# This guy is too stupid to live, yet gets to vote (Idiot letter to Editor) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 29, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732 "2008-09-29T16:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/1 "2008-09-29T16:54:00Z")
I’m not nearly as frightened by Ms Palin as I am of people like this: > **[Democrats a verbal bunch](https://lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/article_da336a9c-d422-5b77-a684-a8024ea87a2c.html)** > > A series of letters to the Tribune has impugned Gov. Palin's qualifications for office. None of those who have impugned her has stated the qualifications for the vice presidency, and > [@](#): > > “If we assume the essential constitutional function of a vice president is to become president on the incapacity of the latter, logically we would then examine the qualifications for the presidency. And that office? One must be a natural born citizen who has attained age 35. In point of fact, the Constitution that specifies those requirements does not even stipulate that he/she be a warm body.” She’s qualified because she’s a citizen and and over 35? Buh..What? That’s all? Are you INSANE? Gaaaarrrrrgggg :: head explodes :: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/2 "2008-09-29T17:01:35Z")
Well heck, I’m over 35, a citizen and even somewhat warm. Iza runnin!!! Get Stoned! Vote Second Stone for VP!!! Write me in!! The fact that I’m a bona fide idiot is even better, as I’d be keeping up tradition in the office seeing as I’m just as dumb as the current occupant. Well, maybe not that dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/3 "2008-09-29T17:04:25Z")
I’m reassured that if McCain does get elected, his corpse can continue to be president and the role doesn’t have to be passed to Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/4 "2008-09-29T17:08:47Z")
Yep, those are the requirements she’s met. McCain meets them, too. The requirements to be chosen as the VP candidate, however, are different. As near as I can tell, the requirements she met are: (a) republican (b) female © christian (d) at least some political experience (e) shorter than McCain ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/5 "2008-09-29T17:13:26Z")
The letter-writer is a stupid literalist, who thinks that words like “qualified” can only possibly have one meaning. Unfortunately, many people think that way about English words and phrases. But, of course, here “qualified” can mean: (1) satisfying the minimum requirements in the Constitution, or (2) having the personal qualities and experience necessary to be successful in the job. Of course, there’s no doubt that Governor Palin is qualified in the first sense, even if some people doubt the qualifications of Senators McCain and Obama. But if that were all, then presidential electons in the US would become a random choice among about a hundred million “qualified” citizens. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/6 "2008-09-29T17:16:07Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > As near as I can tell, the requirements she met are: > > (a) republican > (b) female > (c) christian > (d) at least some political experience > (e) shorter than McCain That last one was the hardest to fill. No wonder they ended up with her! ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/7 "2008-09-29T17:18:24Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > … presidential electons in the US would become a random choice among about a hundred million “qualified” citizens. I’m not entirely sure that that’s a worse system. ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/8 "2008-09-29T17:18:30Z")
I’m not terribly surprised to see where this letter came from. I’ve talked to several men in my area now who’ve told me they’re planning on voting for Palin (oh, and by extension McCain, they suppose) because they want to have sex with her. :rolleyes: Thankfully, this doesn’t appear to be that widespread, if Obama’s lead over McCain in Wisconsin is any indication. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/9 "2008-09-29T17:21:42Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > That last one was the hardest to fill. No wonder they ended up with her! For five years, McCain _couldn’t_ grow any taller! ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/10 "2008-09-29T17:22:03Z")
> [@CaerieD](#): > > I’ve talked to several men in my area now who’ve told me they’re planning on voting for Palin (oh, and by extension McCain, they suppose) because they want to have sex with her. :rolleyes: Voting for a candidate in the hopes that one might someday be able to have sex with that candidate? Well, it worked for Monica Lewinksky. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/11 "2008-09-29T17:44:13Z")
