Too smart for me
Is America in the grips of an anti-intellectualism trend?
It's hard to categorize the Bush administration. They're not conservative. They're not traditional Republican. They don't have a big agenda, just some personal grudges that they're trying to settle ("They tried to kill my father!") They're not anti-women nor anti-Black, nor even anti-illegal immigrant.
I have figured it out--they hate smart people.
I've seen that leering smirk on Bush's face before, but it took me a while to place it. It was in high school. It was the look on the face of a kid in class when someone raised their hand and knew the answer. The smart kid ended up with a wedgie later on in the locker room.
Listen to Bushies argue about Iraq. It sounds like the old Monty Python routine about the professional arguer.
Cleese: An argument isn't just contradiction.
Chapman: Well! it CAN be!
Cleese: No it can't! An argument is a connected series of statement intended to establish a proposition.
Chapman: No it isn't!
Cleese: Yes it is! 'tisn't just contradiction.
Chapman: Look, if I *argue* with you, I must take up a contrary position!
Cleese: Yes but it isn't just saying "no it isn't".
Chapman: Yes it is!
Cleese: No it isn't!
Chapman: Yes it is!
Cleese: No it isn't!
Chapman: Yes it is!
Cleese: No it ISN'T! Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.
Chapman: It is NOT!
Cleese: It is!
Chapman: Not at all!
Posted on February 15, 2006
