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Home » Blogs » Ken Shepherd's blog
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Politico Asks: 'Is Rick Perry Dumb', Goes On to Answer, Basically, No

By Ken Shepherd | August 29, 2011 | 10:50

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You have to hand it to Politico, they know how to gin up publicity.

"Is Rick Perry dumb?" asks the top headline on the website today. Yet on balance, the corresponding article by Jonathan Martin isn't all that bad, noting that Perry has often been underestimated politically, much to the peril of numerous Republican and Democratic opponents who are now footnotes at best in Texas political history.

That being said, there's little doubt that the media, including Martin, are hard at work cementing certain prejudices and lowering expectations about the three-term Texas governor:

Doubts about Perry’s intellect have hounded him since he was first elected as a state legislator nearly three decades ago. In Austin, he’s been derided as a right-place, right-time pol who looks the part but isn’t so deep — “Gov. Goodhair.” Now, with the chatter picking back up among his enemies and taking flight in elite Republican circles, the rap threatens to follow him to the national stage.

And publishing a piece entitled "Is Rick Perry dumb?" isn't Politico's effort to ensure that?

If the media covered Democrats the way they cover conservatives you would’ve seen Newsweek in 1991 asking, “Does Clinton Have a Problem With the Truth? Some Experts Say it’s Pathological” or Politico in 2007 wonder, “Does Obama Really Have What It Takes? Some Dems Whisper He’s All Hype and No Heft."

I'd look for the following mainstream media narrative on Perry to develop heading into 2012: He's a whip-smart politician who shouldn't be underestimated when it comes to roping in votes, but that his ideology will stupidly blind him to how there's undisputable evidence that we need a large and growing federal government to tackle pressing problems.

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Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters. Click here to follow Ken Shepherd on Twitter.
  • 2012 Presidential
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Comments

Well,we've tried "smart" for the last two years.

Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:28am.

Exactly where the hell did all that "intelligence" get  us?

I'll go with West Texas, dirt dumb, common sense, non-Ivy League education and see how that works out.  It's for sure it can't be worse.

At least Perry looks and acts like a leader.

Perry reminds me of the guy who was selling "smart pills" to his "more intelligent" neighbor; and Bambi is definitely the neighbor in that story.

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LOL...

Submitted by BBallleaper on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:45am.

Martin is routinely ridiculed on FR. Talk about 'dumb' as a brick,... please take a moment to check-out the butter-ball cheeks photo this obese sloth chose for his website. No one in their right mind would put up such a goofy looking shot except this moron! As for dropping 'g's, am I the only person left in what used to be called 'America' who can't stand to hear Barry whistle his 's's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The guy is insufferable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Maybe looking for a remake of ...

Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 11:50am.

... "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."

Or maybe He'll change the name to "All I want for Ramadan is my two front teeth."

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MSM can't use: "Perry lucky, right place right time in Austin"

Submitted by SteveInTexas on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:36pm.

MSM will not be able to follow this line of misinformation, lest they be giving credit to the stupid evil genius Bush for creating such a favorable situation that would enable a dunce like Perry to succeed. (Don't get me wrong though, MSM will try using it).

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Is Obama dumb? Because unlike

Submitted by rbosque on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:16pm.

Is Obama dumb?

Because unlike Perry, he's driven the economy into the ground.
Pushed for socialist policies that have failed everywhere they've been tried.
Obama keeps backing terrorists and terrorist nations that are at war WITH US.

Yup, Obama is dumb.

-----Obama is the reason why stupid people shouldn't vote.-----
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And, In Politico's Words,

Submitted by Comrade Jim on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:48pm.

Doubts about the intellect and bias of Politico's commentators have hounded them since they first started a few years ago. In Washington, Politico has been derided as disguising its bias in baloney stories. Now, with the chatter picking back up among Politico's enemies and taking flight in elite media circles, the rap threatens to follow Politico for its life.

Is Politico dumb?

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Dumb?

Submitted by retrocon on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:45pm.

The MSM carry forth the leftist myth that if you don't come from an ivy league school, you are stupid.

I would argue the following:

1) Most ivy league schools inject liberal philosophy into their education (and i don't mean their philosophy classes), tainting it immediately. Injecting doubt about both facts taught and the institution teaching.

2) Ivy league schools, once centers for the highest education, are now just stomping grounds for the children of the wealthy and elite, and those recruited for affirmative action appearances.

3) Intelligence is not taught. Life lessons are not learned within hallowed halls.

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Speaking of Ivy League Schools

Submitted by Blonde on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 4:12pm.

This is kind of interesting....

Apparently Barack & Mitch were afforded affirmative action status in earning their Ivy League degrees. Which speaks volumes as to why offical transcripts for The Won have never been released.

The example of his "writing" is more pathetic than the basest troll here.  Go figure.

Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 138 (and Counting)

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rinse lather repeat

Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 12:48pm.

 if you search the history EVERY Republican President or candidate has been derided as either dumb or deranged or both from President Eisenhower up to the present.

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Transcript

Submitted by btjunk00 on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 2:21pm.

Apparently HuffPo obtained a copy of Gov. Perry's transcript, highlighting his C's and D's. Don't know if it's real or not.

But it just shows that college isn't everything.

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Here's some ammo: correct, college isn't everything

Submitted by SteveInTexas on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 4:02pm.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/believe-it-or-not-l...

caution: lib heads will explode when they read this.

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Prove to me Obama is smart

Submitted by ohio granny on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 5:36pm.

How about the liar-in-chief release his grade transcripts? Remember Al Gore was supposed to be so much smartert than GW Bush. But ha, ha, ha Bush's grades were better than Al,s. Maybe the reason Obama has spent in excess of a million dolllars to keep his birth certificate and grades hidden is because there REALLY is something to hide. Like maybe he really is not very smart.

But someday, some one, somewhere will let the cat out of the bag. Then we will all know what was so bad it had to be kept hidden.

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None of 'em had impressive GPAs...

Submitted by Jer on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 6:04pm.

but based on standardized tests, Bush is smarter than Kerry and Gore is smarter than both of them. I don't know about Obama.

Jer

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Wasn't it Gore ...

Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 6:10pm.

... who flunked out of divinity school, or am I delusional again?

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Newsbubba...

Submitted by Jer on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 6:14pm.

I don't believe he flunked out [but it's possible...I haven't checked], but he was definitely an underachiever--very poor academic record.

Jer

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That's ok, Jer,---

Submitted by matthewdean on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 7:49pm.

it would appear that no one knows about Obama's grades; and if they do, they ain't talkin'.

As far as Obama's intelligence, or lack of same, why, he has demonstrated such on  numerous public occasions. 

The ideology of those who did, do, and will forever proclaim him to be a super-intellect, tells me all I need to know about the actual truth regarding his flaming brilliance.

MD

"The credibility of the story is undermined by the selection of sources." - (h/t Jer)
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