# Since Reeder isn't here.... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 22, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223 "2005-11-22T08:29:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/21 "2005-11-23T00:56:01Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > I bet if we shined a media spotlight on you (or me) damn near 24 hours a day, it would be damn easy to highlight one or two minor incidents and make you (or me) look like a complete bumbling idiot. Like him or not, the man is human, which means he’s going to make his fair share of trips, falls, mistakes and faux pas. Yesterday I walked into the screen door, last week I dropped a pen and whammed my head on the table when I bent down to pick it up. EVERYBODY does these kinds of things, all the time. President Bush simply has the misfortune of being on camera all the time when he’s not in a private setting, providing grist for the rumor and muckraking mill. While your point is valid in general, in regards to Bush I’ll have to disagree here. Poor guy doesn’t seem to be too quick on his feet. You must have missed his recent video conference with Iraqi troops, the majority of his press conferences, and some debates. Now I don’t need some media savvy character to run the country, because the skill sets are different, but Bush certainly gives the _impression_ that he ain’t the sharpest knife in the drawer. I am far from alone in this interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/22 "2005-11-23T02:17:44Z")
I actually thought he handled it pretty well. After the was directed to the ‘real’ exit he turned to the press gallery and said “I was trying to escape… it didn’t work”. Not exactly rapier wit, but better than I would have managed in the circumstances. And better than I would have managed under any circumstances while suffering from jet lag. I personally think Bush is a bit of a moron, but my opinion of him actually went _up_ after seeing this. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/23 "2005-11-23T02:51:45Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > While your point is valid in general, in regards to Bush I’ll have to disagree here. Poor guy doesn’t seem to be too quick on his feet. You must have missed his recent video conference with Iraqi troops, the majority of his press conferences, and some debates. Now I don’t need some media savvy character to run the country, because the skill sets are different, but Bush certainly gives the _impression_ that he ain’t the sharpest knife in the drawer. I am far from alone in this interpretation. And if a Doper comes along to say that aliens are the reason birds fly south for winter, he’d hardly be alone either. Can anyone confirm or rebuke a tidbit awhile ago about Bush getting higher overall marks than Kerry in college? I know I didn’t see it on a Newsmax-type site. May have been Newsweek, If a lack of intelligence is what bugs you, fine. No quarrel there. If the _impression_ of a lack of intelligence is what you cling to in saying he’s an idiot, well, not much more to say on the matter, is there? Now then, if what you want is someone that looks good and the mannerisms that come across well? Glad to have you admit you like Reagan. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/24 "2005-11-23T02:58:07Z")
That wasn’t actually so bad – he recovered well. Knowing some of his past mishaps I expected him to just stare into the cameras with his old deer in the headlights look. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/25 "2005-11-23T03:00:20Z")
> [@mstay](#): > > That wasn’t actually so bad – he recovered well. Knowing some of his past mishaps I expected him to just stare into the cameras with his old deer in the headlights look. Nah. He only does that when someone asks him a question. As a regular guy doing regular things, he’s, well, pretty regular. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/26 "2005-11-23T03:00:55Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > And if a Doper comes along to say that aliens are the reason birds fly south for winter, he’d hardly be alone either. Care to have a contest on the amount of cites we can dig up? Dopers who say Bush appears to be an idiot vs. Dopers who say aliens cause birds to fly south for the winter. > [@](#): > > Can anyone confirm or rebuke a tidbit awhile ago about Bush getting higher overall marks than Kerry in college? I know I didn’t see it on a Newsmax-type site. May have been Newsweek, What would this have to do with anything? I don’t see what Kerry’s grades have to do with whether or not people perceive Bush as clueless. > [@](#): > > If a lack of intelligence is what bugs you, fine. No quarrel there. If the _impression_ of a lack of intelligence is what you cling to in saying he’s an idiot, well, not much more to say on the matter, is there? Huh? How about this. Bush isn’t very intelligent. It shows. Besides did you miss **“Now I don’t need some media savvy character to run the country, because the skill sets are different…”**? > [@](#): > > Now then, if what you want is someone that looks good and the mannerisms that come across well? Glad to have you admit you like Reagan. 😛 He came off better then Bush 2. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/27 "2005-11-23T03:11:25Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > What would this have to do with anything? I don’t see what Kerry’s grades have to do with whether or not people perceive Bush as clueless. Bush is a terrible public speaker. Many people who aren’t very intelligent think that this is a sign of lack of intelligence. Many of those people further demostrate their lack of intelligence when they cling to the “Bush is a moron” meme even in the face of overwhelming onbjective evidence that it isn’t true. Also, many really, really ignorant people think that if someone holds a different poltical opinion than they do, that that person is ignorant. