# Proof that there should be a mandatory basic skills test for President **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 28, 2002, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195 "2002-10-28T03:44:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/21 "2002-10-28T16:00:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I think **tomndebb** should be President. I second the nomination and move that the question be carried to committee. All in favor? ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/22 "2002-10-28T16:29:00Z")
What’s distressing is the feeling I get that, were it not for family money and, more important, connections, GWB would be selling Winnebagos in Waco. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/23 "2002-10-28T16:32:53Z")
Oh, the heck with that. Let’s just throw it into court and settle it straight away. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/24 "2002-10-28T17:04:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*If those books are written anything like some of my college textbooks, I’m not suprised. \*\* I don’t know what books you’re reading but my political science course work has been invaluable and enlightening. We aren’t assigned textbooks, we mostly read the actual documents in question. I ask again, what the hell is Bush reading, Cliff’s Notes? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/25 "2002-10-29T00:07:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cainxinth \* > **I don’t know what books you’re reading but my political science course work has been invaluable and enlightening.** I’ve had a couple of texts that define the concept of “by experts, for experts.” Enlightening as they were, they weren’t exactly ‘sit down and read by the fireside’ books. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/26 "2002-10-29T00:16:31Z")
What about during his campaign: “They (I’m assuming he means the Democrats, but I could be wrong) want the federal government to take care of Social Security-like it’s some kind of federal program!” Jesus wept. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/27 "2002-10-29T00:31:43Z")
I note that a lot of the quotes attributed to President Bush automatically assume that he was being 100% serious, and is devoid of a sense of humor. But, then again, I never saw a lot of those aforementioned quotes live, myself. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/28 "2002-10-29T03:42:13Z")
Yep, he’s dumb all right. A real simpleton. A fool who runs against a popular vice-president who had an eight-year headstart, yet in the end was unable to win his own state. A nitwit who stands up to the racist and corrupt in the United Nations and tells them that they should either stand behind their own resolutions about Iraq. A clown who doesn’t listen to the yammering of pundits (“Afghanistan will be our next Vietnam.”), proceeds at his own pace, and gets the job done. An idiot who maintains a 60 percent approval rating. Yes, I don’t agree with his domestic policies. He shouldn’t be sitting on Reagan’s papers and Cheney’s minutes of the meetings with all their energy buddies. I wish he’d clean out the State Department officials who let in Atta and his boys, and recently awarded themselves bonuses for services to the country. Stupid? I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/29 "2002-10-29T04:18:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pesch \* > **Yep, he’s dumb all right. A real simpleton. A fool who runs against a popular vice-president who had an eight-year headstart, yet in the end was unable to win his own state. A nitwit who stands up to the racist and corrupt in the United Nations and tells them that they should either stand behind their own resolutions about Iraq. A clown who doesn’t listen to the yammering of pundits (“Afghanistan will be our next Vietnam.”), proceeds at his own pace, and gets the job done. An idiot who maintains a 60 percent approval rating.** Do you think the guy who beat Gore and the guy with that approval rating is the same guy making all those calls, or just a pretty face with a good last name and a charismatic buddy quality? I had the chance to hear William Saphire speak about the President and Iraq. Saphire loves Bush, likened him to Reagan who he’s also fond of, but mentioned that from where he’s sitting it seems like Rumsfeld is running the show and Cheney is backing him up, Powell is the devil’s advocate and Rice has no real opinions of her own, she just acts as a translator to Bush. Saphire was a lot kinder with his words, but that was his message. If you think the conservative worldview is the way to go Bush is you’re guy no doubt about it, but it will take a lot of convincing to get me to believe that there is more than a dozen watts behind those glassy eyes. I had to accept that even though I liked much of Clinton’s policy choices the man was still a lying pervert; maybe you should accept that even though you like many of Bush’s policies the man’s not the sharpest crayon in the box. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/30 "2002-10-29T04:26:42Z")
sorry that was a little intense, its been a long day. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/31 "2002-10-29T04:52:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cainxinth \* > \*\*sorry that was a little intense, its been a long day. \*\* Also a tad embarrassing to read (said the ardent Shrub-disdainer). It’s **Safire**. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/32 "2002-10-29T06:21:24Z")
What can I say, I have perpetual foot-in-mouth disease. I apologize. However, could you tell me what was embarrassing about the opinion, or were just refering to the faux pas. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/33 "2002-10-29T06:41:23Z")
I kind of think that coherence should be a requirement for being the leader of the free world. Is that too much to ask? ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/34 "2002-10-29T08:09:36Z")
