Ben Carson in a Presidential Debate..

[Fuzzy Bear Loves Christian Missionaries]

Carson's not an idiot, but neither was Admiral James Stockdale.  I remember an interview with Rep. Pete Peterson (D-FL) prior to the 1992 Vice Presidential Debate in which they discussed how Admiral Stockdale's upcoming performance.  Peterson, who had been imprisoned with Stockdale as a POW during the Vietnam War, noted that Stockdale was knowledgeable, but he was not used to such a highly politicized environment, and he wondered how Stockdale would react to such a venue.

Stockdale was awkward at times.  He asked a moderator to repeat one question because he had to turn up his hearing aid.  For another question, he gave a brief answer; when asked to elaborate, he stated he was "out of ammunition on that one".  But he came off as sincere, and he wasn't unknowledgeable; he was just a non-politician in an highly political venue.

I sort of see Carson as the new Stockdale.  I mean this as a compliment; Carson is a good man, and an intelligent man.  I don't know what kind of President he'd be, but he's got character and integrity, which puts him light years ahead of much of the field.