>>>>>If it's Palin vs. Obama in 2012 just give her a cigarette and a blindfold. He is about a thousand times smarter than her.
>>>>
>>>>Since you are the arbiter of bad writing you know it should be "smarter than she".
>>>
>>>Smarter than her is correct - the alternative is smarter than she is!!!!!!!
>>
>>I don't agree. I do understand that in usage it is common, but "He is smarter than" is then followed by a noun clause in the comparison where the subject cannot be in objective case, no? The "is" is therefore implied.
>>
>>It is certainly the way I was taught in school ( and taught it in school ). Is there a reason to believe than her is correct ? Perhaps it is one of those things where there is some controversy among grammarians but if there is I'm unaware of it.
>
>She is smarter than is followed by the accusative - in this case her - the 'is' is never implied
>
>The only exception is when you follow the object by a verb - then you use the nominative - in this case she is - this is my preferred expression
>
>So to quote the words of the song (slightly modified to make the point)
>
>You can do anything better than I can
>
>You can do anything better than me

With all deference to Annie Oakley <g> I realize this may be an area where usage trumps pedagogy but I believe if you look at the sentences :

"He has more friends than me." vs "He has more friends than I."

the point becomes clearer.

The first sentence says I am not his only friend.

The second says that his total number of friends is greater than mine. (because he doesn't quibble about their grammar <s> )

( and the last sentence in your example actually implies "you can do anything better than you can do me." <bg> )

Tamar is not going to be able to resist weighing in on this if she stops by.