Doesn't that make him too smart and too un-free to be the US president?
Doesn't that make him too smart and too un-free to be the US president?
If you assume that the median income in the US is 37,500/yr then Romney's net worth of 202 million effectively makes him 5386 2/3 americans, each of which is severely mentally retarded with a knowledge of 1-2 French words.
Two words: Maginot Line.
A bunch of French speakers came up with that and yet somehow I had them goose stepping in about 3 weeks.
John Kerry speaks French and he was not smart enough to beat Bush.
Plus it makes him look gayer than he probably already is
You don't have to be fluent in your native language to be president. You don't have to be able to identify Middle Eastern or South Asian countries on a map. You don't have to know the two main muslim sects before invading a muslim country.
Living in the Past wrote:
You don't have to be fluent in your native language to be president. You don't have to be able to identify Middle Eastern or South Asian countries on a map. You don't have to know the two main muslim sects before invading a muslim country.
Moreover, you don't need to have a spotless criminal record or a better than C average from college.
All you have to do is find 50 million people even stupider than you and then know what the common denominator is. As it turns out, it's Christianity.
John Kerry's middle name IS French.
I get the same feeling as the "Concord Monitor" in New Hampshire, which called Mitt Romney a complete phony.
Go on. Flip my beef. wrote:
Living in the Past wrote:You don't have to be fluent in your native language to be president. You don't have to be able to identify Middle Eastern or South Asian countries on a map. You don't have to know the two main muslim sects before invading a muslim country.
Moreover, you don't need to have a spotless criminal record or a better than C average from college.
All you have to do is find 50 million people even stupider than you and then know what the common denominator is. As it turns out, it's Christianity.
The truth is, that you don't need to be an expert on every issue, foreign and domestic, to be president. That's just not a necessary element of being a good leader. A good leader (president) is one who is able to surround himself (herself) with people who ARE experts on these different areas. I'm a Bush supporter and reject the idea that he's some idiot buffoon who just exaggerates or makes up threats to push our country into war. But I'd say his larger failure has been surrounding himself with less than capable people. It seems, by most accounts, that Rumsfeld, for one, is a clown. My point is that you could ask questions of any candidate and make them look stupid, but people don't really care about that. Most voters have a few selective issues they want a candidate to agree with them on, and beyond that, they look for someone they trust to make important decisions. Much of this country likes the idea of having the President be a man of faith, becuase it gives people comfort knowing their leader has a similar set of values upon which he'll make decisions.
So Bush is not stupid. Christians are not stupid. But I agree with your point that you don't need to be a foreign affairs guru to be president.
Give us some examples of decisions which Bush has made based on Christian values.
Pushing abstinence education (proven over and over again to not work) in both Africa (AIDs, etc) and the United States. But considering his administration's complete ignorance of the Beatitudes (Blessed are the poor in spirit..for the CEOs shall exploit them and walk away laughing, I believe, is not quite how it goes), then you could easily say Bush is not Christian at all. Christian politically, not spiritually.
Right, and you could add support for faith-based charities (used as an excuse to cut welfare programs), opposition to gay marriages, support for that bizarre Terry Schiavo law, nomination of declared anti-abortion judges, and a few other things.
My point is, all his "faith-based" decisions have been designed to deprive citizens of certain rights, not the other way around. It's religious intolerance, not "compassion". His voter appeal is based on xenophobia - which most people instinctively know is wrong, but Christianity gives them a justification.
Now, I was hoping someone could also explain how the really important decisions (declaring war, supporting torture and wiretapping, denial of science on climate change, etc.) have been based on Christian values. I don't see an obvious connection, but then I am not a Christian and I sure as hell didn't vote for him.
hypnotoad wrote:
Give us some examples of decisions which Bush has made based on Christian values.
How about ushering in the Second Coming of Christ through U.S. foreign policy? If you went to a Protestant church before the Iraq war became a patent disaster, you'd hear a lot about how God had anointed George Bush to play a pivotal role. I am reasonably sure that Bush believed this himself. With God on his side, how could Bush lose? He didn't even have to study the history of Sunni/Shia relations before invading. All he had to do was ask the Lord for guidance.
hypnotoad wrote:
Right, and you could add support for faith-based charities (used as an excuse to cut welfare programs), opposition to gay marriages, support for that bizarre Terry Schiavo law, nomination of declared anti-abortion judges, and a few other things.
