To the rest of the world our two party system must seem bizarre-

[undeterred]

the Democratic Presidents and presidential candidates are typically brilliant (Obama, Kerry, Gore, Clinton) and the Republicans range from average to just plain stupid. But lots of Americans evidently like "stupid". :shrug:

[nam78_two]

1. Wonder if it is partially a matter of perception regarding what is "stupid"

If I believed : a) the earth was a 1000 years old (or whatever-not up to the latest in Creation Science-must remember to check in more with "Answers" research journal), b) that peer-reviewed science is generally highly questionable, c) that the planet has infinite resources and we should all pollute and trash it every way we please since the Holy Free Market Economy will take care of it {that is their principle religion really}, d) that gay people make kittens bleed, e) that there was no such thing as a birth lottery and all people can pull themselves up by their boot-straps etc. etc., I would probably view Gore, Kerry, Obama and Clinton as stupid and Dubya as the smart, grounded realist or some such thing.

I think it also helps if you are the kind of person who thinks dickish=pragmatic, grounded realist. That is why we hear so much from Republicans about how they are the realists, the grounded ones-oh yes. No matter how many times they trash the economy, eco-system etc. they are the pragmatic realists :eyes:.

[tritsofme]

2. I doubt the rest of the world, especially Western Europe, see our Democratic pols as brilliant.

Obama, Kerry et al would most likely be right of center by European standards.

But better average than just plain brain dead, as the GOP is.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Well, it seems stupid to a few people here in America too. No offense against the dems but it's

just that I prefer a multi-party system instead of trying to cram everyone into one tent.

[cliffordu]

4. I think there are fundamental differences between conservative and liberal

as deep as the difference between Neanderthal and Cro-magnon.

We might even be different species.