# is George Dubya Bush an imbecile **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 23, 2004, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678 "2004-02-23T15:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/21 "2004-02-23T16:37:56Z")
> [@daniel801](#): > > Last time I checked, they don’t just hand out Harvard MBA degrees. You’re right. They’re fucking expensive. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/22 "2004-02-23T16:41:21Z")
> [@whippingboy](#): > > and so is geography … you should get you facts correct before writing something factual …my post was an opinion which under your constitution ( god knows which one ) I am entitled to … Scotland and England are two separate countries which make up Great Briton ( or the UK ) which just goes to show the great ignorance of some of the inhabitants of a country which less than 50% of the population own a passport and less than 12% could point to Sri-Lanka on a map ( in the UK it is 87% and 65% respectively) oh yes Sri- Lanka is the small island of the south of India …I am assuming you know where India is It’s spelled “Britain,” ass-hat. And Great Britain and the United Kingdom are not the same thing. The name of the kingdom you are living in is “United Kingdom,” which includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is an island, which is made up of England, Scotland, AND Wales. I don’t know how smart or stupid Dubya is, but I’m guessing he could probably correctly state the name of his country and what territories it is comprised of. And I guess Scotland is sort of a country. But it doesn’t really matter. England really runs the joint. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/23 "2004-02-23T16:46:16Z")
> [@whippingboy](#): > > and so is geography … you should get you facts correct before writing something factual …my post was an opinion which under your constitution ( god knows which one ) I am entitled to … Scotland and England are two separate countries which make up Great Briton ( or the UK ) which just goes to show the great ignorance of some of the inhabitants of a country which less than 50% of the population own a passport and less than 12% could point to Sri-Lanka on a map ( in the UK it is 87% and 65% respectively) oh yes Sri- Lanka is the small island of the south of India …I am assuming you know where India is Oh the delicious irony of someone berating random Americans for their ignorance, while displaying embarrassing ignorance about their _own damn country_. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland also includes Wales. Wales is a separate nation, and is located just to the west of England. Scotland, England and Wales make up an island called Great Brit **ai** n (a Briton is an inhabitant of that island). Northern Ireland is the northernmost 6 counties of the island of Ireland. Putz. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/24 "2004-02-23T16:48:00Z")
In fairness since devolution Scotland does really _kinda, sorta_ run it’s own affairs apart from constitutional matters UK foreign policy UK defence and national security fiscal, economic and monetary system immigration and nationality energy: electricity, coal, gas and nuclear energy common markets trade and industry, including competition and customer protection some aspects of transport, including railways, transport safety and regulation employment legislation social security gambling and the National Lottery data protection abortion, human fertilisation and embryology, genetics and vivisection equal opportunities [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/factfiles/ff4.htm](http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/factfiles/ff4.htm) > [@](#): > > It’s spelled “Britain,” ass-hat. And Great Britain and the United Kingdom are not the same thing. The name of the kingdom you are living in is “United Kingdom,” which includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is an island, which is made up of England, Scotland, AND Wales. > > I don’t know how smart or stupid Dubya is, but I’m guessing he could probably correctly state the name of his country and what territories it is comprised of. Ouch! ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/25 "2004-02-23T16:51:29Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I don’t know how smart or stupid Dubya is, but I’m guessing he could probably correctly state the name of his country and what territories it is comprised of. Well, I hate to hijack this illuminating thread but I have to take issue with that statement. I have seen GWB correctly state the name of his country but that part about naming the territories that it is comprised of; I doubt it very much. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/26 "2004-02-23T16:52:23Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > In fairness since devolution Scotland does really _kinda, sorta_ run it’s own affairs apart from > > \ > gambling and the National Lottery > \ [Braveheart]They can take away our lottery, but they’ll never take OUR FREEDOM!!![/Braveheart] ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/27 "2004-02-23T16:53:39Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Northern Ireland is the northernmost 6 counties of the island of Ireland. Northeasternmost, really. The “northernmost” point of the island is in Donegal. Since we’re all being precise, like. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/28 "2004-02-23T16:58:54Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > Northeasternmost, really. The “northernmost” point of the island is in Donegal. > > Since we’re all being precise, like. Gaaah! The moment I hit ‘submit’ I knew someone would be along to correct me. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Genghis\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/45deac/32.png) [@Genghis\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genghis_Bob)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/29 "2004-02-23T17:02:32Z")
> [@whippingboy](#): > > ok I’m aloud my opinion and sorry" typing, and spelling, and use of punctuation, and “stuff” upsets you but I do ok for being dyslexic which is something I cannot help … it may not be pretty to look at but is usually understandable Everybody has challenges, **whippingboy**. Don’t get into the habit of using yours as an excuse for not trying. I’m a lousy speller, so I avail myself of the spell-check feature in Word when I’m not sure. Tools are available, but you need to have the will to use them. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/30 "2004-02-23T17:22:54Z")
