Our Smartest President: Just Ask Him

[Kathianne]

Oh dear! I wonder if they all know how to speak British?

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/29/does-obama-know-the-difference-between-great-britain-and-england/


Does Obama Know the Difference between Great Britain and England?
Nile Gardiner (http://blog.heritage.org/author/ngardiner/)
November 29, 2011 at 7:09 pm


In a press conference this evening, the president referred in stumbling fashion to the “English Embassy” in Iran instead of the British Embassy. One can only imagine the kind of howls of derision that would greet any presidential contender if that kind of basic error were made before, say, the editorial board of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. You can watch the video above.


In case the president is unaware, England forms part of Great Britain, which also includes Scotland and Wales, though not Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. There is no such thing as an “English” embassy anywhere in the world, and there hasn’t been one for several centuries.


Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by this latest slip-up by President Obama. After all he recently described France as America’s closest ally (https://email.heritage.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100071241/barack-obama-france-is-americas-strongest-ally-the-president-gives-britain-the-boot-again/), and famously declared that he has traveled to no less than 57 states (https://email.heritage.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws). But it would be nice if the leader of the free world bothered to look at a map once in a while, or even paid a visit to theBritish Embassy in Washington, currently housing the Churchill bust that Mr. Obama unceremoniously threw out of the Oval Office soon after his inauguration...

[CSM]

I bet he can see England from his back porch.

[ConHog]

This buffoon should never be allowed to speak without a teleprompter. Not that this error was that big of deal, but my God he's the President, and can't even call an embassy by it's correct name?

[Thunderknuckles]

No big deal. Every President makes a few slips like this.
And let's be honest, it really is the "English Embassy". They bring those other drunken skirt wearers along for the ride :p

[Abbey Marie]

What a dope.

[Noir]

It's amazing how many Americans don't know the difference. In saying that though, it's amazing how many brits don't know the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

[logroller]

There are a lot of dumb people. This is true of all places, past and present-- its just reality. It's the fact they can vote that really makes no sense.

[ConHog]

There are a lot of dumb people. This is true of all places, past and present-- its just reality. It's the fact they can vote that really makes no sense.

Hmmm, what? You think we should screen voters? Watch out, you'll get blasted.

[Abbey Marie]

Voting and parenthood are way too accessible to morons.

[Mr. P]

I bet he can see England from his back porch.
No way! He can't even see the Country crumbling around him.

[avatar4321]

If I hear another progressive brag about how smart Obama is I am going to hit my head against the wall.

[jon_forward]

Latenight talkshows should have a field daywith this latest brainfart. What a stinker

[Lumpy 1]

According to liberal sources..

you're all racists

[CSM]

If I hear another progressive brag about how smart Obama is I am going to hit my head against the wall.

Better yet hit THEIR head against the wall ... hard ... many times!

[ConHog]

If I hear another progressive brag about how smart Obama is I am going to hit my head against the wall.

That's what they don't get it. It isn't that we don't all know that anyone and everyone makes these kinds of errors regularly. It's that when all you hear is how brilliant a guy is "smartest man in any room as soon as he walks in the room" then he says stupid shit like "57 of the states" or whatever it's just like what?????????? lol



PS I have no doubt that at worst I could hold my own against Obama in any intelligence competition.

[LuvRPgrl]

That's what they don't get it. It isn't that we don't all know that anyone and everyone makes these kinds of errors regularly. It's that when all you hear is how brilliant a guy is "smartest man in any room as soon as he walks in the room" then he says stupid shit like "57 of the states" or whatever it's just like what?????????? lol



PS I have no doubt that at worst I could hold my own against Obama in any intelligence competition.

what is an intelligence competition?

[logroller]

If he's so smart, why'd he get into politics? :dance:

[fj1200]

If he's so smart, why'd he get into politics? :dance:

Marketing, why else would anyone read his self-indulgent autobiographies? :slap:

[ConHog]

what is an intelligence competition?

Umm Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Spelling Bee, Quiz Bowl. All of these would be competitions related to one's intelligence. Surprised that you have no experience with any of them.

[fj1200]

^I'd say those are more memory and recall, not so much intelligence.

[LuvRPgrl]

Umm Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Spelling Bee, Quiz Bowl. All of these would be competitions related to one's intelligence. Surprised that you have no experience with any of them.

why would you assume I havent?

As for scrabble, I have played in tournaments, and Im quite sure I could kick your ass.....................

[logroller]

why would you assume I havent?

As for scrabble, I have played in tournaments, and Im quite sure I could kick your ass.....................

Scrabble tournaments...not sure that's brag-able. Though I'd like to see a no-holds barred, steel cage-scrabble. With questionable words settled by best insult.:laugh:

[ConHog]

^I'd say those are more memory and recall, not so much intelligence.

I would argue that memory and recall are in fact elements of intelligence.

[fj1200]

I would argue that memory and recall are in fact elements of intelligence.

If you can't pull it all together it's just a neat bar trick.

[ConHog]

If you can't pull it all together it's just a neat bar trick.

Of course, which is why I said it is a COMPONENT of intelligence. Obviously though recitation of learned facts is important else the educational system would not have been using it as a learning technique for the last few thousand years.

[fj1200]

Then your original posit of games is moot; why test the bar trick and not the actual intelligence?

[Noir]

Of course, which is why I said it is a COMPONENT of intelligence. Obviously though recitation of learned facts is important else the educational system would not have been using it as a learning technique for the last few thousand years.