**cainxinth** , I think your post made perfect sense. Except for calling Bill a pervert. If enjoying blow-jobs makes you a pervert… well, I guess I don’t have to finish that sentence. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/35 "2002-10-29T12:49:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*If enjoying blow-jobs makes you a pervert… \*\* …then the Islamic fundamentalists have already won! ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/36 "2002-10-29T15:18:47Z")
> [@](#): > > I wonder when he’s going to tell the Germans that he’s a Jelly Donut? That’s another myth. (Which I could swear had been covered in the SD, but I can’t find it.) Probably a lot of stupid sayings have been falsely attributed to Bush, but I’ve heard him enough to find signs of genuine dimness. When Bush was a candidate, you’ll recall a reporter quizzed him on world leaders, and George didn’t do too well. When asked if he knew the name of a particular leader, he testily replied, “No, do you?” This shows both ignorance and lack of wit, since he was setting himself up for one of two replies: “Yes, it’s So-and-So”, or “No, but then I’m not telling people I’m qualified to be leader of the free world.” ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/37 "2002-10-29T16:09:18Z")
So, Bush said a few stupid things. Slipped up a few times during a public speech. He would fail a basic skills test. See his stupid quotes. **cainxinth** does that mean you think Al Gore is stupid too? [http://www.gargaro.com/algore.html](http://www.gargaro.com/algore.html) > [@](#): > > “A zebra does not change its spots.” - Al Gore, attacking President George Bush in 1992. > > Gore called The Washington Post’s executive editor to tip him off on an ‘‘error’’ in the paper. ‘‘I decided I just had to call because you’ve printed a picture of the Earth upside down on the front page of the paper,’’ Gore said. (Source: Florida Times Union 4/3/98 ) > > Al Gore, when asked about his illegal fundraising activities that took place in a Buddhist temple: “I didn’t realize I was in a Buddhist temple.” > > “When my sister and I were growing up,” Mr. Gore told a small audience made up mostly of women, “there was never any doubt in our minds that men and women were equal, if not more so.” > (Source: NY Times, 08/12/00) > > Oct. 25 2000 JACKSON, Tenn. (Reuters) — Criticizing Bush’s Social Security privatization plan at a rally in Tennessee, Gore said, “He is proposing to privatize a big part of Social Security and he’s proposing to take $1 trillion, a million billion dollars out of the Social Security trust fund and give it as a tax incentive to young workers.” > > “Who are those guys???” > Al Gore, pointing to the busts of George Washington, Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, during a tour of the museum at Monticello prior to the 1992 inauguration. Or how about Clinton? > [@](#): > > “You know the one thing that’s wrong with this country? Everyone gets a chance to have their fair say.” > President William Clinton addressing the people of Philadelphia, May 28, 1993 > > “The last time I checked, the Constitution said, ‘of the people, by the people and for the people.’ That’s what the Declaration of Independence says.” President Bill Clinton, campaigning October 17, 1996 My point is that everyone says stupid things sometimes. Try making several public appearances/speeches a day. Get someone to record them. See how many times you make a mistake. If you are going to call the man stupid find a real reason. ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/38 "2002-10-29T16:12:07Z")
You know, it would be refreshing if political idealogues from either end of the spectrum wouldn’t be such blatant examples of the very problems they choose to examine in the leaders they lampoon. **cainxinth** , if you’re gonna harp on verbal statements by Bush and hold them up as examples of his inability to lead the country, then perhaps it would behoove you to pay more attention to what you write on a message board. Presumably you have more time to compose your thoughts than a man speaking extemporaneously, so the multiple mistakes in your posts blunt the message you’re trying to send. I’m not normally a stickler for grammatically correct writing on the boards, but if you’re gonna make fun of someone else for doing essentially the same thing, make sure your excrement is in order first. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/39 "2002-10-29T20:26:01Z")
**Sauron** , a) I’m not the President of the most powerful nation in the world b) I don’t have speechwriters and aides who work furiously to make me sound good c) I’m speaking off the cuff on a public message board, not making a public address or answering questions from the press I spelled Safire with a ph, it was stupid, so sue me. In all truth I don’t even read his column that often, I prefer Friedman and Dowd as you can imagine. I went to see Safire speak because I thought it would be valuable to hear the hawk point of view from an intelligent and accomplished person, much of the reason I discuss politics here. And, if you think you have seen the last embarrassing mistake from me, think again, but like I said, at least I have no plans to run for office. **In Conceivable** , I would argue that his deficit spending scheme is boneheaded, but I already said that I don’t believe it’s entirely his scheme. If that is the case then Rumsfeld and Cheney didn’t pick him out for his critical thinking skills, they chose him because he could win and because he wouldn’t throw any curveballs at them, much less upset their policies. Also, Gore has written a 400+ page book on public policy that has received some quite favorable reviews. Bush is telling us he can’t even read one. And, are there many other Clinton and Gore verbal gaffes? Bush has been in office two years and they already managed to fill a daily calendar! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195/40 "2002-10-29T20:55:14Z")
**cainxinth** - If you are allowed to attribute quotes to people that they never made, it takes no time at all to fill up a calendar. Yes, there are lots more Clinton and Gore gaffes. And Ford, and Bush Sr., and Nixon, and Johnson, and every other President. > [@](#): > > “No sane person wants the war (in Viet Nam), and the President doesn’t either.” - Hubert Humphrey, 1965 These people talk for a living. It isn’t possible to speak for a full day and not make some mistakes, for anybody. If the press wants to make you look stupid, they can, and they will. Perhaps we can invoke a version of Gaudere’s Law here, but apply it to verbal gaffes instead of spelling mistakes. Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-that-there-should-be-a-mandatory-basic-skills-test-for-president/134195.md?page=3)