# First Lady Bush is as dumb as a stump. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 2, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199 "2004-02-02T16:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/21 "2004-02-02T19:51:52Z")
**silenus** nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/22 "2004-02-02T20:03:00Z")
> [@beajerry](#): > > Ok, I’ll ‘step off’…a little. > > But I don’t apologize for criticizing your lack of activity. Captain Amazing lists some stuff, but if that’s all then wowee. Noble stuff all of it, but again, you’re in a position to do A LOT! No she isn’t. She’s not an Officer of the State. Here’s a clue: she doesn’t get a salary. Unlike her husband, she isn’t employed by America to do anything. I don’t know if she can claim expenses - or her husband can on her behalf - but that’s irrelevant. Here’s a datum: I didn’t know that heart disease killed more Americans than cancer. If asked, I’d have had to look up the answer. Here in the UK, a LOT of men are ignorant of things like prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Do I need to remind you of the motto of the Straight Dope? You are just plain looking for an excuse to rubbish Republicans. And that makes you a fuckwit. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/23 "2004-02-02T20:09:04Z")
> [@](#): > > **graceland** \* spewed this tripe out of his/her/its gaping maw:\* > Inmates at your local prison receive healthcare on demand, why not the clerk at Circle K, or the elementary school bus driver or the person who answers the bell when your elderly loved one rings for help in assisted living facilities? Hey dummy, the reason inmates in prisons receive healthcare on demand is that the state has a duty to take care of someone the state locks up. The inmate can’t very well go to the doctore themselves when they’re feeling under the weather. On the other hand, the state is not under a similar duty to insure that each of its citizens remains healthy. (If you disagree with me, show me where it says so in the U.S. Constitution or the constitution of any state.) Therefore, it’s not inconsistent for the government to give free healthcare to prisoners but not to everyone, and you only make yourself look like a complete idiot for suggesting so. If you are under the age of 12, then I apologize and retract all of the above. Children oftentimes have pie-in-the-sky dreams, and they shouldn’t have to learn the ugly truth until they’re old enough to handle it. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/24 "2004-02-02T22:15:00Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Lame rant. Lamer response by DtC. I must agree. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/25 "2004-02-02T22:38:16Z")
I’m inclined to let her slide. She did not lie. She admitted ignorance. She stated that she made a mistake. She said that she had learned something. That’s a lot better than her husband has done. ---
**Author:** ![graceland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ec9cab/32.png) [@graceland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/graceland)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/26 "2004-02-02T23:25:15Z")
My apologies, **TaxGuy**. I hastily posted after the ugly truth walked out of my office. She was twenty, 6 1/2 months pregnant and the fingers of the “person” who made her homeless today were limned in angry reddish purple on her upper arm and the side of her face. What I failed to say with any real coherence was that I believe that we as a society should try to ensure that people can afford health care and that a First Lady’s effort to try to make that happen should not be pilloried or a punchline. I did not mean to imply that our government should provide free healthcare, I just hope that workers earning a low wage would have the opportunity to qualify and pay for it. Try to imagine how little I care about your regard for my intelligence. Sincerely, Complete Idiot aka Kim ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/27 "2004-02-02T23:25:40Z")
People seem to be missing the point here. Friday, February 6 is National Wear Red Day, a day designated to support the prevention and cure of heart disease, which is the #1 killer of women. The reason that a such a day is being set aside is that the enormous publicity given to breast cancer campaigns in recent years has lead many women to concentrate on breast cancer prevention while not giving sufficient attention to the greater problem of heart disease. The First Lady was echoing the spirit of the campaign by relating her own personal experience, which mirrors the experience of many women in the U.S. This had nothing to do with Laura Bush’s intelligence or lack thereof. It was about her support for a campaign to fight ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/28 "2004-02-02T23:29:47Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Lame rant. Lamer response by DtC. Even lamer kneejerk response by Airman Doors. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/29 "2004-02-03T00:26:30Z")
Agreed, **Dr. Rieux**. It was as absurd as the OP. That was the point. ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/30 "2004-02-03T02:56:22Z")
You people with your facts and fairness! You sure know how to screw up a perfectly good rant! (just glad I didn’t slam Nancy Reagan!) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/31 "2004-02-03T04:02:07Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Agreed, **Dr. Rieux**. It was as absurd as the OP. That was the point. Seemed more like grade-A Clinton Judo to me. Good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/32 "2004-02-03T22:41:13Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve never seen any sign of intelligence in the woman and don’t give a shit what she thinks. Chalk this up as one of those times when you should have chosen that little “x” in the upper right hand corner of your screen instead of the “Submit Reply” button. ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/33 "2004-02-05T00:55:08Z")
