Yes, we can.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Tom

I've never looked at her and thought she's just as smart as me. I'm surprised you did.

Here's the thing.

1) It was the politest way to say it.
2) I am well aware that our perception of her is highly distorted. She was thrown into a world that was WAY out of her league and she floundered. She came out looking far dumber than she actually is. I can't imagine being sat down in front of Katie Couric with as little preparation time as they gave her and coming off looking particularly intelligent. It's like taking a college baseball player who was a walk on on his team, making him face Nolan Ryan in his prime, and pointing and laughing at him when he strikes out and nearly falls down swinging at a 100mph fastball.

I do not think she's a blathering moron. I think she possesses the attitude that is courted by the Republican party that values brashness and "gumption" over knowledge. That attitude earned her the governorship, so I don't blame her for holding on to it. But playing it by ear doesn't cut it in the majors. She got a very ugly, painful lesson in the difference between ability and skill, and the reality that just because you got a knack for something doesn't mean you don't also have to sit down and gather some knowledge to rise to the highest level.