Howard Dean on the Lawrence O'Donnell show just said

[Laurian]

Paul Ryan is a smart guy. On this, I totally disagree with Dr. Dean. Paul Ryan doesn't strike me as smart at all and I cannot understand how he got that reputation as a bright policy wonk.

[Whisp]

1. Joe Wilson (the Valerie Plame husband not the YOU LIE guy)

said he was at a dinner with George Bush the Murderer and when asked what George really was like up close he said something like:
Intelligent, in a feral kind of way. (paraphrasing)

Maybe Dean means something like this as well for Ryan.

[winter is coming]

2. Many sociopaths have above-average intelligence. n/t

[Ilsa]

3. And this is the explanation I agree with. nt

[arcane1]

4. I don't think he's stupid. I also don't think he believes what he says.

He's smart (and cynical) enough to know what lies to tell in order to get support.

[marmar]

5. Comes across as a dumb frat boy to me.

[Laurian]

9. That's my impression, too.

[BlueStreak]

6. He is Mr. Irrelevant

For some reason, nobody in the media want to state the obvious.

We just passed a 2-year budget agreement, so that piece of garbage he just put out has no meaning whatsoever. The budget is already set.

And under Republican rules, if the GOP still controls the House next January, he has to give up the Budget Committee. So this budget is is complete ersatz, and he won't ever do another one.

How come the media didn't bother to mention that?

[sorefeet]

7. He is smart enough to

make his people think government is bad, while he gets rich by working for the government. A snake oil salesman.

[tridim]

8. He's an above average salesman selling a crappy product.

I'm not sure if anyone is buying it.

[Doctor_J]

10. Politically smart - can lie with a straight face and change positions smoothly

If he were to take a current events test he would fail miserably.

[Generic Brad]

11. It's poor form to call your opponent stupid

It sounds more like name calling than fact - even if it is fact

[Gothmog]

12. Paul Ryan is an overrated bigot

[Cha]

13. Been nice if he could have

said.. "he's lies a lot and 1/2 the people believe him."