Rush Limbaugh is an astute observer of the American cultural scene. That’s part of the reason for his success. Limbaugh is very good at reading the subtext, the unspoken but solid beliefs of groups.
Limbaugh commented today that even some conservatives are eager to throw Sarah Palin under the bus. He said that it’s an easy way to signal that one belongs to the intellectual tribe, irrespective of political leaning. I think he is right.
I am unquestionably an intellectual myself (although not a falsely humble one, obviously). If you don’t believe me, Google me or activate the link to my (incomplete) vita on this blog. By the way, my intellectual production is in two languages and I read perfectly in a third. So, go ahead, inform yourself and weep!
Here is y contribution to the issue of Governor Palin’s utter intellectual unacceptability. I taught in a MBA program in Silicon Valley for 23 years. Some would say that it was in a second-tier school and I would not argue much about this judgment. Nevertheless, those who graduate from the program have a good reputation in the area. Almost all students were working professionals. Almost all students were in their late twenties and early thirties. Half or more were female.
Though I retired in 2006, I have vivid recollections of – and a few nightmares about – female students’ performances in that program. Here is my comparative assessment of Sarah Palin based on this experience. My assessment is subjective, of course, like all others but it has the merit of being based on an explicit comparison set. That’s more than anyone else can say, I think. So, here it is: In terms of intelligence, Palin would have been easily in the top half of any of my MBA classes. In terms of general level of contemporary information, of general culture, if you will, Governor Plain would have easily been in the top 10% of female students.
If the latter sounds like a gratuitously sexist statement, ask yourself the question below and force yourself to answer it:
When was the last time you saw a woman of any age reading a newspaper? Do you personally know of any woman who regularly watches the news or listens to the news? Think of wife, sister, daughter, roommate, former roommate, former wife, sweetheart. Don’t excuse yourself just because you are female, please!
Here you go: Palin is much better than average in all the respects where I can judge. I can’t say the same of most politicians. Can you?
Since when do we ask politicians to be exceptionally intelligent and super-informed? Please, tell me. I did not notice.
