# Is Sarah Palin dumber than Ronald Reagan? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 21, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453 "2010-11-21T17:10:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/21 "2010-11-21T18:27:48Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Consider this: > Obama is said to be a top graduate of the Harvard Law School (he was editor of the law review). > Curiously, no one seems to have any record of anything he authored while on the review. > As for his professional career-he was a “community organizer”-can someone define what he did in that capacity? > Aside from a part-term Illinois senator, what elective office did he hold? > I remember his pronouncements upon the “57 US states”-perhaps his grasp of US geography is not too great? > He does read well (from a teleprompter)-I’ll grant you that! Here we get some insight into nature of the Sarah Palin supporter. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/22 "2010-11-21T18:29:38Z")
Reagan wasn’t even particularly stupid, as his letters and the active role he took in editing his speeches reveal. I know who I’d pick in an impromptu speaking contest, as between him and the Harvard savant President Teleprompter. The alleged gap between intellects of liberal icons and conservative demons is narrower than the would-be intelligentsia would have us believe, not just because the Reagans of the world aren’t that dumb, but as was amply discussed in connection with Gore and Kerry, who hardly blow GWB’s fair-to-middling grades/SATs out of the water, the lefties ain’t that bright either. Al Gore, climate science expert and Nobel Laureate, has within the past year informed us that we need to use geothermal power because the Earth’s interior is “millions of degrees.” Palin is also a true idiot, I’ll grant you that. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/23 "2010-11-21T18:31:48Z")
ralph, you realize that editors… edit, not write, right? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/24 "2010-11-21T18:34:26Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Libbys are scared to death of her… On what do you base this conclusion? Seems like you are mistaking contempt and ridicule for fear. That probably makes it easier for you to deal with, but it changes nothing about how Palin is widely regarded, nor her chances should she decide to have another go at politics. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/25 "2010-11-21T18:35:38Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Consider this: > Obama is said to be a top graduate of the Harvard Law School (he was editor of the law review). > Curiously, no one seems to have any record of anything he authored while on the review. > As for his professional career-he was a “community organizer”-can someone define what he did in that capacity? > Aside from a part-term Illinois senator, what elective office did he hold? > I remember his pronouncements upon the “57 US states”-perhaps his grasp of US geography is not too great? > He does read well (from a teleprompter)-I’ll grant you that! Were you in a coma during the Republican conference that the Repubs invited Ombama to last year? He made them look as far out of touch and as stupid as they are. He owned them, without writing notes on his hands. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/26 "2010-11-21T18:53:29Z")
Hey Reagan made a movie with a monkey, palin hasn’t shown that much intellect. She compares unfavorably to the monkey. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/27 "2010-11-21T18:55:33Z")
Governing California at least has some sort of credibility to it, there’s the scale of governance and the political influence that it can bring. Whilst Palin isn’t the brightest around, even she had to know that governing Alaska is pretty small potatoes, makes sense for her to use whatever platform she can and get out, walking out on California would be damaging, walking out on Alaska - not so much and it probaly impedes her currying favour elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/28 "2010-11-21T18:59:11Z")
One thing no one has taken into account in this thread is the current status of Reagan among the unliving. Once you adjust your comparisons, and analyze the _current_ intelligence of Palin vs. Reagan, the answer is clear: Reagan is smarter. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/29 "2010-11-21T19:09:10Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > You means that’s **not** my honest opinion? Strange, I thought it was. I can’t speak to honesty, but yes, it’s clearly your opinion. You’re rather stuck with it; I doubt many others would want to claim it, being that every component of it is incorrect. In order of appearance: _ **Libbys are scared to death of her** _ - well, no, most people are not frightened of her personally, and certainly not in the oft-repeated fictional manner you imply: afraid of her “honesty” or “straight talk” or “accomplishments” (?) or “personal charisma” or certitude with which she would easily skate into the Oval Office if run. I grant that it’s a horrifying “what if” scenario to imagine a shallow, vindictive, grandstanding buffoon of her caliber becoming President, but in the same way it’s scary to imagine all