Thomas

Dems, learn this lesson: Never, ever, ever dismiss a conservative as dumb.
As the New Republic points out in their blog, our new Senate Minority leader latched on, during Meet the Press, to the idea that Justice Thomas doesn't have the smarts to be on the Supreme Court.
Folks. Thomas is smart. Very Smart. Read this, a book review from The New Republic- pointing out the inanity of underestimating Thomas' intelligence. As far as politics go- this tendancy to dumb-label only costs us votes. Why do you think so many people feel they'd like to have a beer with Bush?

By the way, conservatives have learned the lesson. They never call us (lefties) dumb. 1) they realize that alienates tons of folks. But, largely, it excuses the subject from his works...as dumb mistakes, rather than contrived what have you. Rather, conservatives, to be very very broad here, use words like "seductive," and "clever." Watch and listen. You'll see.