My point is, all his "faith-based" decisions have been designed to deprive citizens of certain rights, not the other way around. It's religious intolerance, not "compassion". His voter appeal is based on xenophobia - which most people instinctively know is wrong, but Christianity gives them a justification.
Now, I was hoping someone could also explain how the really important decisions (declaring war, supporting torture and wiretapping, denial of science on climate change, etc.) have been based on Christian values. I don't see an obvious connection, but then I am not a Christian and I sure as hell didn't vote for him.
I disagree with your contention that Bush was elected by a bunch of xenophobes using Christinaity as their excuse. There are quite simply a ton of people in this country who agree with Bush on all the social issues you mention, and I don't think there's anything wrong with those stances. As for the war, it was a decision nearly the entire country supported at the time and I still think that based upon what we knew then, it was the right choice. But it's really not worth arguing some of these points on this board, as it always gets out of hand quickly. The larger point I was trying to make is that Bush was elected in large part because he came across as someone who is a good man and an honest man, whereas Kerry came across as more of a politician, maybe a little sleazier. The actual issues unfortunately take a back seat most of the time because most Americans fail to fully educate themselves on where everyone stands. As stupid as it sounds, "likeability" is a hugely important factor in presidential elections. Foreign affiars knowledge is less important. That's my take at least.
Until fairly recently, just about anybody who graduated from high school and went to matriculate at a college, had had at least a couple of years of French. Or German, possibly both.
I mean, it IS the international language of diplomacy. Or was.
Wiretapping has been upheld by the federal courts. It's prevented numerous terrorist hits on this country and Americans around the world. It's not domestic eavesdropping on everyone's conversation like your liberal news keeps telling you it is.
As for "declaring war," I'll be more than happy to, once again, post all the comments by your Democrats, including Bill, Hilary, Kerry, Biden, Rockefeller, Byrd and many, many others, who said emphatically that we MUST get rid of Saddaam and go in to Iraq. But, I won't let the facts get in the way of your bias.
Keep drinking the Kool Aid.
I just love how you tolerant, open minded liberals label Christians as stupid.
Come on, accept them. Tolerate their beliefs. Celebrate diversity.
Wait, that only applies to things you agree with. Like the "free" speech you claim to love so much.
Hypocrites. All of you.
Don't you know that studying a foreign language is a sign of weakness? Let the foreigners learn English and learn to show appreciation for all that the United States has done for them over the years. I mean, damn it. We rebuilt Europe and Japan. We give billions in foreign aid to third world countries. We set a moral example for the rest of the world. Is it too much to ask that they learn English and adopt our institutions and way of life? After all, it's in their best interests to get with the global economy, which includes learning English.
Yea I was taught that same bullshit argument when I was in high school, too.
hypnotoad wrote:
Right, and you could add support for faith-based charities (used as an excuse to cut welfare programs
So, you're in favor of supporting government programs that don't work over private programs that work? You sound like a champion of larger government and a nanny state. Can I get Uncle Sam to wipe your butt too?
You need to think deeper. Let me help.
Opposition to Gay Marriage
Why do gays want marriage? Its simply a tax. They want it so they can force acceptance. Why don't we just get rid of government sponsored marriage. (separation of Church and State remember?) So, why again should Bush be in favor of this?
Anti-Abortion Judges
Both judges say they will support the Rowe v. Wade and don't see abortion as an immediate issue. But both are strict Constitutionalists...
""faith-based" decisions have been designed to deprive citizens of certain rights, not the other way around.”
Has Bush reduced certain freedoms? Yes, and I don't agree with that. But no where do I construe that it is based on "faith". It stems out of erroring on the side of security, not some faith initiative.
and Xenophobia?
You're ridiculous.
Global warming? Er..Climate Change until that’s proven false.
Have you been outside. It was 4 degrees this morning. It hasn't been 4 degrees in early January for 15-20 years. Global warming, as well as, oil scarcity is the real "fear pedaling" that’s going on.