Are politicians dumber now, or did we just not pay attention in the

[napi21]

past?

I'm talking about Alan's makaka moment, Gingrich's in the getto statement...things like that.

I know "people", as all politicians are, have always done dumb things like Dukasisriding in the tank, GHB looking at his watch during a debate,Romney pretending to be a lifelong hunter then screwing up the explaination, etc. But I don't remember all these really stupid statements that make them look like they don't even have a brain!

Ignore all the damn dumb things Shrub has said over the past 6-8 years. He really IS stupid and that's a given. I'm talking about almost every politician has managed to put his foot in his mouth, while the cameras were running! Have they gotten dumber or have WE getten more attentive?

[jwirr]

1. These pugs are coming down off a 6 year high where they had

little or no opposition. It will take them a while to get used to being out of power.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

2. It is a repugnican development. Narrow-minded and ignorant

cronyism run rampant.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. a little of both, I think

with 24/7 news, there is a greater chance of someone making a blooper and having it caught on tape. And people are generally more educated today than they were in the past.

[yella_dawg]

4. Maybe?

Is it an internet thing? Such close scrutiny and every gaff explodes across the net in seconds? I know that politicians are much more closely watched than forty years ago. The idea of personal privacy for public figures is dead, and that is relatively new.

As for blatant stupidity, I think we may be witnessing some kind of statistical fluke amplified by arrogance.

[ingac70]

5. Reagan said trees cause pollution.....

So stupidity among politicians, especially Republics, is nothing new.

[AtLiberty]

6. Behold...the fruits of election fraud

There have always been dumb politicians.

A plethora exists now thanks to massive election fraud on local, state and federal levels.

Dumb politicans can't rely on their brains or policies to win, so...

[pinto]

7. Interestingly, I think the "sound bite" epoch has tarred politics

more than the vast amounts of money it takes to get those sound bites on the air.

We are deficient in general public knowledge abut the political process and the need for discourse and debate in the election process.

Just my two cents.

Thanks for the post. It's a good opener.

[GeorgeGist]

8. Public displays of Stupidity ...

are more acceptable now than they used to be.