The smarts of Speaker-To-Be Boner . . . . .

[Stinky The Clown]

. . . . . strikes me as no more than average. He seems like anything but a thinker. He seems largely a dullard.

Serious question: is he smart?

[Mass]

1. Smart enough to become the House Speaker. No need to be elitist.

He is wrong. Is it not enough?

[gateley]

4. I think it was an objective observation.

He didn't get the slot because of his intelligence, he got it because he knows how to play the game. It's a survival/con man instinct, no intelligence needed.

We, on the other hand, have been blessed with some stellar intellects AND political know-how.

[Mass]

5. And we got our ass kicked. So, are we really more intelligent.

I am sorry. It is not his intellect that bothers me. It is his ideas that are wrong for a majority of people.

My problem is that this definition of intelligence is very restrictive and excludes about 80 % of the population.

I know my position will not be popular here, but I am tired to hear this elitism. No, those we disagree with are not necessarily stupid. May be Boehner would not have had a PhD, but if getting a PhD is the only measure of intelligence, there are very few intelligent people in this country,

[gateley]

9. Your points are well made and well taken. ETA:

Thanks for making me see another viewpoint -- I can only learn from being exposed to as many as possible. :hi:

[Stinky The Clown]

10. We didn't "get our asses kicked."

We lost a midterm in the same way other administrations lost a midterm.

Boner had little, if anything, to do with that.

The Blue Dogs who won in traditional repubican districts saw those districts go back to normal. Our "big wins" in 06 and 08 were the abnormalities. We won in traditionally conservative, repubican districts.

My question was about his native intelligence. Not his street sense. Not his political acumen. His native intelligence. As I said in my OP, he has always struck me as a man who is of average intelligence and is not a very sharp, quick-witted type. That has almost nothing to do with political instincts.

To what "definition of intelligence" are you referring? I proffered no such definition. In the absence of a proffer, you made an assumption. What *was* that assumption?

With regard to where you think you see elitism, perhaps you ought to check your own filters. Just sayin'.

I think LOTS of people can get a PhD if given the chance. Education and intelligence are not the same. There are lots of exceptionally smart people in prison and on the streets. Perhaps it is you who is stereotyping. Again, just sayin'.

[Mass]

14. And you determine native intelligence how?

I know intelligence and education are not the same. It was my point. But you assert Boehner is not intelligent (just average or below).

My definition of intelligence is the one of Gartner, that there are multiple intelligences and that all do not manifest themselves by verbal skills and quick-witted. If you point is that Boehner is not an impressive speaker in interviews and speeches, I would agree with you. That does not mean he is not particularly intelligent by other standard. Or Bill Gates is not very intelligent either, because he comes out as dull and not quick-witted when he speaks. Neither are some of the most brilliant mathematicians (not all of them). So, before you say Boehner is not a smart (which is what you asked), define smart by your standard.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Oy

:eyes:

[Hannah Bell]

11. con men are intelligent.

[gateley]

2. I think you nailed it, Stinky. Contrast him to some of 'ours' - and even some of

his fellow Republicans. Average, if not below.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. 'Smart' in a smarmy, used-car-salesman sort of way

Bush the Lesser was known for having a good memory when it came to people's names, but there's no way in pluperfect hell I would consider that pinhead 'smart.'

[DireStrike]

6. I think... oh bush the LESSER

Yeah. Bush the not-quite-as-bad, however, was, I think, smarter than the average bear. Evil, but smart.

[Paper Roses]

8. same thought here. n/t

[MineralMan]

7. Intelligence and wisdom are not necessarily linked.

Actions show whether a smart person is wise or not.

[Stinky The Clown]

12. I asked about intelligence.

You bring up wisdom. They are not the same. Neither do they go hand in hand. One can be extraordinarily intelligent and monumentally unwise.

Thanks for contributing virtually nothing to my thread.

[Bucky]

13. So you're saying he's wise?

I think he's determined and crafty and committed to his philosophy. Wise, I'm not so sure about. I know anyone who says we should balance the budget with tax cuts is far from wise.