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11/17/08

Gun-owners who voted for Obama, please post here [3]

11/17/08

NEWS: Turn The DOJ Into A Husk

11/17/08

An Obama Baby Boom?

11/17/08

People who DON'T own guns and voted for Obama, please post here.

11/16/08

...and this is why I am glad I am no longer a Catholic!

11/16/08

I wonder what plans Obama has... [3]

11/16/08

Something depressing I noticed... [2]

11/16/08

NEWS: Asshole Fuckface Roundup #72

11/16/08

Obama will do weekly YouTube fireside chats

11/16/08

Small town elects first transgendered mayor

11/14/08

Well, that's a shocker.

11/14/08

Nebraska Splits Vote

11/14/08

50 Facts About Barack Obama [2]

11/14/08

FiveThirtyEight.com: Political Analysis for Stat Geeks [10]

11/14/08

Palin is like listening to like God

11/14/08

Time to Pray [2]

11/12/08

NEWS: Smothering A Lieberman

11/12/08

NEWS: Asshole Fuckface Roundup #71 [2]

11/12/08

maybe you didnt get the memo the elections over its time for a group hug [3]

11/12/08

Cure For AIDS? [2]

11/12/08

Obama is the President. [4]

11/12/08

Ralph Nader comes out as a racist fuck [8]

11/12/08

Mars Phoenix goes to sleep

11/12/08

Electoral map for voters ages 18-29. [2]

11/11/08

PNAC 2: Electric Boogaloo

11/11/08

Fed defies transparency in $2 trillion of emergency loans

11/11/08

11/11/08

New Hampshire Dares To Push Students [2]

11/10/08

11/10/08

NEWS: Holy Shit Are You Stupid [3]

11/10/08

A Moment of Aww [3]

11/10/08

Obama...the mountain? [3]

11/10/08

Obama poised to undo the damage of 8 years of Bush [3]

11/10/08

When ya gotta go you gotta go

11/10/08

Purple America [2]

11/9/08

Not Good Enough [2]

11/9/08

Cnn is using holograms

11/8/08

11/8/08

11/8/08

Rest easy, Obama not the anti-Christ [3]

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Something depressing I noticed...

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SergeantPsycho

USA

January 2007

NOV 14, 2008 03:07 AM

Not to step on anyone's feelings here, but I happened to be looking at 2006 - 2007 Smartest State Award, and I can't help but notice that McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden are all from the bottom half of the list. (Biden's spent most of his life in Delaware). I'm not sure what this means, if anything, but I can't help but find it a little disconcerting.

Necia

San Francisco, CA

August 2005

NOV 14, 2008 03:35 AM

I think this is of highly dubious relevance (especially considering the fact that the only candidate who was an executive of his or her state and thus in a position to have much control any of those factors measured was Palin).

But hey! The two states in which I've been educated are in the top fifteen, so that's nice to know, I suppose, if for no other reason than the feeding of smug home-state pride or something.

Keith

Oklahoma City, OK

August 2002

NOV 14, 2008 03:50 AM

While we're on the subject

joker_

Minneapolis, MN

October 2005

NOV 14, 2008 03:56 AM

Okay, so I'm reviewing the factors used to determine whether or not a State is smart.

Firstly it appears to only be ranking up to 8th grade; which is fairly ridiculous when considering the people who just ran in this election (well okay, except for Palin who appears to have an 8th grade or lower intellect.)

Secondly, looking through the factors I'm reminded of how some people aren't very skilled researchers. Nate Silver could you please take over this project?

joker_

Minneapolis, MN

October 2005

NOV 14, 2008 04:00 AM

Keith said:
While we're on the subject

SPOILERS! (Click to view)

Interesting according to the research that started this thread California is the 47th "smartest" state, but our average IQ is the 14th highest according to this chart. Go figure.

Keith

Oklahoma City, OK

August 2002

NOV 14, 2008 04:01 AM

Has your IQ been tested since elementary school, besides informal online tests? Mine hasn't.

SergeantPsycho

USA

January 2007

NOV 14, 2008 04:01 AM

Necia said:
I think this is of highly dubious relevance (especially considering the fact that the only candidate who was an executive of his or her state and thus in a position to have much control any of those factors measured was Palin).

But hey! The two states in which I've been educated are in the top fifteen, so that's nice to know, I suppose, if for no other reason than the feeding of smug home-state pride or something.