the air in Earth’s atmosphere being replaced by Axe Body Spray, or what it would be like if America’s air traffic control system were manned for 24 hours by the cast of _Jackass_. _ **she could actually become President** _ - _cf_. Axemosphere, “Yo, this is Steve-O and you’re cleared for landing, I think!” Never, ever gonna happen even if she truly wanted it, which she doesn’t, not really. Being President is _hard_. Being the world’s most overpaid cheerleader for a gaggle of slavering simps? I’m guessing a lot cushier. _ **and push this country back to the right** _ - implies that this country has moved to the left in some significant sense. In actual fact it hasn’t, which would probably be a lot more evident if you weren’t polluting your senses with the effluvium of talking points being vomited out 24x7 by Fox News and your friendly neighborhood nationally syndicated talk radio demagogues. _ **where it belongs** _ - well, on this one we’ll just have to agree to disagree. (But you’re still wrong.) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/30 "2010-11-21T19:14:11Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Someone refresh my memory, did Reagan quit like a cowardly bitch during his term as California Governor? That’s a Really Big Deal, and people seem to be ignoring it. 😕 She fucking _quit_ a nothing (compared to president) job! Mayor of Oakland is a more demanding job than governor of Alaska, fer crissakes. And the Tea Party shows it’s true worth by supporting her. They belong together. And I fear neither, BTW. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/31 "2010-11-21T19:15:31Z")
I am afraid of her. She actually has a chance to become president. i don’t think it is a good chance but the fact that it could possibly happen scares much of the world. Most of the world breathed a huge sigh when we finally got rid of Bush. Now they can sweat out President Palin. It is a terrifying prospect. We used to describe our politicians as “the best and the brightest”. Boy is that over with in the Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/32 "2010-11-21T19:21:07Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I don’t agree to that. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/33 "2010-11-21T19:22:49Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I don’t agree to that. Don’t be disagreeable. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/34 "2010-11-21T19:48:04Z")
There’s no way she could stand up to a presidential campaign. Witness the Katie Couric interview. Ms Couric was, for some reason, pretty gentle and Ms Palin still managed to look like an idiot. I don’t think she’s actually an idiot. Anyway, in case anybody wants a [reminder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbQwAFobQxQ). Watch part two if you can. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/35 "2010-11-21T20:24:36Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Libbys are scared to death of her because, IMHO, she could actually become President and push this country back to the right where it belongs. Do you also think terrorists hate us for our freedom, and that Obama wants the terrorists to win? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/36 "2010-11-21T20:26:08Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > There’s no way she could stand up to a presidential campaign. Witness the Katie Couric interview. Ms Couric was, for some reason, pretty gentle and Ms Palin still managed to look like an idiot. I don’t think she’s actually an idiot. > Anyway, in case anybody wants a [reminder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbQwAFobQxQ). Watch part two if you can. Gentle? Are you kidding? She asked Palin what _newspapers_ she read! If that isn’t attack/gotcha media then I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/37 "2010-11-21T20:29:16Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Is Sarah Palin dumber than Ronald Reagan? > So who’s stupider? Reagan or Palin? And why? Sarah Palin has made more money, faster, than Ronald Reagan. Sarah Palin has probably made more money in the last 2 years, than maybe half of the Straight Dopers have made in their entire lives. It also took Reagan MUCH longer to be considered as a presidential candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/38 "2010-11-21T20:33:02Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I would have gone with money grubbing bitch. She quit to cash in on her new found fame, . Is it “dumb” to earn hundreds of millions of dollars in order to provide for your family? Would a “smart” person really want to stay poor while getting sued with an additional new lawsuit each and every week? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/39 "2010-11-21T20:47:15Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > Sarah Palin has probably made more money in the last 2 years, than maybe half of the Straight Dopers have made in their entire lives. Well, yeah, but so did Snooki. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453/40 "2010-11-21T20:52:10Z")
It’s not the stupid it’s the utter lack of intellectual curiosity that makes Palin so bad. Regan was just senile. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sarah-palin-dumber-than-ronald-reagan/561453.md?page=3)