[Baldspot]

Based on grade level usage of English language.
During last debate Obama ranked 9.3 grade level, McCain 7.4.
This has been getting some play on CNN and local channels in the northeast.

Historical Contrasts Grade level

Franklin D. Roosevelt “Live in Infamy” 11.5
Lincoln in Lincoln-Douglas Debates 11.2
Joseph Lieberman in Debate 9.9
Ronald Reagan in Debate 9.8
John F. Kennedy in debate 9.6
Sarah Palin in Debate 9.5
Lincoln “Gettysburg Address” 9.1
Richard Nixon in Debate 9.1
Dick Cheney in Debate 9.1
Shakespeare “To be or not to be” 9.0
Michael Dukakis in Debate 8.9
Martin Luther King: ”I have a dream” 8.8
Bill Clinton in Debate 8.5
Al Gore in Debate 8.4
Michelle Obama at DNC 8.0
George W. Bush in Debate 7.1
George H.W. Bush in Debate 6.6
Ross Perot in Debate 6.3

http://www.languagemonitor.com/

[flamesbball84]

so sarah palin is the most intelligent person running?

[Realist]

So all our past and present leaders are idiots, great???

[Fumblerooskies]

I'm surprised W checked in that high...
...if he'd been raised in No Child Left Behind he's been a 5.3!

[Ed Dantes]

so sarah palin is the most intelligent person running?

You betcha.

[kel varson]

So all our past and present leaders are idiots, great???

No, most people speak and write at about a middle school level. Most newspapers are written at a 6th grade level. The Wash. Post and NY Times and few others are written at like the 9th grade level.

I think the idea is that you want most people to understand what you are saying. George Will would be an exception.

[Realist]

That's quite a sad statement for the country.

[Sly Fox]

You want intelligent language? Pick up some trade journal and have a blast.

Every print publication is focused on making money. Just like the candidates they recognize that the more simple the language the more broad the audience.

Palin interspersed higher level language to prove she did have some intelligence amidst her populist expressions. Harry Truman was the last politician of note in the US to go that route. Palin's popularity after both convention and debate may change the mindset of future candidates and their handlers. McCain and Obama were both too stiff to pull off much more in their final debates.

[ALUmnus]

That's why so many people find it difficult to listen to William Buckley, Alan Keyes, or even Dennis Miller. If you sound too smart you lose your Monday night gig to Washington Post fashion writer.

[LUconn]

I loved Miller on MNF. I think I understood around 60% of the references he made and looked forward to ESPN.com on tuesday morning who had an article that would explain the others.

[LUconn]

I didn't want to start a new thread for this so since it has to do with intelligence and politics I'll stick it in here.

It's Howard Stern but it's clean for you ladies who might be concerned with that:

http://vodpod.com/watch/1082462-obama-s ... tube-embed

Now sure, this is just 3 people and I'm sure he interviewed other people who knew what he was doing but, I can't believe someone like this has a vote that counts just as much as mine.

[ALUmnus]

Here's a good piece that came out today on this very topic. Palin's intelligence vs Obama/Biden, particularly in the way they speak.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/10/ ... smart.html

[Ed Dantes]

Maybe we need to talk about how the school system has been dumbed down to the point where Sarah Palin is talking at a ninth grade level...

[flamesbball84]

I loved Miller on MNF. I think I understood around 60% of the references he made and looked forward to ESPN.com on tuesday morning who had an article that would explain the others.

i liked how MNF could actually be an educational experience when he was on there.