Gah! Basic vocabulary!! “Qualified” and “Eligible” are not synonyms. One can certainly be eligible and not qualified. Or qualified, and not eligible. Sarah Palin is unequivocally _eligible_ to be president or vice president of the United States. Whether she is _qualified_ or not remains open to debate. Back in the late Clinton era, I remember quite a few people musing that Madeleine Albright was probably _qualified_ to run for the presidency or vice presidency but it was a shame that she was most definitely not _eligible_. (She is Czech by birth.) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/12 "2008-09-29T17:47:54Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Voting for a candidate in the hopes that one might someday be able to have sex with that candidate? By that logic, shouldn’t they vote against her? Seems like their odds would be better with the Governor of Alaska than the Vice President of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/13 "2008-09-29T17:50:36Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > By that logic, shouldn’t they vote against her? Seems like their odds would be better with the Governor of Alaska than the Vice President of the United States. I think the Veep probably has more down time. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/14 "2008-09-29T17:54:56Z")
[Bwahahaha](http://www.tshirthell.com/funny-shirts/i-fucked-sarah-palin-by-voting-for-obama/)! ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/15 "2008-09-29T18:35:20Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > [Bwahahaha](http://www.tshirthell.com/funny-shirts/i-fucked-sarah-palin-by-voting-for-obama/)! I wouldn’t fuck Sarah Palin with Napoleon’s penis. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/16 "2008-09-29T19:30:31Z")
> [@anya\_marie](#): > > I wouldn’t fuck Sarah Palin with Napoleon’s penis. Indeed not: Josephine would be jealous, and why give a long-dead emperor all the fun? ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/17 "2008-09-29T19:32:25Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > I think the Veep probably has more down time. And for most people DC is a shorter trip than Alaska. If you are going to have a VP with benefits you want it to be convenient. There are olny so many “moose hunting” trips you can take on weekends before it starts getting suspicious. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/18 "2008-09-29T19:42:28Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Gah! Basic vocabulary!! > > “Qualified” and “Eligible” are not synonyms. > > One can certainly be eligible and not qualified. > Or qualified, and not eligible. > > Sarah Palin is unequivocally _eligible_ to be president or vice president of the United States. > > Whether she is _qualified_ or not remains open to debate. > > Back in the late Clinton era, I remember quite a few people musing that Madeleine Albright was probably _qualified_ to run for the presidency or vice presidency but it was a shame that she was most definitely not _eligible_. (She is Czech by birth.) This reminds me of a story I read sometime in the 70s about a (then) future America where literally any citizen was eligible to be president. Anyone wishing the job had to take a series of tests to establish their knowledge and qualifications to be President, with the results of the tests being analyzed by a computer which was programmed to select the best qualified candidate. The plot of the story concerned itself with a situation where it was discovered that the computer was programmed to select not the best-qualified candidate, but the best, _qualified_ candidate…the problem being that no one was qualified to be President because the job had gotten too complex. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/19 "2008-09-29T20:58:56Z")
I did a little on-line searching and not only identified the story, but found a readable copy online. [2066: Election Day by Michael Shaara](http://books.google.com/books?id=sMl9MFWKuf0C&pg=PA160&lpg=PA160&dq=%22michael+shaara%22+2066&source=web&ots=t6iqqMKxn5&sig=GouAjcq53RA8g0fkgy56RM-Dg_Y&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result). ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732/20 "2008-09-29T21:24:35Z")
> [@CaerieD](#): > > I’m not terribly surprised to see where this letter came from. I’ve talked to several men in my area now who’ve told me they’re planning on voting for Palin (oh, and by extension McCain, they suppose) because they want to have sex with her. :rolleyes: > > Thankfully, this doesn’t appear to be that widespread, if Obama’s lead over McCain in Wisconsin is any indication. Either that, or lots of men in Wisconsin want to have sex with Obama. 😃 I guess if you could find a female VP/Presidential candidate who was hot and who people wanted to have a beer with, you’d have, like, voter kryptonite. She’d get 100% of the vote. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-guy-is-too-stupid-to-live-yet-gets-to-vote-idiot-letter-to-editor/465732.md?page=2)