> [@whippingboy](#): > > ok I’m aloud my opinion and sorry" typing, and spelling, and use of punctuation, and “stuff” upsets you but I do ok for being dyslexic which is something I cannot help … it may not be pretty to look at but is usually understandable Try harder. Or at least _add_ to the terrible crosses you must bear. I suggest 1. Proclaiming that you actually write in Scots brogue and translating makes your head hurt 2. The keyboard you’re using is actually keyed for Gaelic 3. You’re dyslexic and prone to bouts of memory loss where you forget you’re dyslexic. That should bring you up to speed quite nicely. No one will actually care, but you’ll display an imaginative nature that might earn you a moment of respite. Oh and you should maybe work on actually be able to argue your point, but maybe you should just play to your strengths. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/31 "2004-02-23T17:36:04Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > It feels scary as shit. Your arse feels scary as shit? We really didn’t need to know that, **DtC**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/32 "2004-02-23T17:39:07Z")
> [@](#): > > you should get you facts correct before writing something factual …my post was an opinion which under your constitution ( god knows which one ) I am entitled to First, show me where my facts are in error. My best information, and the fruits of my poor public education, as well as several on-line encyclopedias, inform me that my facts are correct in every respect. Second, the Constitution of the United States is a document which merely outlines the components and responsibilities of the federal government of the United States. It says not a damn thing about the rights of foreign peoples residing in foreign countries. In fact, if one wishes to be pedantic, the Constitution of the United States says not even a damn thing about the rights of _U.S. citizens_. Even if one looks to the Bill of Rights for that information, one will find only that it places limits on the actions of the federal government; the rights of U.S. citizens are defined there only implicitly. Finally, your post wasn’t an opinion at all. Expressing one’s opinion necessarily forces one to compose a declarative sentence; a statement. Incorrect punctuation notwithstanding, your original post in this thread is a question, not a statement. And if I wish to take on your assertion that Scotland is an independent country, there are plenty of sources of evidence - including those aforementioned on-line encyclopedias - which indicates otherwise. Each of them, and including the CIA World Fact Book, label Scotland an _administrative division_ of the United Kingdom. There is also this: > [@](#): > > Scotland is governed as an integral part of the United Kingdom. It is represented by 72 members in the British House of Commons and by 16 Scottish peers in the House of Lords. Scottish national affairs are administered by a British cabinet ministry, headed by the secretary of state for Scotland. Facts, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/33 "2004-02-23T17:45:26Z")
whippingboy: I bet you can’t even name Scotland’s ambassador to the UN! ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/34 "2004-02-23T18:48:23Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > … > > 1. Proclaiming that you actually write in Scots brogue and translating makes your head hurt > 2. The keyboard you’re using is actually keyed for Gaelic > 3. You’re dyslexic and prone to bouts of memory loss where you forget you’re dyslexic. > > … Ah, I think **Number 3** is the one he needs: surely that shouldn’t be too much for him? ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/35 "2004-02-23T19:59:42Z")
Well, George Bush will probably not be remembered as a master of foreign or economic policy when all is said and done, but it’s still questionable whether he’ll be as remarkable a cock-up as some as Scotland’s erstwhile leaders. ``` I'm thinking Bonnie Prince Charlie who tried to invade England under the belief that the people would rise up and support his cause and who got his tail chased all the way back to Culloden and had to sneak across to the Isle of Skye dressed as a woman to avoid capture. ``` Or James IV and the disasterous and unnecessary Battle of Flodden or the fiasco of Solway Moss. Or Mary, Queen of Scots, who couldn’t prevent the Scottish nobility from plotting against her, made some heinously bad marriages, and whose claim to the throne of England royally ticked off Elizabeth to the point where she was imprisoned for 20 years and then executed. Bush may turn out to be a blot on the pages of history but are people going to look back on him 500 years from now and say “What was he _thinking_”? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/36 "2004-02-23T21:02:56Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > And if I wish to take on your assertion that Scotland is an independent country, there are plenty of sources of evidence - including those aforementioned on-line encyclopedias - which indicates otherwise. Each of them, and including the CIA World Fact Book, label Scotland an _administrative division_ of the United Kingdom. Well, he didn’t actually say that it was an _independent_ country, he said that it was a _separate_ country, which is perfectly correct and acceptable usage. The word “country” doesn’t in and of itself indicate political sovereignty. I guarantee you nobody in this corner of the world would refer to it as an “administrative division”. None of which, of course, makes **whippingboy** any less of an asshat. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/37 "2004-02-23T21:10:00Z")
Dimwit is over in MPSIMS making as ass out of himself again. [Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=241287) On the upside his spelling improves dramatically when he’s not actually producing original content. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/38 "2004-02-23T21:28:36Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I can’t find my ares either. My Greek god of war moved in next door thanks to the American Real Estate Society (ARES). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/39 "2004-02-23T21:32:40Z")
**Grey** : Good catch. And to think that the OP for this asinine Pit thread came from an asinine follow-up post to and asinine OP in MPSIMS… ---
**Author:** ![Ex\_Machina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678/40 "2004-02-23T22:03:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I don’t know how smart or stupid Dubya is, but I’m guessing he could probably correctly state the name of his country and what territories it is comprised of. It’s not “comprised of”, it’s “composed of” you “ass-hat.” If you are going to correct people you should make sure your own shit is in order. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-dubya-bush-an-imbecile/230678.md?page=3)