Actually, what I'm getting at is that the people who are running for president / vice-president may not represent the best and brightest of our society. What prompted this line of thinking was hearing that California was looking for a federal bailout, while knowing that Mark Warner, during his time as Virginia State Govenor, had helped Virginia out of a budget crisis, and wondering if there might be some difference in the quality of leadership from State to State.

joker_

Minneapolis, MN

October 2005

NOV 14, 2008 04:02 AM

Keith said:
Has your IQ been tested since elementary school, besides informal online tests? Mine hasn't.

Only with online tests, they are so accurate. Especially after drinking a few glasses of wine.

joker_

Minneapolis, MN

October 2005

NOV 14, 2008 04:05 AM

SergeantPsycho said:

Necia said:
I think this is of highly dubious relevance (especially considering the fact that the only candidate who was an executive of his or her state and thus in a position to have much control any of those factors measured was Palin).

But hey! The two states in which I've been educated are in the top fifteen, so that's nice to know, I suppose, if for no other reason than the feeding of smug home-state pride or something.

Actually, what I'm getting at is that the people who are running for president / vice-president may not represent the best and brightest of our society. What prompted this line of thinking was hearing that California was looking for a federal bailout, while knowing that Mark Warner, during his time as Virginia State Govenor, had helped Virginia out of a budget crisis, and wondering if there might be some difference in the quality of leadership from State to State.

Your logic is insanely flawed.

Barack Obama got his B.A. from Columbia, his law degree from Harvard graduating magna cum laude, he was also the Harvard Law Review's President. In addition he lectured on constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School.

Not the best and brightest, you're not serious about this are you?

Keith

Oklahoma City, OK

August 2002

NOV 14, 2008 04:06 AM

SergeantPsycho said:

Necia said:
I think this is of highly dubious relevance (especially considering the fact that the only candidate who was an executive of his or her state and thus in a position to have much control any of those factors measured was Palin).

But hey! The two states in which I've been educated are in the top fifteen, so that's nice to know, I suppose, if for no other reason than the feeding of smug home-state pride or something.

Actually, what I'm getting at is that the people who are running for president / vice-president may not represent the best and brightest of our society. What prompted this line of thinking was hearing that California was looking for a federal bailout, while knowing that Mark Warner, during his time as Virginia State Govenor, had helped Virginia out of a budget crisis, and wondering if there might be some difference in the quality of leadership from State to State.

Are you seriously implying that Obama is not a highly, highly intelligent person?

...studied at Occidental College for two years. He then transferred to Columbia University in New York City, where he majored in political science with a specialization in international relations. Obama graduated with a B.A. from Columbia...

... entered Harvard Law School in late 1988. At the end of his first year, he was selected, based on his grades and a writing competition, as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. In February 1990, in his second year, he was elected president of the Law Review, a full-time volunteer position functioning as editor-in-chief and supervising the Law Review's staff of eighty editors. Obama's election as the first black president of the Law Review was widely reported and followed by several long, detailed profiles. During his summers, he returned to Chicago where he worked as a summer associate at the law firms of Sidley & Austin in 1989 and Hopkins & Sutter in 1990. After graduating with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) magna cum laude from Harvard in 1991, he returned to Chicago..

...taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, being first classified as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996, and then as a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004...

By all accounts John McCain was a fairly intelligent man as well, he just had poor judgement and didn't apply himself in school and the academy.

Coyotemike

USA

May 2006

NOV 14, 2008 06:15 AM

SergeantPsycho said:
Not to step on anyone's feelings here, but I happened to be looking at 2006 - 2007 Smartest State Award, and I can't help but notice that McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden are all from the bottom half of the list. (Biden's spent most of his life in Delaware). I'm not sure what this means, if anything, but I can't help but find it a little disconcerting.

Umm, your logic is not just flawed,it is dumb. None of the candidates were in school in 2006-2007. By your logic, Palin should be the highest, as her home state of Idaho (she didn't go to school in Alaska, genius, just like Obama didn't go to school in Illinois and McCain didn't go to school in Arizona. I didn't bother looking up Biden) is #20.

There is no connection (except the one of Palin supposedly being in charge of the Alaska education system at the time) between the numbers you found and the candidates.

No.
Connection.

petepolly

Antarctica

August 2008

NOV 14, 2008 06:50 AM

Keith said:
While we're on the subject

That has got to be bogus.

reference

Normal Distribution of IQ Scores

50% of IQ scores fall between 90 and 110
70% of IQ scores fall between 85 and 115
95% of IQ scores fall between 70 and 130
99.5% of IQ scores fall between 60 and 140

Sorry the AVERAGE person in Connecticut is not that much smarter than the AVERAGE person in Mississippi.

