by Sanford Aranoff

Created on: June 17, 2010   Last Updated: June 18, 2010

Governor Sarah Palin is stupid! Many of my friends say this. McCain lost the election for choosing such a stupid person! In addition, she adheres to a silly fundamentalist religion, out of sync with the American society. Newsweek devoted its cover article to Governor Palin!

BTW, why do they refer to her as Sarah Palin instead of Governor Palin, as is customary out of respect for the office and to the people of her state? Is it because she is a woman?

I am a university professor. I look at Palin as I would a student. She is bright, understands the basic principles of the American republic, and the goals of an executive such as governor or president. She knows how to delegate to people who know more, compensating for her lack of knowledge. She is fully aware of the great harm frivolous lawsuits do to our economy, compelling her to resign from being governor. She would work to weaken the power of such lawsuits. Yes, of course, when I talk to a student I know far more. What are important are the student's approach, attitude and potential.

On the other hand, President Obama strikes me like a student who is bluffing. Obama does not make eye contact when speaking, but shifts his gaze to read from his computers. He utters big words without clearly stating the problem, ideas, and history of similar situations. For example, when discussing the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, he never mentioned the 1979 oil spill in the Gulf, and how that history is relevant. A student who is ignorant of relevant history will fail the course. The Chief Executive does not act like an executive, walking the walk, talking to BP executives from day one. A student who never does his homework will fail the course. Obama never spends time thinking. Obama is the phony failing student who is destroying America.

Of course, Palin leaves a lot to be desired. She has very wrong ideas about God and science, as did President W Bush. Religion is fine as long as one does not confuse it with reality. Separation of state and religion means the government must never use religious ideas to influence scientific decisions, as Bush did. Muslims dismiss physics, saying the problems of physics are of no importance in religious affairs and so should not be discussed; however, a Muslim politician must not use this aspect of faith to reduce support of science. Likewise a Catholic politician who believes abortion is sinful must not oppose abortion using religious arguments, saying a blastocyst is a living person.

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