# Republicans; do you really believe Geo. Bush is in charge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 24, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841 "2004-04-24T21:16:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/41 "2004-04-25T04:19:35Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Even intelligent people make the occasional typo. Also, most of us intelligent people know that “a” isn’t a preposition. > > Remind you? I don’t recall ever telling you. Are you suggesting that my educational credentials have to exceed or equal those of the person whose qualifications I’m questioning? That’s an interesting way to look at things. Which I reject. In any case I suspect the rich and powerful don’t have to meet the same standards in schools, or even show up in the National Guard, to be awarded the certificates the poor and middle class person has to work for. That sounds like a long, roundabout way of saying “I didn’t go to an impressive school, but I still want to be able to question the intelligence of people who did.” No, you don’t have to be an intellectual to call anybody an idiot. But just as I laugh at 300 pound losers who feel qualified to call various sports stars “lousy athletes,” I’m amused by people whose academic credentials are waaaay below the President’s, but who feel qualified to call him dumb. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/42 "2004-04-25T04:29:17Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > How many years does it take to get a masters as a graduate student? Generally two years, if you’re full time, but it can vary by program. Bush was at Harvard between 1973-75. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/43 "2004-04-25T04:31:05Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > That sounds like a long, roundabout way of saying “I didn’t go to an impressive school, but I still want to be able to question the intelligence of people who did.” > > No, you don’t have to be an intellectual to call anybody an idiot. But just as I laugh at 300 pound losers who feel qualified to call various sports stars “lousy athletes,” I’m amused by people whose academic credentials are waaaay below the President’s, but who feel qualified to call him dumb. His academic “credentials” are a product of wealth, connections and legacy. Let’s not pretend they’re legitimate. The guy is a moron, it’s obvious. Any time he doesn’t have his material written for him he bumbles and stammers around like an ass. The guy believes in creationism, for fuck’s sake, CREATIONISM. How is that not proof that he’s not an intelligent person? ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/44 "2004-04-25T05:35:10Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > The guy believes in creationism, for fuck’s sake, CREATIONISM. How is that not proof that he’s not an intelligent person? Of course, you do have a handy-dandy CITE that the President of the United States of America believes in CREATIONISM, right? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/45 "2004-04-25T05:44:47Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > Of course, you do have a handy-dandy CITE that the President of the United States of America believes in CREATIONISM, right? [handy-dandy CITE](http://slate.msn.com/id/1006378/) He thinks the “jury is still out” on evolution and that creationism should be taught in public schools as an “alternate theory.” ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/46 "2004-04-25T05:58:18Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > [handy-dandy CITE](http://slate.msn.com/id/1006378/) > > He thinks the “jury is still out” on evolution and that creationism should be taught in public schools as an “alternate theory.” > [@](#): > > chatterbox Gossip, speculation, and scuttlebutt about politics. That’s your cite? Color me unimpressed. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/47 "2004-04-25T10:21:13Z")
**jshore** , thanks for the correction— ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/48 "2004-04-25T13:41:51Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > That’s your cite? Color me unimpressed. Of course, the chatterbox article quotes from a _New York Times_ article with date and author, and a dated AP piece. It’s not like the guy’s making stuff up. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/49 "2004-04-25T14:04:46Z")
Wow… no one mentioned his business career !! The broken oil business… and his “sucessful” leading a football team ? Great Business man. Strange that so many say Bush isn’t a politician or doesn’t talk like one… but he sure seems to have had sucess only as a politician. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/50 "2004-04-25T15:06:29Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > That sounds like a long, roundabout way of saying “I didn’t go to an impressive school, but I still want to be able to question the intelligence of people who did.” This has got to be the most childish comment on this thread. We can’t comment on the intelligence of an Ivy Leaguer unless we attended one? As if only smart people attend Ivy Leagues and all the rest of us are drooling morons? What an elitist, moronic argument! **randwill** may have only a high school diploma. Or he may have two Ph.Ds from MIT. Either way, he has every right to question the intelligence of someone who does not present, but should, a very intelligent pose in the limelight. A high-school dropout can do this with some coaching. Why can’t the leader of our country? Notice how no one–not even the obsessive Republicans–questioned the brainpower of Clinton. No one questions the brainpower of Cheney, Rumsfield, Rice, or Rove. There HAS to be a good reason why people doubt the intelligence of the Prez that goes beyond simple partisan hatred. The guy may very well be a fucking genius, but this is not obvious at all. Personally, I don’t think genius is necessary to be a good leader. But I think the perception of genius (or something close to it) _is_. It’s embarrassing that Bush is seen as a bumbling idiot by a significant portion of the US population as well as by millions of folks abroad. I don’t know why Republicans aren’t embarrassed too, but they should. > [@](#): > > =astorian]I’m amused by people whose academic credentials are waaaay below the President’s, but who feel qualified to call him dumb. I’m amused by people who think having a bunch of alphabets next to their name means they are more intelligent than someone who does not. It’s fucking hilarious when people ASSume the academic credentials of others so that they can then disparage them. And they say liberals are snobs! But if it makes you feel better, my academic credentials are superior to Bush’s and I believe he’s of average intelligence. Not dumb, but not smart. Definitely deserving of ridicule, though. