Should There Be A Litmus Test For Politicians To Measure Their Stupidity?

Op-Ed by Catherine J. Frompovich

Did you ever hear this one: What’s the difference between dumb and stupid?  The supposed answer is, “You can’t fix stupid!”

Keeping the above in mind, recently I came across some statements made by politicians, which prompted my thinking there has to be a litmus test for measuring the stupidity that every wannabe politician must take and answer publicly before qualifying to run for public office.

Is it true elected politicians can get away with statements like these:

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)

“It’s racist to only allow citizens to vote.”
What?

Former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

“Just because someone is here illegally doesn’t mean they broke any of the laws.” 
Ah, now come on, you should know better than that!

“Building a wall will violate the rights of millions of illegals.”
Is Pelosi in her right mind?

“But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.”
And the Democrats think she’s a great leader?

Former President George W. Bush

“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
Was that a fraudulent slip?

“There’s an old saying in Tennessee—I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can’t get fooled again.”
What is he trying to say?

“Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”
Was English grammar one of his priorities in school?

“They misunderestimated me.”
Is that an oxymoron, or isn’t it?

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

“Reports that say something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”
Talk about double-speak!

Former President Bill Clinton

“It all depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”
That has to be an “all time classic” remark!

Former Washington, DC mayor Marion Barry

“Outside of the killings, DC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.”
He had to have been kidding; no one can be that off-the-beam.

Former President George H.W. Bush

“You cannot be president of the United States if you don’t have faith. Remember Lincoln, going to his knees in times of trial and the Civil War and all that stuff. You can’t be. And we are blessed. So don’t feel sorry for — don’t cry for me, Argentina. Message: I care.”
What the hell was he trying to say?

“For seven and a half years I’ve worked alongside President Reagan. We’ve had triumphs. Made some mistakes. We’ve had some sex…uh…setbacks.”
Oh really….

Former President Ronald Reagan

“Well, I learned a lot….I went down to (Latin America) to find out from them and (learn) their views. You’d be surprised. They’re all individual countries.”
Brilliance unblemished!

“Facts are stupid things.”
Okay, so what do you call lies?

“I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.”
So that’s how it works!

Former Vice-President Al Gore

“During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.” 
Maybe he should have done a better job.

“A zebra does not change its spots.”
If this is what he knows about animals, I wonder how much he really knows about climate!

Obama-isms – all time Obama gaffes      

“I’ve now been in 57 states — I think one left to go.”
“Fallen heroes — and I see many of them in the audience here today.”
“The middle east is obviously an issue that has plagued the region for centuries.”
“You’re absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith…”
“Israel is a strong friend of Israel’s.”
“The reforms we seek would bring greater competition, choice, savings and inefficiencies…”
“We don’t want people to stop, ah, fulfilling the core responsibilities of the financial system to help grow our economy.”
“Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values.”
“I don’t oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.”
“As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.”
From a lawyer’s mouth!

Former Vice-President Dan Quayle

“The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history. I mean in this century’s history. But we all lived in this century. I didn’t live in this century.”
What?

“What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.”
A true genius speaking!

“I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.”
A time traveler?

“Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.”
Someone should have clued him in to reality.

“I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy—but that could change.”
Change, it did!

“Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child.”
Don’t use words you don’t know the meaning of.

Former Vice-President Joe Biden

“A man I’m proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next President of the United States—Barack America!”
Really?

“You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent….I’m not joking.”
How politically incorrect?  And he got away with it!  It didn’t prevent him from being VP of the USA, did it?

“Folks, I can tell you I’ve known eight presidents, three of them intimately.”
Oh, really!

Former President Jimmy Carter

“I’ve looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. God knows I will do this and forgives me.”
At least he admitted it!

Former President Richard Nixon

“I was under medication when I made the decision to burn the tapes.”
What a lame excuse!

“When the President does it that means it’s not illegal.”
What’s he talking about?

Former Vice-President Dick Cheney

“Go f**k yourself.”
Hard to believe, but that was said by Cheney to Sen. Patrick Leahy during an angry exchange on the Senate floor about profiteering by Halliburton, June 22, 2004

Now, here’s the strangest of the strange about politicians:  The most popular Democrats who once were Republicans: 

• The late-former U.S. Senator Arlen Spector (PA)
• Current Governor Jerry Brown (CA)
• Current Senator Elizabeth Warren (MA)
• 2016 Presidential Candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY)
  Source: Ranker.com

My late father always used to say, “A Republican was a Democrat who didn’t make it and a Democrat was a Republican who didn’t make it.”  I guess Dad was right!

All the stupid things said and done in the past by politicians of various stripes were overlooked and under-reported by the media.  So, what’s going on now?

Apparently, the critical political-life-altering issue was the ultimate political disappointment that Donald J. Trump won the Electoral College vote 306 to Hillary Clinton’s 232!  That’s not the first time such an upset occurred and was accepted by the country at large, but what’s been happening since truly is unprecedented—lawlessness bordering on anarchy!

So what words do Leftists want to mismanage?

References & Resources:

20 of the most ludicrous political quotes of all time
https://matadornetwork.com/change/20-of-the-most-ludicrous-political-quotes-of-all-time/

Barack Obama-isms: The Biggest Obama Gaffes  
https://www.ranker.com/list/barack-obama-isms-the-biggest-obama-gaffes/notable-quotables?ref=nodelyrel&pos=3&a=0&l=540336&ltype=n&g=1

Stupid Presidential Quotes
https://www.thoughtco.com/stupid-presidential-quotes-4078413

Added Resource:

Russiagate Is Constructed of Pure Bullshit, No Facts / Paul Craig Roberts
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2018/07/19/russiagate-is-constructed-of-pure-bullshit-no-facts/
https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/pages/about-paul-craig-roberts/

Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal Studies. Her work has been published in national and airline magazines since the early 1980s. Catherine authored numerous books on health issues along with co-authoring papers and monographs with physicians, nurses, and holistic healthcare professionals. She has been a consumer healthcare researcher 35 years and counting.

Catherine’s latest book, published October 4, 2013, is Vaccination Voodoo, What YOU Don’t Know About Vaccines, available on Amazon.com.

Her 2012 book A Cancer Answer, Holistic BREAST Cancer Management, A Guide to Effective & Non-Toxic Treatments, is available on Amazon.com and as a Kindle eBook.

Two of Catherine’s more recent books on Amazon.com are Our Chemical Lives And The Hijacking Of Our DNA, A Probe Into What’s Probably Making Us Sick (2009) and Lord, How Can I Make It Through Grieving My Loss, An Inspirational Guide Through the Grieving Process (2008)

Catherine’s NEW book: Eat To Beat Disease, Foods Medicinal Qualities ©2016 Catherine J Frompovich is now available.

Image credit: Anthony Freda Art