# Is George W. Bush actually stupid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 18, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439 "2003-09-18T19:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/161 "2003-09-24T05:49:38Z")
A footnote. I saw a bottle of hot sauce today, it had a picture of Al Gore on it. The label read “I invented hot sauce”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/162 "2003-09-24T06:47:01Z")
I will have to say, GW will never be remembered as a good negotiator. ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/163 "2003-09-24T07:37:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\ ***Not In Anger** said: > > Reagan was NOT stupid. There is a new book coming out called, “Reagan: a life in letters” - Reagan wrote over 5,000 letters to various people, in his own hand, which survive today. I haven’t read the book yet, but the early reviews say it shows a man who was not only intelligent, but very, very ‘hands-on’ with his administration, contrary to the picture of a doddering old figurehead painted by his opponents.\*\* I’ll believe it when I see it. I’d wager that these “early reviews” you’re referring to come from some sort of Right Wing website, yes? That’s not to say that I thought Reagan was stupid. I was a child in the 80s; I had no interest in politics back then. \*\* > [@](#): > > When are you guys going to learn to stop calling Republicans stupid just because they disagree with you? It’s getting tiresome. \*\* Who are “you guys”? Why must you paint everything as the newest piece of evidence in some sort of shadowy cabal against anything conservative? Isn’t it possible that some people feel that Reagan is stupid for other reasons? I’d like to see some sort of evidence for this “Disagree = stupid” position you’re trying to establish here. You know, something like \* > [@](#): > > Originally posted by This Is Not A Real Quote\* > **I think Bush is stupid because I disagree with everything he does.** I mean, hell, I probably disagree with just about EVERYTHING Dick Cheney believes in, but he’s one capable motherfucker. He knows his shit, and I wish he were on the side of good. Too bad he’s evil… ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/164 "2003-09-24T11:51:15Z")
**quixotic78** , although I have major disagreements with Reagan’s beliefs, I must concur with **Sam** : Reagan was _not_ stupid. While I have not read the book Sam refers to, I remember reading copies of some letters Reagan wrote (it seems that a similar book was released a few years ago – anyone else remember?) Reagan’s writing was excellent, he sounded very eloquent. Reagan _was_ around 70 years old when elected, and most of us are not nearly as quick at that age. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that by that time he was more dependent on his handlers. One thing Reagan was not: _intellectually curious._ That is, he didn’t care much to examine his (or anyone else’s) beliefs. (Even his son Ron Jr. admits this). This is more a personality trait than a measure of intelligence though. Some very smart people are inflexible this way, and if you engage them in debate, they can appear dumber than they are. Bush strikes me as even less intellectually curious, and not as smart as Reagan. Does anyone think Bush would have become President if he’d been born into Reagan’s circumstances? (And FTR, I voted for Bush – I don’t think Gore is any smarter). ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/165 "2003-09-24T12:35:26Z")
Re: Dems call all Repubs stupid Ridiculous claim on the face of it. No one is calling Cheney, Rove, Rice or Powell in the current administration stupid. No one called Bush Sr. stupid. Could it possibly be that we’re calling them like we see them? ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/166 "2003-09-24T13:53:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hentor the Barbarian \* > But I ask you, do you feel that this sample was sufficient to be able to predict Bush’s IQ score? If so, why are you not concerned about generalizing from such a specialized and relatively small sample? Further, if so, do you at least agree that the estimate should be presented with error bands? As I said, I have not been following this matter closely, and am not too clear on exactly how various things are being calculated. As an actuary I have some interest in statistics, so when I saw your general statistical comments I thought I’d chime in. But again, I’ve not followed the specific Bush stuff all that closely. I’m not sure about the confidence intervals. Certainly the estimate would _have_ a confidence interval, but you generally don’t see confidence intervals being presented to the public at large other than in political polling. I don’t know why. Certainly you would be right that since we are basing one projected score on its correlation to another you would expect to have a relatively wide confidence interval in this case (and showing the width of the interval would be an indication of how solid the estimator really is). ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/167 "2003-09-24T17:26:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by F. U. Shakespeare \* > \*\ ***quixotic78** , although I have major disagreements with Reagan’s beliefs, I must concur with **Sam** : Reagan was _not_ stupid. > > While I have not read the book Sam refers to, I remember reading copies of some letters Reagan wrote (it seems that a similar book was released a few years ago – anyone else remember?) Reagan’s writing was excellent, he sounded very eloquent.\*\* You (and **Sam** ) may very well be right. As I said earlier, I have no basis to have an opinion on this matter. I’ll end my contribution to this mini-hijack with a link to an article Time did about [Reagan’s book](http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101030929/story.html): > [@](#): > > Spelling and grammar errors aside, the prose is literate, not literary; he does not seem to try to make an impression with shiny turns of phrase. That’s about all the article says about the intelligence level of the titular letters. \ ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/168 "2003-09-25T09:32:51Z")
