Obama shows the audacity of intelligence

By Libby

ABC News is billing this as a private conversation that was picked up on air unbeknowst to Obama and UK Tory Leader David Cameron. Ms. Althouse thinks they were well aware they were being recorded. Maybe they knew. It doesn't really matter. It's still an intelligent conversation, quite a contrast from the candid convos our current Cretin in Chief has at these sort of events.

"That's exactly right," Obama said. "And the truth is that we've got a bunch of smart people, I think, who know ten times more than we do about the specifics of the topics. And so if what you're trying to do is micromanage and solve everything then you end up being a dilettante but you have to have enough knowledge to make good judgments about the choices that are presented to you."

Meanwhile, in case there was any question about why the wingnuts are losing the war of ideas, in the new media, here's Exhibit "A" from one of the more popular blogs in Wingnuttia. This is what they apparently consider smart analysis.

All the anointed one has done for the past year is campaign. Which involves giving the same stump speech once or twice a day and shaking hands with a few people — but mostly it entails a lot of (highly pampered) traveling.

Therefore, campaigning should afford a candidate plenty of time to think.

This is the sort of idiotic commentary that destroys the credibility of the handful of thinking bloggers on the conservative side of the fence.

Comments

[Charles II]

On the bad side of the ledger, Obama is reported to be considering Madame Mad Cow, Ann Veneman, as VP, along with other Republicans. Even if it's not a serious possibility, someone on his staff is apparently advising him that he should look at Republicans as part of an apparent "alienate the base" strategy. The "smart people" who "know ten times more" are all too often, alas, people like Mark Penn.

[Libby]

I worry that he's listening too much to the CW consultants myself Charles. My new strategy is trying not to take anything floated by the traditional media in the summer too seriously in the interests of my peace of mind. Especially VP speculation. Everybody is just guessing.

[susanai]

Americans have a choice between an intellectually smart, pleasant, tough person, in Barack Obama - and a nice old codger - for president. But they seem scared of the intellectual and fond of the codger. What is the problem. Vote Obama, it's the right thing to do for America.

[Libby]

Susan, I'd question whether that old codger is actually nice, but that does seem to be the dynamic among the low info voters.