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/51 "2004-04-25T15:36:14Z")
> [@](#): > > _Brutus_ > All those dazed slapped-puppy looks on their faces this November will be priceless. ??? Why are you so familiar with a slapped-puppy look? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/52 "2004-04-25T18:17:19Z")
Ah well - pointing out grammatical errors is always fraught with the risk of committing one yourself. I accept a virtual swat on the knuckles from Mrs. Coles’ rule Still, it’s fairly priceless to see someone sneering at Bush’s intelligence while failing to complete a coherent sentence. And once again, as Sam and many others have pointed out, continuing to harp on Bush’s lack of speaking polish and presumed stupidity only serve to demonstrate that his opponents continually underestimate his abilities, serve to generate sympathy for him among anti-intellectuals and are helping to maintain him in power. ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/53 "2004-04-25T18:24:45Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Bush’s lack of speaking polish I think most of us could forgive the lack of polish if not for the lack of content. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/54 "2004-04-25T18:32:13Z")
Totally amused by this thread. > [@zwaldd](#): > > I think most of us could forgive the lack of polish if not for the lack of content. Too funny. Name me ANY politician that puts ‘content’ into any of his/her speeches. We are talking about politicians here for gods sake. You are just deluded by the smooth and polished delivery, dazzled by the retorical bullshit, and baffled into incoherence about the meaning of the word ‘if’. Bush doesn’t put any less content into his speeches than the average politician. They ALL evade tough questions, or questions they just don’t want to answer…hell, most of them evade just to keep in practice. Bush just happens to have a more folksy, ‘common man’ delivery that lacks any kind of polish at all. As I said, some folks find this a plus, as it gets old hearing slick politicians bullshit us. SOme folks want a ‘common man’ approach to bullshit them. To me, whether it comes out slick and polished or folksy its all the same bullshit. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/55 "2004-04-25T18:50:50Z")
Well, since everyone is picking apart Bush’s extensive career before he became President, would anyone like to do the same for John Kerry? He went to Boston College, got a degree in law, worked as a prosecutor for a few years, then became a career politician after marrying a rich heiress who could fund a campaign. He’s never held a job of any note in the private sector. By the way, does anyone know what Kerry’s grades were like? What his SATs were? It seems funny that these things were such big issues in the last election, but I have yet to hear a single commentator mention them. ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/56 "2004-04-25T18:53:54Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Bush just happens to have a more folksy, ‘common man’ delivery Common if you’re in 4th grade, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/57 "2004-04-25T19:03:53Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Well, since everyone is picking apart Bush’s extensive career before he became President, would anyone like to do the same for John Kerry? He went to Boston College, got a degree in law, worked as a prosecutor for a few years, then became a career politician after marrying a rich heiress who could fund a campaign. > > He’s never held a job of any note in the private sector. > > By the way, does anyone know what Kerry’s grades were like? What his SATs were? It seems funny that these things were such big issues in the last election, but I have yet to hear a single commentator mention them. What the hell does the private sector have to do with this? The government is quite obviously the public sector. The United States Government isn’t a Fortune 500 company. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/58 "2004-04-25T19:18:20Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > snip… > > By the way, does anyone know what Kerry’s grades were like? What his SATs were? It seems funny that these things were such big issues in the last election, but I have yet to hear a single commentator mention them. Here’s Bush’s transcript… [http://www.americanpolitics.com/bushtranscript.html](http://www.americanpolitics.com/bushtranscript.html) You just gotta love those grades. A real solid C student. Still looking for Kerry’s. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/59 "2004-04-25T19:38:37Z")
Actually, the closest Bush has ever come to speaking Polish was the time he ate a kielbasa during Polish-American Day festivities in Lufkin. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841/60 "2004-04-25T19:42:55Z")
How did he get into grad school with grades like that? He got a D in astronomy? If Bush were a black guy, the anti-AA nuts would be all over him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-do-you-really-believe-geo-bush-is-in-charge/241841.md?page=4)