Perry casts himself as anti-intellectual, says his life shaped by faith

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Texas Gov. Rick Perry offered himself here Wednesday as a decidedly anti-intellectual candidate, making light of flunking out of some of his classes at Texas A&M University, and instead casting his life and presidential aspirations in deeply spiritual terms.

Perry said he spent many nights in his 20s pondering his purpose, “wondering what to do with this one life among the billions that were on the planet,” but that God’s answers were revealed to him in due time.

“He who knows the number of drops in the ocean, he counts the sands in the desert, he knows you by name. . . . He doesn’t require perfect people to execute his perfect plan,” Perry said in an address at Liberty University, the Christian college founded by evangelist Jerry Falwell.

“As spiritual beings, we are meant to live in relationship with our creator and with one another. And the happiest moments of every experience are when I am in communion with God and in community with others,” he said.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/perry-casts-himself-as-anti-intellectual-says-his-life-shaped-by-faith/2011/09/14/gIQAUNgASK_singlePage.html

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"Anti-intellectual"????? I am getting more scared for November 2012.

[teddy51]

1. Here we have another GW Bush that could be elected President. Scary

stuff!

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Exactly. Just what we don't need: another Texas moron.

[stopbush]

16. It's more about being a Christian moron than a Texan.

On edit: BTW, is there any commodity on Earth that's cheaper than religious faith?

[TygrBright]

25. Cynicism. n/t

[boppers]

82. Well played.

*golf clap*

[Javaman]

43. george w. moron* wasn't from Texas. Let's make that clear.

cement head perry is his own unique brand of fucking stupid.

[area51]

55. Thank you.

Unfortunately it's always in fashion on DU to bash Texas.

[MB149]

75. In America...

Morons have the right to move to any state they want. Bush's family moved him to Texas, so please don't blame Texans. They have enough home-grown idiots to worry about.

[Javaman]

78. Um, I think you posted your reply in the wrong spot.. Look at my post again. nt

[MissDeeds]

51. Yep

This will appeal to a large part of the Republican base, just like it did with Bush. They will consider him to be just like the average citizen, someone they could have a beer with. After what we saw with Bush, I don't think it would be wise to consider this oaf too stupid or wacko to get elected. God, I hope he doesn't get the nomination.

[teddy51]

53. And then of course there is always the voting machines to help him along.

We so need to modify these machines so that a paper ticket is generated when you vote on them.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

81. I don,t think I'd want to have a beer with Bush or Perry.

[MissDeeds]

84. I'd have to have something a lot stronger

than beer to have a drink with either one of them.

:toast:

[msongs]

2. lol he is GWBush withou t the brains nt

[LynneSin]

6. Bush had brains - who would have thunk that

:rofl:

[Amonester]

30. Has anyone forgot who bu$h's brain was already?? =D

kkk Ro(t) :evilgrin:

[Steerpike]

73. Yup...

He has a whole collection of 'em in Glass Jars in a Display Case in his Den.

[closeupready]

11. Yup, lol.

Zactly.

[No Elephants]

56. True, since Karl Rove, aka Bush's brain, does not like Perry.

Allegedly. (nod to Kathy Griffin)

[Enrique]

4. God doesn't want us to be perfect

but I doubt he wants us to be stupid either. He gave us brains after all.

[LynneSin]

5. gotta appreciate his honesty

:eyes:

[polly7]

7. 'I'm stupid' but God tells me what to do. That's the ticket! nt.

[Guilded Lilly]

8. Anti-intellectual AND Punk-Arrogant does not a viable candidate make!

[Roy Rolling]

9. pride

The problem is pride..."anti-intellectual" boasting by someone is someone who is prideful for being ignorant.

The problem is not intellectuals---it is intellectuals who are arrogant. Being arrogantly ignorant is just as bad if not worse.

Being humble is the key, and boasting of being a moron is just the opposite.

[Volaris]

69. I would like to attach something to this idea, if you wouldn't mind..

Isaac Asimov said something once and I will never get the quote exactly correct, but the gist of it is as follows...

