Perhaps just that that combination does not have the best track record in that regard. Their war on science, etc.

As a native born floridian, the claim that southern republicans are not good at critical and analytical thinking seems true to me. Surely they're out there, but I haven't met them yet, and I've met plenty of conservative southerners.

If your voting base prefers the blood of christ over a facemask to protect from coronavirus, you probably aren't writing bills based on, uh, informed analysis of relevant data.

Yes.

(Just saw an opportunity for a joke and took it)

Not sure, maybe it's the combination.