Friday, June 3, 2011

Is Palin Stupid?

Jersey Republican had a great comment at the end of one of my posts the other day where he warned me to not go overboard on my disdain for Sarah Palin. I agree. It is very easy for some of us to beat Palin down on a daily base. We need to be fair to her.

So how do we judge her intellectual fitness to be President? Let's just take only today's Palinisms, disregarding the past year and a half. I really don't have a huge problem with her Paul Revere gaffe. I assume that she misspoke here. Children of all ages can recite the fact that Paul Revere warned the colonists that the British were coming. This is kind of like the time Palin mixed up the Koreas. No big deal, we all do it.

I have more of a problem with Palin's blooper-filled interview with Greta Van Sustereen. Now, I suppose that since Palin was on friendly territory, she knew that she wouldn't be challenged on anything that came out of her mouth. I don't want to repeat her mistakes here since the Washington Post's Fact Checker does quite a job here. And again, I am trying to be understanding. All candidates get loose with the facts on occasion. Mitt Romney did here.

However, what really causes me to dismiss Sarah Palin as a serious candidate is her complete ignorance about the debt limit. Please read Reagan adviser Bruce Barlett's analysis on what will happen if the debt ceiling is not raised. I would be fine if Sarah Palin were to argue that there needs to be cuts before the debt ceiling is raised. Actually, that would be reckless as well, but not quite as reckless as saying that there would not be any harm in defaulting on America's loans.

I can accept the fact that Palin gets things wrong on occasion. But this is beyond careless. Anyone who demagogues the debt ceiling, either through ignorance or through pander, does not deserve to be near the White House.

---Update ---

I never quite answered the question in the title. NO, Palin may not be stupid, but she says things that are incorrect and reckless.

21 comments:

Noelle said...

I don't think for one second that Palin is stupid. Making verbal mistakes does not equate with stupidity.

Dave said...

Pablo,

Are you missing a link?

"Mitt Romney did here."

Where is "here".

marK said...

Pablo,

Jersey is a "she".

Pablo said...

Dave, I fixed it.

GetReal said...

My answer to that question is a definite no, although I don't think she's the best extemporaneous speaker and that can get her into hot water at times. Its not that she doesn't know anything, it just seems to be that she doesn't always have all of the facts ready for instant recall on the tip of her tongue.

Most people don't, and it doesn't make them unintelligent - but this is the big leagues and if she runs she's still going to have to work on it.

Anonymous said...

Mark, I am not a she. Does this prove that Pablo is stupid?

Anonymous said...

Mark, I am not a she. Does this prove that Pablo is stupid?

Anonymous said...

For every expert opinion you provide countering Palin on her thoughts about the debt ceiling, I can provide an expert opinion that agrees with it.

You will have a natural inclination to believe your counter opinion and I will have the inclination to believe the agreeable expert.

jerseyrepublican

Pablo said...

ok, Jersey let's compare experts.

Honestly, I have mixed emotions about posts like these. I really do like your presence as well as the presence of Right Wingnut at this blog. I respect both of you guys and I think that you provide a nice counterweight to me. It makes for a balanced blog.

At the same time, I strongly believe that Sarah Palin is wrong for America. So please know that I am attempting to speak the truth (as I see it), but I really don't want to offend you. I guess what I am saying is please forgive me if I at times I come across the wrong way. I am very aware of my flaws.

This is a debate that we need to have. Is Palin capable of being President? Is Romney's prior health care plan disqualify him for being President? What direction ought the conservative movement head? You and I disagree on all three of those questions, but I do admire your thoughtfulness.

Anonymous said...

Palin is a different type of stupid. Thats why she wont run or participate in debates. She lacks the smarts and the other politicians would exploit her. She needs to do her homework before running for pres.

Anonymous said...

I don't think Palin is stupid, I think she is content to ride solely on personality and looks. Krauthammer was exactly right the other day.

-Martha

Anonymous said...

Pablo, I finally had the opportunity to read your link by Bartlett. In the first paragraph I could tell he must not have been talking about Palin when he referred to nutty right wingers because she never called for the US to default on our debt. She called to not raise the debt ceiling not to default on our debt and she said that our debt could be serviced by 6 billion dollars the US treasury brings in every day as could essential government services and entitlement programs.

After reading the entire article, not once did he refer to Palin's opinion on the topic, nor did he critique her actual position on not raising the debt ceiling.

Once again you have proved to me that you have not taken the time to perform your due diligence.

jerseyrepublican

Anonymous said...

BTW, a retraction would be probably be in line here.

jerseyrepublican

Anonymous said...

In case you don't believe me...this was on the first page of a google search titled Palin and the debt ceiling.

http://dailycaller.com/2011/04/29/palin-on-raising-the-debt-ceiling-hells-no/

jerseyrepublican

Anonymous said...

screech, screech. screech....

Anonymous said...

I don't think Palin is stupid, I just think she doesn't even know what she doesn't know....and she's a pathological liar con artist.

Ohio JOE said...

In short, you are calling the majority of the American people stupid or ignorant because they agree with her at least in part on this issue. Hey, it is nice to call everybody stupid who disagrees with us. The Dems used to say that about Mr. Bush.

Anonymous said...

Pablo, you brought up an interesting discussion and I'm eagerly awaiting your reply???

jerseyrepublican

Pablo said...

Jersey,

Thanks for the reply. I am going to do some more research on Palin's statement. Unfortunately, one of the reasons why I do not comment much is because of lack of time. But you brought up an interesting point.

Palin believes that the government could be serviced on $6 billion. I am pretty sure the Moody credit rating would still be lowered.

Let me get back to you when I get a chance to comment further.

Anonymous said...

Not a problem...I get into these coversations...don't mean to be pushy. BTW, she said that it could be serviced with the 6 billion a day. As far as the Moody credit rating goes...I am unsure of what that would mean as well. I know with her idea, the 6 billion would cover all essential government services, the military, entitlements, the interest on the debt and some of the principle. She does admit that it couldn't last forever but it could last for a while, until more serious budgetary cuts are in place.

jerseyrepublican

Anonymous said...

Or at least that what I gathered from that interview.

jerseyrepublican