# They say Sarah Palin isn't smart enough to be POTUS **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 18, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063 "2009-11-18T20:15:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/101 "2009-11-19T21:58:27Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Bolding mine. > > I’m no physicist, but i imagine that there is some difference, in terms of energy output, between a place that is “several million degrees” (Gore’s words) and a place that is about 5-6000 degrees. You are correct. You are not a physicist. I am. Physics is all about dimensional analysis, which is the first concept freshman physics students encounter. Temperature and Energy are not the same dimension, nor are they related mathematically in the way you described. The mathematics of thermodynamics is outside the skill set of most people and virtually all politicians. So in this venue we are not able to explain what is wrong with what Gore said or what you said in your post. “Energy Output” is not a useful term. The dimension of “power” is probably apropos for what you are trying to say. Energy (a dimension) is defined as the integration of the power (a dimension) function over a time (a dimension) interval. Example: Your electric company provides power in terms of watts. Every appliance you use is rated for watts. But your electric bill is not in watts. In your electric bill you are charged in the dimension of Energy (watts multiplied by time) namely kilowatt-hours, or thousands of watts multiplied by the number of hours in the interval between the times the meter was read. The international scientific (SI) unit for energy is the Joule. Other defined units are the calorie and BTU. As another example the energy of a high energy particle, such as an X-ray is the electron-Volt. Class dismissed. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/102 "2009-11-19T22:03:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Hopefully, as an example of a joke. Ahmedinejad is President of Iran. Although the “imports into Iraq” bit does sound as though Palin was confused too. I wish. It’s a typo. :smack: (interrupted by kids coming home from school while deciding between ‘Ahmedinejad is not President of’ v. ‘Ahmedinejad is President of..’)(Can I get extra-credit bonus points for ‘Ahmedinejad’?) In my defense, I have never run, nor do I plan to run, for political office!! LOL ---
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/103 "2009-11-19T22:16:54Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Another item takes him to task for saying, “He is proposing to privatize a big part of Social Security and he’s proposing to take $1 trillion, a million billion dollars out of the Social Security trust fund and give it as a tax incentive to young workers.” His lie? That a trillion is one thousand million, not one million billion. This is undeniably true, but it’s not an example of a lie. Neither of those is correct. A trillion in the American English language is 1,000,000,000,000, and has 12 zeroes (zeros.) A trillion is a million million: 1,000,000 X 1,000,000 A trillion is a thousand billion: 1,000 X 1,000,000,000 A billion is 1,000,000,000 and has 9 zeroes. A billion is a thousand million: 1,000 X 1,000,000 A million is a thousand thousand:. 1,000 X 1,000 or 1,000,000 and has 6 zeroes. Supposedly the British term for the American meaning of a “billion” is a “thousand million” or so I have been told. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/104 "2009-11-19T22:18:30Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Actually, he said he was **familiar** with Wisconsin dairy farming because he spent a night on the farm. You may be familiar with the word familiar, but you are certainly no expert on its meaning. You want to try to parse the difference between claiming to be an expert, and claiming to be someone “who is very familiar with what the Wisconsin dairy industry is all about”, go ahead, but don’t expect to be taken seriously. I understand your point - IOKIADDI. I just think it is as stupid as it usually is. > [@Kobal2](#): > > Except of course, and you know this already because you’re not a complete moron, people were not lambasting her for her lack of foreign experience. Actually they were - lambasting her as a way to distract from Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience. And military experience. And leadership experience. And energy policy experience. And business experience. Every fucking time somebody mentioned any of these on the SDMB, we would get some troll or other trotting some shit out about Palin. > [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > Shodan, you understand, of course, that using the phrase “mainstream media” automatically marks you as one of the idiots, right? It automatically marks me as someone the liberal assholes will call names, certainly, but that hardly matters. > [@Taber](#): > > No matter what. [Yes.](http://www.journalism.org/node/13307) [no](http://www.runet.edu/~kmagee/Research/Liberal.html) [matter](http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1162/003355305775097542) [what](http://us-elections.suite101.com/article.cfm/obama_and_msnbc_media_bias). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/105 "2009-11-19T22:18:41Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > You know who else mistreated Polish people who were charitable to Jews? > > I’m just saying. It just fucking never gets old, never. ---
**Author:** ![Cort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/77aa72/32.png) [@Cort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cort)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/106 "2009-11-19T22:22:17Z")
[QUOTE=Paleface] Did it. Reported your explicit violation of forum rules. [/QUOTE] God, how fucking lame are you? ---
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/107 "2009-11-19T22:23:49Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > 1. What difference does it make if a presidential or vice-presidential candidate knows the temperature of the earth’s core? > 2. When was the last time Gore was a presidential or vice-presidentail candidate? > 3. Does his misstating the temperature of the earth’s core invalidate his arguments about alternative energy? (Hint: He does not suggest we drill to the center of the earth.) > 4. In what way does this demonstrate Palin’s knowledge or intelligence? The difference it makes is that his claimed knowledge of global warming and geophysics is invalidated by such an ignorant comment. This does not demonstrate anything about Palin. It does demonstrate how the media portray conservatives and liberals. The media ridicule of conservatives is pervasive and often malevolent (remember Dan Rather?) ---
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/108 "2009-11-19T22:29:59Z")
> [@Camus](#): > > And then there are people who are just plain stupid. Palin is a neo-Know Nothing. Some conservatives seem to like her because she reminds them of themselves (and her looks), not because she is worthy, intellectually-qualified, sufficiently experienced, or has a strong character for political office. In short, she has no substance whatsoever as a political figure (which includes having good or at least persuasive political ideas). The political ideas she has stated in numerous interviews are a vague set of general Republican platitudes that don’t really mean anything. \*\* She was clearly repeating things she was told to say\*\*. A politician needs to be a leader, not a repeater. “She was clearly repeating things she was told to say” Oh, OK. You mean, in the same way Obama is dumbstruck when the teleprompter breaks? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/109 "2009-11-19T22:32:19Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > and maybe… just maybe… He’s wrong about the MOLE MEN too! You just can’t trust a man who makes a mistake. He’s probably wrong about everything. That’s right. Everyone knows it’s Morlocs we need to worry about. ---
