Info on Obama's academic past starting to trickle out

Lemme see if this failed academic can translate:

You're right, but I can construct a hypothetical where your being right ends in some sort of vague hypocrisy.

(I say that all in good humor. But in all seriousness, this hypothetical hypocrisy can't bother you more than the overt anti-intellectualism that's gripped hold of the conservative movement for 50 years.)

 

As a journalist, I love Clinton's character flaws. Makes him so much more interesting.

As an American, I hate them. They undercut what should be regarded as an all-time great president and presidency, and, honestly, American.

 

That's probably a reasonable translation. You damn newspaper types, always condensing things!

I would argue with you re: the anti-intellectualism. I was middle-left until my mid-20s, when I went seriously middle, and then in my 30s I drifted even more rightward. I find that the conservative/libertarian case is seriously demanding intellectually. It's also worth noting that quoting "The Road to Serfdom" is decidedly not effective pick-up banter!

 

Agreed.

However, what amazes me is that today -- it's still early -- it appears that intelligent man who is the incumbent will have to break a sweat to beat Romney.

Romney? Ugh. No way in hell Obama shouldn't be able to crush him.

 

What were Bill Clinton's great accomplishments again? I guess we could give him credit for a double-bubble economy that took us all for a short-lived joy ride before the bubbles burst. The good old days! But he may as well have been a Republican considering how much he did for business interests relative to how little he did for working class folks. His foreign policy was indecisive and, I think, costly in the long run. As intelligent as he is, I'd like to have seen him show some resolve.

 

Romney isn't exactly Sarah Palin, intellectually. He can bring it a little bit, too. He has one more degree from Harvard than the President, for whatever that's worth.

 

You're right. His political legacy is certainly up for discussion. But I guess what I'm getting at is that it's unfortunate that we can't even have that honest discussion because the character flaws end up being the argument ender. It's a threshold he can't clear.

 

One thing's for sure ... In my book Bubba would beat W. on the "who'd you rather drink a beer with?" question. You drink a beer with Bubba, you might have a really, really, really good time!

 

As a matter of economic theory? Cultural practice? Political science?

I ask because 'seriously demanding' intellection was the last thing any American ever asked of its avatar, the Reagan presidency.

 

Economic theory ... the others are (or can be) derivative of the first. But no, I don't think many/most of the people who voted for Reagan (and still look back fondly on this presidency) did/do so because he appealed to them intellectually.