Political figures in the opposition: smart vs. dumb

[Spider-Dan]

I was recently thinking about conservatives I consider to be stupid, and others I consider to be smart (yet still terrible).  This exercise was pretty easy for me.  Yet when I tried to sort people on the left into smart vs. dumb, I found that the only really "dumb" people on the left I could think of are leftists that I personally don't like (TDMMC conservatives would be shocked to hear that this list is not small).

That outcome - which is FAR too convenient - made me very skeptical of my ability to rationally evaluate the intelligence of people on the left outside of whether or not I like them.  But it's very easy for me to sort the right, because I don't like any of them.

So I propose a game of listing "smart" and "dumb" political figures.  Here are the rules:

1) Only people who have either held political office, or have been official campaign staff are eligible
2) All the people you choose must be (currently or most recently) members of the same party; if they are independent but identify as liberal or conservative, you may sort them as Democrats or Republicans, respectively
3) Your lists of "smart" and "dumb" must be of equal number (no lists of 20 dumb and 2 smart)
4) Only Americans who are currently alive may be listed (listing dead foreigners as "smart" is really just cheating)

The final rule is not really enforceable, but is more of an honor system: the people (and party) you select should be of the opposite political alignment as you.  My theory is that it's easier to be honest about perceived intelligence when talking about the opposition.

[Spider-Dan]

So I'll go first:

Smart Republicans
VP Dick Cheney
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Chief Justice John Roberts
Rep. Paul Ryan
Sen. Ted Cruz
Sen. Josh Hawley

Dumb Republicans
President George W. Bush
Rep. Louie Gohmert
Gov. Sarah Palin
Sen. Ron Johnson
President Donald Trump
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

[Dave Gray]

Cruz is the go-to of a guy who I know is smart, but I just wish he wasn't so shitty.

Smart:
Ted Cruz
Mitt Romney
Chris Christie
John Kasich
Rand Paul
Ron Paul

Dumb:
Majorie Taylor Greene
Donald Trump
Lauren Boebert
Rick Perry
Steve King

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Your ability to find more  dumb elected republicans  than dumb elected democrats may involve a small amount of bias, but is primarily a function of how the two parties value intelligence.  Someone who is unable to grasp basic science (evolution, impact of CO2 on climate, how vaccines work, how masks reduce the transmission of airborne illnesses) couldn’t survive a democratic primary.  Republicans embrace ignorance and standing up to intellectuals.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Opposite political alignment as me.  Here goes:

Smart Democrats
VP Kamala Harris
President Barak Obama
Rep. Ilhan Omar
Sen. Chuck Schumer

Dumb Democrats
President Joe Biden
Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Rep. Nancy Pelosi

[Spider-Dan]

Hoodie, rather than explain why it's easy to make the list, just provide your list! 

[Spider-Dan]

Smart Democrats
Rep. Ilhan Omar
Sen. Chuck Schumer

I'm already seeing some surprises!
What makes Omar and Schumer stand out to you as smarter Democrats?  I wouldn't have expected you to see Omar any differently than AOC, or Schumer any differently than Pelosi.

[pondwater]

Your ability to find more  dumb elected republicans  than dumb elected democrats may involve a small amount of bias, but is primarily a function of how the two parties value intelligence.  Someone who is unable to grasp basic science (evolution, impact of CO2 on climate, how vaccines work, how masks reduce the transmission of airborne illnesses) couldn’t survive a democratic primary.  Republicans embrace ignorance and standing up to intellectuals.

You mean basic science like using biology to determine the difference between a male vs a female. BTW, not many people can survive rigged democratic primaries. Go ask Bernie, LMFAO...

[CF DolFan]

Your ability to find more  dumb elected republicans  than dumb elected democrats may involve a small amount of bias, but is primarily a function of how the two parties value intelligence.  Someone who is unable to grasp basic science (evolution, impact of CO2 on climate, how vaccines work, how masks reduce the transmission of airborne illnesses) couldn’t survive a democratic primary.  Republicans embrace ignorance and standing up to intellectuals.

LMAO ... kind of like how there are only two genders and anything else is pretend? Just like you ... many people on both sides pick and choose what "facts" they want to listen to. Plenty of Harvard, Oxford, and so on graduates who either believe in creationism or evolution. No one side holds the bar for "science" and if you think you do then you are admittedly not willing to listen to anything that contradicts what you see or believe.

[Dolphster]

Since 90% of what comes out of politicians' mouths and their written words come directly from their staff and is either directly off a teleprompter or pre-practiced, it is pretty difficult to assess how "smart" or "dumb" most of them are.  I went to grad school with a girl in DC and she was a "political consultant".  Her literal job was to coach politicians on what to say.  Not in prepared speeches, but in interviews.  Politicians almost always insist on getting a copy of interview questions in advance and the responses they give in the interview are hardly ever their own words. 

It gets even trickier.  Sometimes politicians will say things that they know sound "dumb" but they say it to appease their core constituency.  A retired congressman that I had to speak to a couple of times for work was extremely intelligent and well spoken.  However, his public persona was that of a very plain speaking person who seemed to say things that were completely ridiculous.  This was done intentionally to make him more relatable to the demographic in his district.  And nope, I will not name him.  lol

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

You mean basic science like using biology to determine the difference between a male vs a female.

LMAO ... kind of like how there are only two genders and anything else is pretend? J

Thank you for making my point.  Rather than accept the scientific fact that ~1% of the population is intersex, you deny science to persecute others for cheap political points.

[pondwater]

Thank you for making my point.  Rather than accept the scientific fact that ~1% of the population is intersex,

Is Bruce Jenner intersex or transgender? Those are two different things. If everything about you is a male except your feelings and mental status, then you have a mental disorder.
 

you deny science to persecute others for cheap political points.

Persecute for political points? People are free to live their life the way they see fit. However, you can't make people believe or agree with your abnormal disorders or behavior.

[Spider-Dan]

Before you guys continue off-topic in this thread, I'd appreciate if you'd at least participate in the exercise.

[CF DolFan]

Smart Democrats
President Obama
President Bill Clinton
Hillary Clinton
Michelle Obama ( I know not a politician)
Madeline Albright
Al Franken
Chuck Schumer
Elizabeth Warren
Harry Reid
Rahm Emanuel

I'd add Joe Lieberman to this list but he ended up an Independent before it was all over.

Dumb Democrats
President Joe Biden
Rep Adam Schiff
Rep Nancy Pelosi
VP Kamala Harris
Maxine Waters
Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez
Tim Kaine
Beto O'Rourke
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Howard Dean

[Spider-Dan]

Similar question for you, CF:
Why do you consider Schumer smarter than Pelosi?  I would expect you to hold both in similarly low regard when it comes to intelligence.