There have always been stupid people in America. The problem with them is NOT that they are stupid, the problem is that they believe that their Stupid is just as rhetorically and argumentatively valid as everyone else's Smart.

if someone can find the actual quote and post it that would be awesome, 'cause I'm headed off to bed.

Peace,

[closeupready]

10. LOL, the jokes are writing themselves here.

:rofl:

[truthisfreedom]

12. He doesn'r require perfect people to execute his 234 inmates.

End times bullshit. This dude is running on the Mayan calendar.

[deutsey]

13. Well, he'll be the frontrunner for sure now.

:evilfrown:

[Rambis]

14. Pathologically incurious gum bean and fookin arse licker for president!

has a nice ring to it :crazy:

[barbtries]

15. you and me both.

a candidate bragging on his stupidity - does this NOT give SOME conservatives pause?!

[russspeakeasy]

22. Nope. They won't even notice it...

:evilgrin:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

17. Hi, I flunked out of classes in college, and I'm marketing myself as a Fundy Christian.

Vote for me!

Geeze, the fact that that particular message is supposed to, and I'm sure does, resonate with a large voting block in our country is terrifying.

[Johnny Harpo]

18. This Reminds Me Of A Line From West Wing....

A .22 caliber mind in a .357 magnum world.

Jed did have a way with words.

Where the heck is he when we need him?

[Johnny Harpo]

19. Self Deleted Dup

[DetlefK]

20. A very simple gotcha-question for Perry's story (WARNING: step back, his brain may explode)

How did you know there were billions of people on earth?

Where did this number come from? It surely DID NOT come from something sciency like counting people.

No, whait, don't tell me: Some deeply spiritual man told so after meditating.
No, that number came to your mind during a dream.
No, God told you.

[AtheistCrusader]

21. Drops of water can be different sizes due to allowances in surface tension.

So, it's a meaningless question how many drops are 'in the ocean'.

What a fucking moron.

[rms013]

23. So was the Khmer Rouge

Almost 2 million people were murdered because of an anti-intellectual dictator. People were killed simply because they wore glasses. So were the majority of educated people: Doctors, public servants, teachers, engineers.
Be afraid, be very afraid.

[AlbertCat]

47. Almost 2 million people were murdered because of an anti-intellectual dictator.

So Perry's been practicing in TX.

[TygrBright]

24. Good Strategy. The "Dumb People" vote in America is HUGH!!1! n/t

[Eljo_Don]

26. Grade transcript

Anywhere you go to apply for a job you have to present your grade transcript. Why we don't require the politicians to present their grade transcript? I can assure you that many of these ignorant people will be disqualified. Any one that claims that God talked to him is just a liar.

[Frisbee]

44. Or at least delusional. eom

[Hoopla Phil]

50. You do realize that President Obama has not released his collage records right?

[No Elephants]

63. Is your point that, if Obama hasn't produced it, producing it should not be required of

him or any other candidate in the future?

As to Obama, we do know he was able to transfer to a better college after two years. And also able to get into Harvard Law. And later be elected Editor in Chief of the Harvard Law Review (first African American to get that honor).


I'm comfortable with his academics, even without transcripts.

I am also comfortable with no rule on this at all, or a rule requiring all Presidential candidates to release his or hers, though there are dangers inherent in that.

For example, people may be tempted to vote mostly on the basis of whose transcript is better, thinking higher grades always mean higher brain power. However, Dummya's academic record was supposedly better than Kerry's, yet Kerry was obviously more intelligent.

So, voters may need some education on how to weigh transcripts when deciding on a primary or general candidate.

[Hoopla Phil]

76. My point is

that a person wanting to work for my should show his/her collage records. I think Perry should release his and President Obama should do so also.

[Glimmer of Hope]

54. Good points! His transcript is out there for everyone to see and it ain't pretty.

[AlinPA]

27. He will win the republican nomination by celebrating ignorance. Teabaggers rule

the party now.

[man4allcats]

28. I never cease to be amazed at the number of Republicans I've met

or heard about who are dumb and proud of it. What a sick bunch they are.

