Conason: The dumbing down of the GOP

[kskiska]

Why aren't more conservatives disgusted that their party nominated a person devoid of qualifications for the vice presidency (again)?

Sarah Palin's debate performance should signal the beginning of the end of her fad. But for the moment it is worth looking at the meaning of her nomination, without the protective varnish of what conservatives usually dismiss as political correctness.

Why should we pretend not to notice when Gov. Palin's ideas make no sense? Having said last week that "it doesn't matter" whether human activity is the cause of climate change, she said in debate that she "doesn't want to argue" about the causes. It doesn't occur to her that we have to know the causes in order to address the problem. (She was very fortunate that moderator Gwen Ifill didn't ask her whether she truly believes that human beings and dinosaurs inhabited this planet simultaneously only 6,000 years ago.)

(snip)

And why don't we expect more from American conservatives? Indeed, why don't they demand more from their own movement? Aren't they disgusted that their party would again nominate a person devoid of qualifications for one of the nation's highest offices? Some, like Michael Gerson and Kathleen Parker, have expressed discomfort with this farce -- and been subjected, in Parker's case, to abuse from many of the same numbskulls whom Palin undoubtedly delights.

The ultimate irony of Palin's rise is that it has occurred at a moment when Americans may finally have grown weary of pseudo-populism -- when intelligence, judgment, diligence and seriousness are once again valued, simply because we are in such deep trouble. We got into this mess because we elected a man who professed to despise elitism, which he detected in everyone whose opinions differed from his prejudices. That was George W. Bush, of course. Biden was too polite and restrained to say it, but the dumbing down is more of the same, too.

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http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/10/04/dumb/

[texpatriot2004]

1. I cannot wrap my mind around the rationalization and

justification that these Republicans are using to put their party before the country when she is so obviously unqualified.

[DB1]

2. Response to your headline. A hammer to the head is the only way to make them dumber than they are.

[opihimoimoi]

3. The GOP finally feels what it is to be DUMBED DOWN.....themselves...LOL

They are so Dumb they think of Bush as a Hero....

Many are Dumber to the point of supporting McGrumpy/Phalin...as in Bush3

Tragedy often follows Fantasy......

[Cresent City Kid]

4. I guess Bush isn't just an anomaly

Intelligence has a liberal bias. There is no credible way to argue for the Reagan McBush policies. Distraction and distortion is all they have left.

Their quest to destroy government has gone from shrewd dismantlement from within to sabotage with morons.