug into that populist, I'm not like them, rhetoric that somehow resonates with people who lack critical thinking skills.

Do we really want someone "Just like meeeee!" running the country?

[saigon68]

17. "Bring Em On" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[phleshdef]

12. Its hard to say it but Bush is way smarter than Palin.

Bush was capable of actually participating in a debate and was/is at least able to fake his way through articulating policy details to a certain degree. He is better educated and has had a tons more experience. Sarah Palin has redefined village idiot.

[CBHagman]

18. I'm afraid you're right!

In addition, Bush would have been exposed to a more varied, better educated group of people over the course of his life. I still regard him as both lacking depth and having been out of his depth, but Palin is just appallingly shallow, and mean to the bargain. Good for Murkowski for framing it in such straightforward language.

[Inuca]

24. Painful indeed, but true n/t

[Ilsa]

2. I love it when they break RayGun's commandment

of speak no ill of another Republican.

[sakabatou]

4. She can just keep watching Russia from her backyard

[Strelnikov_]

6. I love the smell of Republican Civil War in the morning. It smells like . . . victory.

[pezDispenser]

11. it smells like more corporatist invading the democratic party to me

the 'fiscal conservative / social liberals' need to go somewhere

[Citizen Worker]

13. Remember how the democrats acted after the republican sweep in '94? They would trip one another and

elbow one another aside so they could be the next one to the lectern and microphone to proclaim, I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Gag me with a spoon.

[DFW]

7. On the other hand, if Palin had supported Murkowski for Senator....

Murkowski would have been singing Palin's praises as the most inspiring leader since FDR.......

[LostinNY]

16. Didn't Palin beat Murkowskis dad for governor?

I think the two really hate each other. (Not defending Palin, just saying the hate goes deep)

[DFW]

20. Oh, I'm sure of that

But in Palin's Alaska, it seems to be money that does the talking, not anything fleeting like family loyalty.

[bluedigger]

8. Sure, but "ambition", that she's got plenty!

Which is more important to the potential electorate?

[Skittles]

10. she is a money and fame whore

"ambitious" by default

[RandySF]

14. Palin will not run for President

She will dangle the idea in front of everyone until she squeezes every penny from it. Then, at the very end, she will decline for the sake of her family.

[cstanleytech]

15. Two sticks probably have

more "Intellectual Curiosity" than Palin :evilgrin:

[Blandocyte]

19. I always found her intellect very curious

but that's just me.

[Nihil]

21. Murkowski hasn't paid much attention to presidential elections over the years has she?

Reagan?

Clinton (twice)?

Bush II (twice)?


Yes, "intellectual curiosity" has been present in a few other presidents
but the above five terms show that it is no way a pre-requisite ...

:shrug:

[Turborama]

22. You're equating Clinton's intellectual curiosity with Junior's?

I think that's way out of line.

[Nihil]

23. You're entitled to your opinion too.

Clinton was nowhere near as bad a president as Junior Bush
but I don't credit him with any particular amount of
"intellectual curiosity". YMMV.
:shrug: