She has an eerie resemblance to Donald Rumsfeld in this photo.

... but I'd argue that the GOP began embracing "anti-intellectualism" in their candidates with the advent of the Great Communicator. Reagan was smarter (at least to some degree) than we left-leaning types would care to admit, but he also made oblivousness, or at best, generalization into political art form.

That said, I don't think the Republican party is completely devoid of deep thinkers. As an MOR liberal, I might not care for Newt Gingrich, but I don't doubt the guy's intellectual vigor. Well, except when he writes his crappy novels.

...they don't care about freedom or our country - this proves that they only care about being 'right'.

I'm also not impressed with the misspellings in my last post.

"Choose" and "woman" are normally words I can spell.

Sorry. AnnieW

Don't loose heart pet. When Palin is forced to drop out when its discovered that she's pregnant again, this time carrying a pair of conjoined moose you will be first in line as her replacement. The spelling errors will be seen as reassuring sign that you are not an elitist. As long as when asked what an Achilles Heel is you say that its a new type of sling back designed by Jimmy Choo you should be, erh well, a shoe in for the job.

AnnieW said interesting things. Why mock her for misspellings, when lots of people here and elsewhere make them? Elitism vs. populism or lack of intelligence is to be found elewhere.

"Why aren't more conservatives disgusted that their party nominated a person devoid of qualifications for the vice presidency (again)?"

1) The Republicans had already twice put up for POTUS the dishonourable GW Bush, than whom there could be no one more devoid of qualifications for anything more than the presidency of the International Association of Unqualified Masseurs - so what's to question about putting up an utterly 'non-qualified' like Sarah Palin for V-POTUS?

2) Also do remember that US citizens actually had GW Bush, War Criminal, as POTUS - not just once but TWICE over - so what are the odds they won't do something equally foolish come November? (Especially if the dark plans now being nurtured by the Bush-Cheney-Rove-McBush-Palin Dirty Tricks Department come to proper fruition).

Obama-Biden need to watch their backs with unflagging vigilance - and Democrats need constantly to remind themselves that - opinion polls or no opinion polls - "It ain't over till it's over and in the bag!

GSC

What makes an ultraconservative? Are they born that way?

Is there something unique in their early family atmosphere? Or did they have a bad and traumatic experience in life- e.g. were they abused as children? Why can't they handle logical thought? Why are they prone to fundamentalism in thought, religion, and politics? Is it because of too early or too pressured toilet training? Is it genetic - like are there extra chromosones? Or - is it really the result of personal choice? Are they more prone to terror? panic? obesity? Should these persons be isolated from the rest of people? There are so many more genetic and social factors to study. But it is critical that we begin NOW before it is too late.

For years I have been attempting to persuade the National Institutes of Health to conduct a serious study of ultraconservatives and to lobby congress for the necessary funds since this is of national importance. To supplement the funding, should a new foundation or research center be created?

Normally, these persons are normal conservatives until they are counter religious fundamentalism. Perhaps there could also be social study programs that focus exclusively on that.

Meanwhile, for the sake of others, ultraconservatives should be isolated. Soon Guantanamo will be vacant or someother retraining centers.

Why is this happening now? Why not later?

If your going to base your electoral decisions on intelligence than Obama, the Harvand graduate, is the clear winner. McCain finished 3rd from last in his class at Anapolis and Palin is a goofball Pentacostalist who claims to have a hotline to Jesus by speaking in tongues.

London lad was being sarcastic, and not insulting to AnnieW.

We on the left have always looked for a smart, charismatic leader to be our savior...an FDR, a Kennedy, a Clinton, an Obama. The Republicans don't need that. They have their well-oiled machine to rely on. And it has proven successful.

They have their talk radio hosts, their bloggers, their think tanks, their brand marketers and their attack dogs. They have seduced the religious folk, a powerful delivery device that takes their neatly packaged message into so many homes and churches. They have even succeeded in getting the Christians to ignore the teachings of Christ in favor of an idolatrous, patriarchal patriotism.

This is all part of the Republican machine, and yes, it can prop up a dead monkey for its leader, as one reader put it. It doesn't matter who is at the top of the pyramid. It's the base of the pyramid that matters, and their base is still very stable...even if George Bush backfired on them a bit. It doesn't matter. The machine just keeps on going, like some sinister energizer bunny.

They regularly pull out their whips to keep the mainstream media neutered. Notice how Michelle Malkin and her ilk accused Gwen Ifill of bias before she ever sat in the moderator's chair? The best way to get the umpire to bend over backwards to be "fair" to you is to shake your finger in her face and accuse her of being unfair. It keeps her from asking Ms. Palin too many hard questions.

Never mind that the truth usually leans left. The media will bend over backwards to stave off the "liberal media" label that the rightists constantly fling at it. That's how the rightists got the American public to go along with its Iraq war. It seems only Keith Olberman remembers the journalistic legacy of Edward R. Murrow these days, even if he is a bit tabloidesque in his presentation (such is the requirement to simply stay open for business on a mainstream media network). At least he ends his show with "good night, and good luck". At least he isn't afraid to tell the truth, no matter which way it leans.

Our pyramid sits on its point, which is why it so often topples over. We rely on our smart, worthy, good-hearted, articulate, competent, hard-working, charismatic leader of the day. Our base...regular people just trying to get by...are too preoccupied with trying to get by. Most of us don't have the time or the power or the money to create an effective liberal machine. And our religious folk, who know what religion really means and haven't been seduced, are too few to make a difference in homes and churches. (Real religion is just too hard for the evangelical masses to practice, as it requires sacrifice for one's neighbors. Their brand of religion has no such requirement, and so the masses flock to it in droves, their ears tickled with all the feel-good reasons why the poor will always be with us.)

We do have our moveon.org and our Daily Kos. We have our Keith Olberman. But it's not enough to provide the strong base of support that our worthy leaders need to win. It's unfortunate, but, there it is.