[Politicalboi]

29. When are we going to have

A test for this job? I mean really. It's IMPORTANT to be smart while being President. After seeing what happened in NY yesterday I am concerned about 2012. How can anyone vote for Repukes after they've showed us their hand.

[Zoeisright]

31. Some excuse for deliberate ignorance, cruelty, and general

assholeness, Perry. You pig.

[Erose999]

32. Then, Falwell added, “We’ve got more in common than I realized, governor.

Douchebags bonding over animal cruelty.

I've read reports that Rick Perry failed his Animal Husbandry class because he asked the prof. "which hole do I put it in?"

[Scottybeamer70]

33. He thinks we didn't already know this?

With the group of liars looking for the nomination, I don't know why we
are even going to have an election. Surely there are not that many
dumb people in this country.........oh, wait.........

[lunatica]

34. A race to the bottom at break neck speed

And Perry is gonna win because whatever they are he is much more.

[oldbanjo]

35. How can any Christion become a lying and stealing politition.

[safeinOhio]

39. I think you call them

the Pharisees.

[evilhime]

36. Rick Perry Anti-everything

That is strange, that he believes in communion with God and community with others, but loses no sleep over putting a possibly innocent man to death - is pro life but only before that life is born - he is such a fraud, saying a different thing to different audiences depending on the year and the lay of that particular piece of land. I would laugh and enjoy his posturing if it didn't scare me that he could get elected with these kind of comments! :(

[Cirque du So-What]

37. Sad thing is, some people ADMIRE such willful ignorance

'Hey, I don't know shit about noner that eggheadedy higher larnin' stuff either. This is MY GUY!'

[No Elephants]

67. Yep. Mostly Republican people, too, so Perry's in luck. Same crowd that became

activated by McCain's picking Palin.

I always forget: did getting her college degree take five years and six colleges, or six years and five colleges?

[Cirque du So-What]

70. Too much math!

Next question.

[tawadi]

38. THIS. This is the crux of the matter

In the process of dumbing down our country, the masses now identify with this bullshit.

[InkAddict]

40. What a loathsome hypocrite - evil to the core.

Why he fancies himself "Christian," the hero of Pilgrim's Progress walking down the yellow brick road with a basket of anti-intellectualism. An allegorical and very intellectually stimulating novel, Pilgrim's Progress, to be sure is not reality but provides characterization and personification of human concepts, but this wolf in sheep's clothing is surely not in touch with reality at all, no way; no how. By golly, there is nothing more to learn, to explore, to interpret. OK, then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrim's_Progress

YIKES! Another anti-intellectual who leads by what, an pre-ordained manifest destiny, the seat of his pants, his own interpretation of law as purchased from a counsel of corrupted judges by a simple-minded, easily manipulated, brain-corrupted base - Why, I've never seen such a grandiose affect. Yates heard voices too; she murdered her children one by one. Que sera, sera. Really? To be sure, no one knows how a genetic pre-disposition is triggered, but one needs some intellect to deal with its manifestations and consequences or perhaps even reduce the instances where a tragedy this might occur. NUFF SAID.

NO, I demand a leader with a well-developed intellect, one who has faith but is not overruled by its extremes, because it's not always so simple to be "in community." How will our children understand by what reason there are sovereign human rights, something that were once important to Americans, or a justice served up by the people, for the people who have the intrinsic worth to prevail to enhance, promote, and enforce it elsewhere, after we live it here, first, by example.

[Javaman]

41. making it a life's mission to be willfully stupid is now a good thing?

this is a positive attribute?

I really have to laugh, I can't take it anymore, it's reached the level of incomprehensibly absurd.

[Javaman]

42. So would he take offense if I saw him in person and called him a fucking moron?

hard to say now.

[AlbertCat]

45. Perry casts himself as anti-intellectual,

Just an excuse for being stupid.

[Kingofalldems]

46. He will get the hick vote

They will actually believe he is one of their own, when the fact is he doesn't want to know them.

[Turbineguy]

48. Smart. Anti-intellectual is the latest American fashion.

He's a shoe-in. The question is, will he be able to find somebody sufficiently stupid to qualify as VP?