**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 19, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/110 "2009-11-19T22:32:46Z")
> [@coyote2009](#): > > The difference it makes is that his claimed knowledge of global warming and geophysics is invalidated by such an ignorant comment. Not at all. He popularizes the scientific information about global warming. He isn’t a scientist, he’s a spokesperson. Also he may have misspoke. > [@](#): > > This does not demonstrate anything about Palin. True. > [@](#): > > It does demonstrate how the media portray conservatives and liberals. The media ridicule of conservatives is pervasive and often malevolent (remember Dan Rather?) Not at all. Gore has no record of random moron bullshit like Palin. She’s a lying cunt. ---
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/111 "2009-11-19T22:34:05Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Actually they were - lambasting her as a way to distract from Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience. Obama has lots of foreign policy experience. Give the man a break. He IS a foreigner. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/112 "2009-11-19T22:40:07Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You want to try to parse the difference between claiming to be an expert, and claiming to be someone “who is very familiar with what the Wisconsin dairy industry is all about”, go ahead, but don’t expect to be taken seriously. > > I understand your point - IOKIADDI. I just think it is as stupid as it usually is. I don’t think you understand my point. The point is that you are willing to lie and misinterpret what Democrats say so long as it suits your purpose. I understand your point, however – it’s OK if Shodan does it. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/113 "2009-11-19T22:42:14Z")
> [@coyote2009](#): > > The difference it makes is that his claimed knowledge of global warming and geophysics is invalidated by such an ignorant comment. This is complete horseshit. I caught my professor saying things that were demonstrably absurd, but I wouldn’t evaluate the rest of his chemistry by those statements. > [@](#): > > This does not demonstrate anything about Palin. It says more about **Paleface** desperation at developing a false equivalence. You can indeed see Russia from a remote part of Alaska, but it has nothing to do with foreign policy qualifications. Palin is an idiot and has never said anything that is scientifically interesting. > [@](#): > > It does demonstrate how the media portray conservatives and liberals. The media ridicule of conservatives is pervasive and often malevolent (remember Dan Rather?) You are right about Dan Rather. It’s only OK when FOX News does it. ---
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/114 "2009-11-19T22:47:32Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Not at all. Gore has no record of random moron bullshit like Palin. She’s a lying cunt. You left out the argument to, “It does demonstrate how the media portray conservatives and liberals. The media ridicule of conservatives is pervasive and often malevolent.” FWIW, Gore has a pretty clear record of random bullshit. He made Clinton look like George Washington, Ben Franklin, Albert Einstein, Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower and Mark Twain all rolled into one. ---
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/115 "2009-11-19T22:53:03Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > This is complete horseshit. I caught my professor saying things that were demonstrably absurd, but I wouldn’t evaluate the rest of his chemistry by those statements. Why not? I would. Some idiots are obvious. Other idiots are clever and sublime, but will give themselves away occasionally. Like the old saying, you cannot fool all the people all the time. Nah, that doesn’t apply. Withdrawn. Gore isn’t fooling anyone who bothers to look carefully. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/116 "2009-11-19T22:56:38Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > Actually, a trillion is a thousand billion. Depends on whether you’re using [short scale or long scale](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_and_short_scales) nomenclature. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/117 "2009-11-19T22:59:32Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Bolding mine. > > No it doesn’t invalidate his claims about alternative energy, But, he is making a claim about geothermal energy, and its usefulness for creating energy for human consumption. If you’re going to go on a national television show and argue that this is a good idea, then i think it behooves you to have at your fingertips the requisite knowledge about the temperature of the place where this energy is supposed to be coming from. > > I’m no physicist, but i imagine that there is some difference, in terms of energy output, between a place that is “several million degrees” (Gore’s words) and a place that is about 5-6000 degrees. > > Look, i quite like Al Gore, i like his environmentalism, and i still think he would have been a decent President. I also think the OP’s point about Sarah Palin is asinine. But the fact is that Gore should be more precise if he’s going to flog ideas like this on TV. Actually the point should be that his speechwriters and handlers keep him from shoving his foot in his mouth so far it is coming out his ass. ---
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/118 "2009-11-19T23:01:54Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Depends on whether you’re using [short scale or long scale](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_and_short_scales) nomenclature. Correct, and excellent point, but IIRC the UK–the last to use the long scale–adopted the short scale for official use back during the 1970’s. In public discussion the short scale is used almost exclusively. But there is still use of the long scale in casual discussion, or so my Brit friends tell me. ---
**Author:** ![coyote2009](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@coyote2009](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coyote2009)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/119 "2009-11-19T23:03:26Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Actually the point should be that his speechwriters and handlers keep him from shoving his foot in his mouth so far it is coming out his ass. And understandably so. Otherwise, where would he keep his head if not in his ass? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063/120 "2009-11-19T23:03:36Z")
> [@coyote2009](#): > > Gore isn’t fooling anyone who bothers to look carefully. “Fooling” about what? The existence of anthropogenic climate change is a fact. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-say-sarah-palin-isnt-smart-enough-to-be-potus/518063.md?page=7)