That is I think pandering to racial and sectional prejudice. It is in fact I think a borderline racist comment. You are claiming the average IQ of states with a much higher Black or Hispanic population as being massively less smart than large white majority states.

Also the AVERAGE IQ is by definition 100, the chart seems to indicate the average of the USA is less than 100 which is also impossible.

Keith

Oklahoma City, OK

August 2002

NOV 14, 2008 06:57 AM

Of course it's bogus. So is the OP, who apparently doesn't understand that averages do not mean that every individual in the sampled population is near the mean.

Necia

San Francisco, CA

August 2005

NOV 14, 2008 07:52 AM

Keith said:
While we're on the subject

Ooo wee! Home state, at least, is in the top fifteen again!

Necia

San Francisco, CA

August 2005

NOV 14, 2008 07:55 AM

joker_ said:

Keith said:
Has your IQ been tested since elementary school, besides informal online tests? Mine hasn't.

Only with online tests, they are so accurate. Especially after drinking a few glasses of wine.

I like to think they're accurate, 'cos I took one once that told me I was hella smart. I liked that number and I haven't felt the need to take one since.

Necia

San Francisco, CA

August 2005

NOV 14, 2008 07:57 AM

SergeantPsycho said:

Necia said:
I think this is of highly dubious relevance (especially considering the fact that the only candidate who was an executive of his or her state and thus in a position to have much control any of those factors measured was Palin).

But hey! The two states in which I've been educated are in the top fifteen, so that's nice to know, I suppose, if for no other reason than the feeding of smug home-state pride or something.

Actually, what I'm getting at is that the people who are running for president / vice-president may not represent the best and brightest of our society. What prompted this line of thinking was hearing that California was looking for a federal bailout, while knowing that Mark Warner, during his time as Virginia State Govenor, had helped Virginia out of a budget crisis, and wondering if there might be some difference in the quality of leadership from State to State.

Like I said, though, only Palin was the executive of her state. All the other candidates are US senators. She'd be the only one who had a hand in state budgeting or state management.

Otoki

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

NOV 14, 2008 07:58 AM

Hey, Necia, I noticed Utah is #49. Does that make you feel warm and fuzzy inside? Because it makes me feel that way.

After 8 years in CT, I do admit that despite the horrible time I had there socially, the schools were quite good, not very test-oriented, and had helpful teachers who seemed to like their jobs (perhaps they were compensated reasonably, instead of living barely above the poverty line).

I'm quite proud that MN is #11. I wish it was higher, but MPLS public schools need a fucking makeover.

jasncat

I'm lost

January 2008

NOV 14, 2008 07:58 AM

I really need to leave Oklahoma according to these! (But hey I was planning on leaving anyway!)

Otoki

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

NOV 14, 2008 08:05 AM

SP, Are you being serious? Are you truly wondering if, based on state averages, individuals who had made it into office might not be the best and brightest? Do you honestly feel that this is a logical question?

I mean, if you follow your rationale, McCain and Palin are clearly intellectually inferior to Obama and Biden. However, I think IQ only goes so far to measure a person's intelligence, and I also think the premise of the question is silly.

n8tvegrl

Bend, OR

February 2004

NOV 14, 2008 08:11 AM

Keith said:
Has your IQ been tested since elementary school, besides informal online tests? Mine hasn't.

I had mine done to join MENSA but hadn't since elementary. I'm guessing that most people haven't been tested so those stats are misleading.

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA

July 2004

NOV 14, 2008 08:19 AM

This might be the dumbest thread ever. How Ironical.

wildswan

I'm lost

June 2006

NOV 14, 2008 08:37 AM

Subrosa said:
This might be the dumbest thread ever. How Ironical.

Something depressing I noticed. . .

Katieesq

USA

June 2008

NOV 14, 2008 10:12 AM

Necia said:

Keith said:
While we're on the subject

Ooo wee! Home state, at least, is in the top fifteen again!

My home state beats your home state.

Accuser

Scottsdale, AZ

October 2006

NOV 14, 2008 10:26 AM

Woot, Arizona is dead fucking last on that first chart.

That confirms my suspicions.

lil_tuffy

MODERATOR

San Francisco, CA

NOV 14, 2008 10:30 AM

This is all completely fake. So fake it's even been done before.

Snopes to the Rescue

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