[Mosaic]

49. Parry You Just Don't Cut It!

Go back to texas, your disaster zone, and leave us alone.

[fascisthunter]

52. so he only believes and knows NOTHING

because he can't handle that which challenges his belief... can you say coward?

[No Elephants]

65. There was once an anti-immigrant party called the Know Nothings.

So maybe there's a common thread there.

[shanti]

57. yikes!

this is frightening. :(

[Thor_MN]

58. He thinks he needs to tell us he's stupid?

[No Elephants]

59. Publicly spoken contempt for higher learning and intellect by a Republican President

dates back to at least Eisenhower.


http://books.google.com/books?id=uLPJOb9n95oC&pg=PA586&lpg=PA586&dq=Ivory+tower+intellectual+Eisenhower&source=bl&ots=f8PxXZj8QX&sig=tsAbOvkO8Q5cxtFCsG0O6Ijfkwk&hl=en&ei=h4xxTtu6B-Xo0QHczvSGCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Ivory%20tower%20intellectual%20Eisenhower&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=vRY27FkGJAUC&pg=PA27&dq=Ivory+tower+intellectual+Eisenhower&hl=en&ei=8o5xTpD5Fobn0QGOpeiGCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Ivory%20tower%20intellectual%20Eisenhower&f=false


Republicans, glorifying Teh Stoopid American for over half a century.

[alp227]

60. The same Eisenhower who started expansion of public education because of the Space Race?

oh, eisenhower was a Texan too

[No Elephants]

64. Yes, but that did not stop him from dissing "ivory tower academics"

Eisenhower himself, of course, had gone to the United States Military Academy after high school, and probably got a good education.

Even more impressive, given the era, both his father and mother had gone to college.

So, I tend to think Eisenhower's public disparagement of people with college educations and professorial ways may have been a product of his Republican advisors and/or his own annoyance at being criticized by smart people.

Also, Eisenhower's Democratic opponent (both times) had been Adlai Stevenson, and, as almost always has been the case, the Democratic candidate had been Ike's intellectual superior. So, perhaps that had stuck in Eisenhower's craw.

Yes, the US had to play catch up in math and science after Sputnik. If I am not mistaken, that was the start of colleged education loans?

And, yes, technically, Eisenhower was from Texas, too.

Eisenhower's family had been long time Kansans, but they did spend a few years in Texas, during which the future General and President was born. They moved back to Kansas when he was two and he was raised in Kansas from that point on.

(I love Mr. Google and Ms. Wiki.)

[The Genealogist]

61. I wonder who Perry's Cheney would be

[No Elephants]

66. Romney or Huntsman?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

83. Michelle Bachman

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. But, but, this is not a real problem

I used to blog of these things here.

[Gman]

68. Yeah well, his prayer for rain event in Texas brought down massive wildfires

And if he keeps this up, there's no telling what's next.

[izquierdista]

71. Casts?

When central casting was looking for Dumbest in the sequel to Dumb and Dumber, they found their man! (And he's not just acting the part.)

[krabigirl]

72. So sad that it is beneficial to be anti-intellectual in this country.

What is it about thinking that freaks people out so much? Ah yes, that's right, people will think for themselves, rather than listen to some pastor or politician or the msm.

[Arugula Latte]

74. Gawd + Stoopid = Good

Reason + Intelligence = Bad

Yep, pretty much sums up the mindset of the US of A.

[Solly Mack]

77. A Man for All Stupid Seasons

[daleo]

79. A GOP stupid contest

They are always interesting.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

80. Another Repuke glorifying stupid.

[Rex]

85. In other words, he is proud of being a stupid fucking asshole.

:eyes:

[friedgreentomatoes]

86. One needs to have intellect to be an intellectual.

The basic ingredient is missing.

[DrunkenBoat]

87. Why doesn't he just go out to the ocean & contemplate infinity then,

if it makes him so happy?

why does he need to inflict himself on the body politic?

People who parade their spirituality -- & I'm not just talking about christians -- are bores & phonies.

some of the most nasty people i know are the new age equivalent.