That would be the same education system Obama did so well in? =P

[logroller]

I would argue that memory and recall are in fact elements of intelligence.

Elements of, I suppose; but I've always thought of intelligence as developing connections without being instructed to do so. Like the Scrabble example, a computer can use algorithms(an instruction) to find the highest scoring word, and would do so far faster than a human; but it draws from a given set of words, unable to decide on its own to make up a word because it thinks you may not know any better. Though artificial intelligence is developing rapidly; what levels of intelligence it may have reached as yet, i do not know.

[ConHog]

Elements of, I suppose; but I've always thought of intelligence as developing connections without being instructed to do so. Like the Scrabble example, a computer can use algorithms(an instruction) to find the highest scoring word, and would do so far faster than a human; but it draws from a given set of words, unable to decide on its own to make up a word because it thinks you may not know any better. Though artificial intelligence is developing rapidly; what levels of intelligence it may have reached as yet, i do not know.

I think of intelligence as acquiring and applying learned knowledge. Whether that knowledge is learned from hands on experience or from a book, it's still learned. In the example of scrabble. If at some point someone didn't teach you intelligence was a word, how in the world would you ever connect put the letters I N T E L L I G E N C E with being a word? Let alone apply it's definition.

[ConHog]

That would be the same education system Obama did so well in? =P


As far as I'm aware, we in fact do NOT know how well Obama did in said education system.

[Kathianne]

As far as I'm aware, we in fact do NOT know how well Obama did in said education system.

Other than he got to Harvard Law, though no indications, save legacy, as to why.

[Kathianne]

I think of intelligence as acquiring and applying learned knowledge. Whether that knowledge is learned from hands on experience or from a book, it's still learned. In the example of scrabble. If at some point someone didn't teach you intelligence was a word, how in the world would you ever connect put the letters I N T E L L I G E N C E with being a word? Let alone apply it's definition.

That's a great definition for 9th or 10th grade of HS, but far short of higher level intelligence, indeed short of what is looked for in community colleges regarding academic track:

http://www.kidcyber.com.au/Bloomgard.htm

[Thunderknuckles]

I boil it down to this:

Smart -> One who has learned
Intelligent -> One who knows how to apply what they have learned
Wisdom -> One who knows when to apply what they have learned

[Kathianne]

I boil it down to this:

Smart -> One who has learned
Intelligent -> One who knows how to apply what they have learned
Wisdom -> One who knows when to apply what they have learned

Close and I do give kudos for differentiating.

Highly intelligent, that which Obama claims, as it seems so does CH, being able to arrive at something new or point the way, based upon what has gone before. I certainly don't see that so far, from either.

[Noir]

As far as I'm aware, we in fact do NOT know how well Obama did in said education system.

I thought he graduated from Harvard? =/
(which would ofcourse require getting into Harvard in the first place...)

[Abbey Marie]

I thought he graduated from Harvard? =/
(which would ofcourse require getting into Harvard in the first place...)

People get into the Ivies for all sorts of non-academic reasons (cough: affirmative action :cough). My very average college roommate got into Columbia for grad school because her parents knew a Senator.

As for graduating, I have heard that once you are in a school like Harvard, they want you to graduate and support their students.

[LuvRPgrl]

why would you assume i havent?

As for scrabble, i have played in tournaments, and im quite sure i could kick your ass.....................
i forgot to mention, that was a joke !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kathianne]

i forgot to mention, that was a joke !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

really.

[LuvRPgrl]

Scrabble tournaments...not sure that's brag-able. Though I'd like to see a no-holds barred, steel cage-scrabble. With questionable words settled by best insult.:laugh:

If it could be set up so nobody can cheat, I would love that,.

[Kathianne]

If it could be set up so nobody can cheat, I would love that,.

http://www.scrabble-assoc.com/tourneys/


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A list of all NSC/USSO players ranked by their historical performance (http://www.scrabble-assoc.com/tourneys/nsc-perf.html) is updated after each such event.

[LuvRPgrl]

Elements of, I suppose; but I've always thought of intelligence as developing connections without being instructed to do so. Like the Scrabble example, a computer can use algorithms(an instruction) to find the highest scoring word, and would do so far faster than a human; but it draws from a given set of words, unable to decide on its own to make up a word because it thinks you may not know any better. Though artificial intelligence is developing rapidly; what levels of intelligence it may have reached as yet, i do not know.

I think the computer has the ability to choose the best word for the highest score possible, but they cant "read" other players, know their styles and take into account setting up someone else for a big score, or letters you might want to hang onto cuz its part of a particular word you might be seeking because of the way the board is setup..
. The computer cannot anticipate things, and in choosing the highest possbile scoring word, it may mess up another word you are shooting for. I know often I pass up a word that is higher scoring than another word option I have, but it will take away a few key letters that Im trying to use for a particular word because that word is setup on the board to be a really high scoring word.
. Plus it cannot take into account the actual score. Taking a high risk move near the end of the game because you are down alot of points, is something it cant conceivel

[LuvRPgrl]

I boil it down to this:

Smart -> One who has learned
Intelligent -> One who knows how to apply what they have learned
Wisdom -> One who knows when to apply what they have learned

Thats not bad, but I think of wisdom as something anybody can achieve regardless of their intelligence level.

I see wisdom as simply making good choices, or "wise" choices.
Intelligence is the single most over rated trait our society has.
.
Intelligence guarantees one absolutely nothing in life.
Mental wards are full of them, the homeless ranks are riddled with them.

[red states rule]

http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/aria_c9410220111202120100.jpg