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/28 "2005-11-23T03:25:19Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Bush is a terrible public speaker. Many people who aren’t very intelligent think that this is a sign of lack of intelligence. Many of those people further demostrate their lack of intelligence when they cling to the “Bush is a moron” meme even in the face of overwhelming onbjective evidence that it isn’t true. Also, many really, really ignorant people think that if someone holds a different poltical opinion than they do, that that person is ignorant. Yeah, people like you always say things like that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/29 "2005-11-23T03:28:56Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Bush is a terrible public speaker. Check > [@](#): > > Many people who aren’t very intelligent think that this is a sign of lack of intelligence. Sometimes it is. > [@](#): > > Many of those people further demostrate their lack of intelligence when they cling to the “Bush is a moron” meme even in the face of overwhelming onbjective evidence that it isn’t true. Depends on what your conception of intelligence is I suppose. I personally don’t know if Bush is a “moron”, although one could make a good case that his actions are moronic from many examples. Anyway let me remind you that my comments are that Bush _seems_ to be a bit more clueless then many other CICs we’ve had. Furthermore, I’ll say again, _many_ people around the globe share this impression. This isn’t some fringe perception. > [@](#): > > Also, many really, really ignorant people think that if someone holds a different poltical opinion than they do, that that person is ignorant. Don’t know if this is a dig at me, but I don’t find Bush ignorant because of his opinions. Like they say, actions speak louder then words. ---
**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:** [November 23, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/30 "2005-11-23T03:32:04Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > Yeah, people like you always say things like that. > > 😃 I’m not a good public speaker. Make of that what you will. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/31 "2005-11-23T21:44:40Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Can anyone confirm or rebuke a tidbit awhile ago about Bush getting higher overall marks than Kerry in college? I know I didn’t see it on a Newsmax-type site. Bush’s overall average was one point higher than Kerry’s. [Linky](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/06/07/yale_grades_portray_kerry_as_a_lackluster_student/) ---
**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:** [November 23, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/32 "2005-11-23T22:50:14Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Bush’s overall average was one point higher than Kerry’s. > > [Linky](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/06/07/yale_grades_portray_kerry_as_a_lackluster_student/) My God, but he \*\*does \*\*look like Lurch!! I always thought that nickname was too much of an exageration. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/33 "2005-11-23T23:10:13Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Bush’s overall average was one point higher than Kerry’s. > > [Linky](http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/06/07/yale_grades_portray_kerry_as_a_lackluster_student/) And yours is one point higher then fungi. Is there a point? ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/34 "2005-11-23T23:14:26Z")
Dear God, those are awful pictures. If those had been circulated around widely before the last election, Bush would have beaten Kerry, but Larouche would have whooped both of 'em. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/35 "2005-11-23T23:26:47Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > And yours is one point higher then fungi. Is there a point? (May as well do it) Cite? All we heard about was how stupid Bush is and how smart Kerry is. Now we have some facts to look at. Are you willing to concede Kerry just isn’t as smart as Bush? What is the next step down in intelligence from chimp? (Fark-style degree of difficulty: no Doper names) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lonesome\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/36 "2005-11-23T23:37:09Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > (May as well do it) Cite? > > All we heard about was how stupid Bush is and how smart Kerry is. Now we have some facts to look at. Are you willing to concede Kerry just isn’t as smart as Bush? What is the next step down in intelligence from chimp? (Fark-style degree of difficulty: no Doper names) 😉 A one point difference in a GPA means the lower is not as smart as the higher? And wouldn’t you have to compare the courses taken? A 75 in basket weaving as opposed to a 74 in chemistry means the basket weaver is smarter? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/37 "2005-11-23T23:45:13Z")
Does anyone happen to know how Clinton, Bush Sr., and Reagan did in college? Or Carter for that matter? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/38 "2005-11-23T23:46:28Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > (May as well do it) Cite? Sure, his entire posting history is my citation. > [@](#): > > All we heard about was how stupid Bush is and how smart Kerry is. Now we have some facts to look at. Are you willing to concede Kerry just isn’t as smart as Bush? What is the next step down in intelligence from chimp? (Fark-style degree of difficulty: no Doper names) 😉 I know how it pains those beholden to their parties to talk ill of those on their side, but luckily I’m under no such constraints. Personally, I don’t understand what Kerry has to with this discussion, other then to make you partisans feel better about yourselves. As far as I’m concerned, _both_ Kerry and Bush were subpar candidates who appeared to slack their ways through college. Does that answer your question? ---
**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:** [November 24, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/39 "2005-11-24T00:15:27Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > Does anyone happen to know how Clinton, Bush Sr., and Reagan did in college? Or Carter for that matter? Clinton was a Rhodes scholar, so I supsect he had “slightly” higher grades than either “W” or Kerry. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223/40 "2005-11-24T00:38:47Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Does that answer your question? I guess it does. The cite call was in jest. It’s, in the manner I used it, seen as such when anyone else uses it. Maybe it’s my accent? And the rest of the post wasn’t directed at you. It happened to be included in the post. Though maybe I forgot I was on the SDMB and was thinking of another message board with a majority of members voting for Kerry while saying they were vindicated in doing so because Bush “is an idiot”. Kinda confusing. Either way, the second part wasn’t directed at you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-reeder-isnt-here/332223.md?page=3)