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Are politicians unintelligent?

Are politician unintelligent?

  • Total voters
    25
spud_meister

spud_meister

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What do you think? And before going for the obvious answer, have a think about it, do you genuinely think one can become a politician and not be intelligent?
 
spud_meister said:
What do you think? And before going for the obvious answer, have a think about it, do you genuinely think one can become a politician and not be intelligent?
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No question in my mind that politicians are way above average in the intelligence department. I question how they apply that intelligence, but it's certainly there.
 
Of course you can, all you simply have to be is a shell that pushes the agendas of your owners. Sorta like a robot. They should start campaigning on "I will do exactly what you tell me, when you tell me." I do not see any real leaders anymore. Only people who are concerned with being constantly re-elected.
 
Some are quite intelligent, and some are less so. Intelligence certainly helps, but qualities such as charisma, drive, and the ability to network play as big or bigger roles.
 
They must either possess a certain level of intelligence to simply navigate the campaign rules and to identify the people/organizations that can have them win office. In most cases they then have to add the help of people with more specific and detailed intelligence in areas like fund raising, contacts, and organization. Really it takes a good team to win an election, but a non-intelligent "product" is a much harder sell. When you boil it all down the winner is a better packaged and marketed product.
 
I would say most are even If sometimes I may think the opposite if I disagree with a certain issue. But there are some out there that are just plain ridiculous. But for the most part I would say you have to have some sort of intelligence to get to that type of position.
 
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Some like Sarah Palin are.
Others aren't.
 
spud_meister said:
What do you think? And before going for the obvious answer, have a think about it, do you genuinely think one can become a politician and not be intelligent?
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So, Let's be clear about this...."I Lick Windows isn't the obvious answer?" :doh
 
spud_meister said:
What do you think? And before going for the obvious answer, have a think about it, do you genuinely think one can become a politician and not be intelligent?
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I don't think intelligence is required, but it is an advantage.
 
Politicians are typically intelligent people, in at least a few aspects of life (aware of what your constituents want and how to tap into their sense of trust or emotion). Some politicians are extraordinary intellectuals who have dedicated their lives to studying one aspect of policy or another. But politicians are limited just like anyone else and are ripe for folly, sometimes because of their intelligence or intellectual capacity.
 
Some are exceedingly smart. Some are smart in politics. Some have other qualities to replace intelligence.
 
If politicians were stupid they would not be able to figure out how to get to be such and influential person. With one exception, *coughs* George Bush *cough* *cough*
 
So, how was either Bush the exception of being smart in figuring out a way to be an influential person?
 
Fiddytree said:
So, how was either Bush the exception of being smart in figuring out a way to be an influential person?
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It was Bush, he had people smarts but not politics smarts. Thats what I was trying to get across.
 
spud_meister said:
What do you think? And before going for the obvious answer, have a think about it, do you genuinely think one can become a politician and not be intelligent?
Click to expand...

I said no but still wonder which one you are talking about. :)
 
He did have politics smarts, though. He had the right backing, the right temperament, the right individuals inside his administration to move ideas, the right messages, to make it through two terms. We can certainly say he did many things wrong, but smarts and correct actions do not necessarily go in the same direction.
 
Politicians are intelligent. You would have to be intelligent in order to convince thousands..if not millions of people to vote you into office.

But that isn't the problem. The problem is greed. They want power and money. And we give it to them. So...who's really the unintelligent ones?
 
Fiddytree said:
He did have politics smarts, though. He had the right backing, the right temperament, the right individuals inside his administration to move ideas, the right messages, to make it through two terms. We can certainly say he did many things wrong, but smarts and correct actions do not necessarily go in the same direction.
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He got elected two times.
 
Define politician.

Since Ms. Palin, Jesse Jackson, and others who do not hold political offices, yet play in that playground are they politicians?

I ran for Congress - got handily whipped - am I a politician because I once ran?
 
snilloctjc said:
Define politician.

Since Ms. Palin, Jesse Jackson, and others who do not hold political offices, yet play in that playground are they politicians?

I ran for Congress - got handily whipped - am I a politician because I once ran?
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Ms. Palin did hold elected office but cut and ran before she fulfilled her obligations to those who elected her.
 
Some are. Charlie Rangel is one of the most idiotic individuals I've ever had the displeasure of seeing have a vote in congress. Alan Grayson was another one. However, there are some intelligent politicians like Sen. Lieberman in my opinion.
 
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