Reply #10: In fairness, it's not (obviously) that great if you're stupid [View All]

Of course, when stupidity is the policy of the day, society accelerates towards hell in a handbasket, but the stupid people don't feel disenfranchised, exploited, or abused. Whereas when it's all about brainpower, a lot of amsrt people tend to be terminally snobby towads the less smart. I'm a terrible snob at times, as is probably blindingly obvious.

Also, ever since Nixon it hasn't been good strategy for a republican to act crafty, even if s/he is. People still refer to Nixon as 'Tricky Dick', and not in a fond way. The fact that he was indeed very intelligent is not regarded as a positive. I actually think Nixon was a rather better president than he is given credit for, despite his crooked behavior...but meantime, people in the GOP are well aware that goofy sells. Reagan and Bush are both masters of the 'down home' vibe; George H. W. Bush was seen as aloof and lacking in feeling, and only earned a single term (despite being exceedingly clever).