U of C - GW site: [http://geosci.uchicago.edu/~rtp1/BushWatch/index.html](http://geosci.uchicago.edu/~rtp1/BushWatch/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/169 "2003-09-25T09:49:38Z")
Anecdotal, but the best I can do: I met someone (a very intelligent, educated, senior ambassadorial type) who spent some considerable time speaking to Bush at a reception or conference. He described Bush as sincere, a man who genuinely believes he is doing the right thing for the greater good. He said from his impression, Bush was really not “smart”. He didn’t have a sharp intellect, and he was certainly not of above average intelligence. But he said that Bush came across as someone who would probably be smart in a “practical” sense - in his own area - eg in farming type matters, Bush would probably quickly and instinctively know the right thing to do. “Land smart” if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/170 "2003-09-25T12:15:44Z")
“land smart” ?! Wow… that is new to me 🙂 Great post. ---
**Author:** ![errata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/839c29/32.png) [@errata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/errata)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/171 "2003-09-25T15:05:32Z")
Stupid is as stupid does. There are many different types of intelligence. In terms of presidential intelligence, GW is well below average. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/172 "2003-09-25T20:20:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rashak Mani \* > \*\*“land smart” ?! Wow… that is new to me 🙂 Great post. \*\* Land smart: A man is land smart if you would trust him with a corral full of heifers, but not with the “launch” button to start a nuclear war. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kwildcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e5b9ba/32.png) [@kwildcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwildcat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/173 "2003-11-06T16:56:53Z")
Not-so-shocking new evidence from the faculty at Harvard Business School (Dubya’s alma mater). The consensus is that if his actions and words since assuming office are any indication, Dubya has either forgotten any of the lessons taught in _any_ MBA program (much less a top-3 program like Harvard), or he chooses to purposely ignore them. Either way, the clear implication is that whatever are the mental gifts of the current president, he is clearly not an intellectual or academic light. Is there anyone here at the SDMB who believes that a lack of an educational foundation or an absence of intellectual curiosity is actually a _positive_ attribute for the leader of the free world? ---
**Author:** ![kwildcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e5b9ba/32.png) [@kwildcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwildcat)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/174 "2003-11-06T16:58:24Z")
For those who are interested, here’s the link: [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/bw/20031105/bs\_bw/nf20031151870db041](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/bw/20031105/bs_bw/nf20031151870db041) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/175 "2003-11-06T17:10:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kwildcat \* > \*\*Is there anyone here at the SDMB who believes that a lack of an educational foundation or an absence of intellectual curiosity is actually a _positive_ attribute for the leader of the free world? \*\* No doubt, the Bush supporters will say that all he needs to do is be smart enough to choose an advisor with these qualities. Or have Karl Rove choose an advisor. It’s nice to know any chimp can be president with this system in place. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/176 "2003-11-06T18:01:12Z")
hehe… promoted from puppet to Chimp… not bad… As for the planning of Iraq did they even let Bush give an opinionn about it ? His MBA doesn’t come into play… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/177 "2003-11-06T18:37:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kwildcat \* > \*\*Not-so-shocking new evidence from the faculty at Harvard Business School (Dubya’s alma mater). The consensus is that if his actions and words since assuming office are any indication, Dubya has either forgotten any of the lessons taught in _any_ MBA program (much less a top-3 program like Harvard), or he chooses to purposely ignore them. \*\* I don’t see any reference to a consensus in the article which you cited. I see various individual opinions, but those do not necessarily constitute a consensus. Not even the e-mail message mentioned at the end of the article gave any indication that this was the opinion of a consensus. Additionally, while some of the professors interviewed expressed criticism of Bush, this is not the same as saying that Bush “has either forgotten any of the lessons taught in _any_ MBA program… or he chooses to purposely ignore them.” It’s not even close. The aforementioned e-mail did not express that sentiment either, so I think that your conclusion goes beyond what was actually said. ---
**Author:** ![esquimalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@esquimalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/esquimalt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/178 "2003-11-06T18:58:50Z")
It’s too bad for GWB he wasn’t “smart” like his Harvard classmates. He got to be President of the US instead running a diaper company. Poor George. ---
**Author:** ![YourOldBuddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bc79bd/32.png) [@YourOldBuddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourOldBuddy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/179 "2003-11-06T19:51:47Z")
No one is debating wether or not GWB is fortunate or not esquimalt. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439/180 "2003-11-06T20:05:21Z")
Would anyone be surprised if it was later revealed that George didn’t attend any classes at Harvard? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-george-w-bush-actually-stupid/202439.md?page=10)