I totally retract my abhorance of our First Lady’s intelligence. I just read her interview: [http://www.bettybowers.com/laurabush2.html](http://www.bettybowers.com/laurabush2.html) God bless her. –one fuckwit among many ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/34 "2004-02-05T04:45:48Z")
Mrs. Bush creeps me out somehow. I don’t know what it is. Something wierd with her eyes. Some people come off as just _wrong_ to me, and she’s one of them. Can’t say anything about her intelligence or ideas, but she gives me the heebie jeebies. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/35 "2004-02-06T00:02:44Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > Agreed, **Dr. Rieux**. It was as absurd as the OP. That was the point. Oops–looks like I need to replace the batteries in my Irony Detector ™. Carry on, Airman. ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/36 "2004-02-06T01:53:25Z")
Hey _ **one fuckwit among many** _, you and Betty Bowers had best be careful with your sillly attempt at humor and childish slander. Missses Laura Bush is a free citizen and not an officially elected official. She might posibility sue both of you for your crude slurs and your coarse attempt to defame her good character. And remember: Juries don’t like bitchy men who pick fights with broads. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/37 "2004-02-06T13:32:49Z")
> [@Milum](#): > > Hey _ **one fuckwit among many** _, you and Betty Bowers had best be careful with your sillly attempt at humor and childish slander. Missses Laura Bush is a free citizen and not an officially elected official. She might posibility sue both of you for your crude slurs and your coarse attempt to defame her good character. > > And remember: Juries don’t like bitchy men who pick fights with broads. Up yours, you dumb fuckwit. Laura Bush is a _public figure_ and has served on (unpaid, but official) government commissions. As such, a successful suit on anything even vaguely resembling political speech is basically untouchable. Wipe the spittle off your chin \*\*before \*\* you post, imbecile. :wally ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/38 "2004-02-06T17:45:12Z")
I’ve never met the first lady (Met the prez once, I’m told, but I was too young to remember it and he wasn’t very important at the time. Hung out with Barbara when we were both working as camp counselors, she’s really cool.) I did, however, go to school with a bunch of kids from rich Austin families. A couple people I know still have dinner with the president and first lady once or twice a year. When asked how dinner with the first family went, the first thing they talk about is ALWAYS what an interesting, fun, intelligent and nice person Laura Bush is. Dubya is apparently just as you’d guess - a well-to-do good ole boy. He has good manners, doesn’t talk about much of consequence, and smiles a lot. Hell, the most left-wing teacher I know met the Bush family when Dubya was still governor, and even he is a huge Laura fan. Given all of this, I have to conclude that you’re being a dick. I don’t like Dubya one bit, politically, but that has nothing to do with his family. Attacking someone’s family because you don’t like their policies is pretty low. It was wrong when it was directed at Chelsea, it was wrong when it was directed at Jenna and Barbara, it’s wrong directed at Laura. That goes double when all the evidence I’ve seen points to your personal attack being entirely false. LC ---
**Author:** ![Milum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Milum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milum)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/39 "2004-02-06T18:17:52Z")
\*\*“Up yours you dumb fuckwit!” \*\*~ \*Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* My my, _Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor_, such juvenile tripe. If one day you would like to become a well respected grown-up _Bosda Di’chi of Tricor_ like the real **Bosda Di’chi of Tricor** was know to be, 🙂 you must learn to control your youthful outbursts when in the company of men. You don’t want to go around wasting your life besmirching the puplic reputation of helpless young women…do you? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **kiss** , Milum. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199/40 "2004-02-06T18:59:02Z")
> [@Milum](#): > > \*\*“Up yours you dumb fuckwit!” \*\*~ \*Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > > My my, _Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor_, such juvenile tripe. If one day you would like to become a well respected grown-up _Bosda Di’chi of Tricor_ like the real **Bosda Di’chi of Tricor** was know to be, 🙂 you must learn to control your youthful outbursts when in the company of men. You don’t want to go around wasting your life besmirching the puplic reputation of helpless young women…do you? > \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **kiss** , Milum. 🙂 First, I confess I laughed. But I must point out that it is absurd to describe Mrs. Bush as a _young_ woman–the old battleax matriculated with Methusala. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-lady-bush-is-as-dumb-as-a-stump/227199.md?page=1)