I think most of you are missing the point of this. Dubya’s intellgence or accent isn’t the most important thing to consider for this election. What’s the most important thing? The fact that he’s… what’s the term? Oh yeah. He’s a WORLD CLASS ASSHOLE. That gaffe about not knowing that the microphones were/could have been on supports my latest theory about Dubya. He is simply a bad statesman. If he’s elected, then another slip up like that might derail an international trade treaty (or something more important). Speaking as a non-american, I’ll tell you his image as seen from other countries: He’s not very bright. He is a political klutz. He is not charismatic. He isn’t even articulate. His facial expressions remind one of those of a child. I wouldn’t trust him to sit the right way on a toilet seat. He should NOT be in charge of a country. Again, he is a bad statesman; why elect an inompetent statesman as the most important statesman in your country?
I don’t know if it says anything about his intelligence. I myself used to add a syllable or two to words when I was drinking. Maybe he a few brews before the reporters showed up.
But it’s certainly not dyslexia. I’ve know several (almost married one). Yes, they transpose letters when reading and writing, and may mispronounce something simple when reading aloud from a card. But they do not mispronounce words they know and have used before.
I’m not saying the man’s not dyslexic. I’m just saying it wasn’t a factor here.
But really, this isn’t much of an issue. Hey, if you’re followed around by reporters 24/7, they’re gonna catch you making some kind of mistake.
foolsguinea said:
I believe that Zenster is saying that “Freedom of [or “for”]religion” necessarily encompasses freedom from religion, as most people think of it.
For instance, you could fairly say that my religion is Humanism. Both of these “beliefs” hold that there is no god of any kind, and that there are in general no supernatural forces. I’m sure Olasky would say I’m asking for Freedom from religion if I simply described my disbelief. But this disbelief in itself is recognized as a “religion.” Therefore, the First Amendment must protect disbelief to the same extent it protects belief. So in the end, freedom for religion IS freedom from (traditional) religion.
Here’s a link to a US Supreme Court case regarding religious tests for public office (check out footnote 11 for some atheistic religions): Torcaso v. Watkins
(Is it hijacking if you do it to your own thread?)
Of course, "Both of these ‘beliefs’ hold " should read “This ‘belief’ holds.”
Now, if I make that same mistake two more times, you all are justified in assuming that I’m an idiot.
I’ve watched this one unfold. geez.
FTR: I wouldn’t vote for Bush if he were running for Drum Major for the Coast Guard.
that being said. While I did chuckle at his mispronounciation, I don’t see it as the crux of the biscuit as it were. Subliminal is hardly a word in common usage, and yea, I think he probably had no idea what it meant (some one should really have coached him on that) - otherwise he’d not have said the line about “one frame in 900” (or is my understanding of subliminal wrong ? that one would attempt to put a subliminal message into another visual thread by inserting a single short shot in, say um, one frame in 900?)
Some of our leaders were silver tongued orators. Didn’t make them (necessarily) great presidents.
“…why elect an inompetent statesman as the most important statesman in your country?”
Maxie old bean, you may be immortal but you just, by your own test, disqualified yourself from being a statesman in YOUR country.
Actually, that sounds perfectly right. 30 sec add x 30 fps == 900 frames.
OK, maybe it is 24 fps, I don’t know.
That whole think seems like an honest video editing mistake of coordinating between drawing of the letter and the shooting of a frame, but I’m no expert.
:rolleyes:
The makers of the commercial have not tried to say it was a mistake; the effect was intended. What’s in contention is their darker motivation in re attempting to communicate a subliminablblblblblblppht message.
They’re basically saying, “Hey, we just thought it looked cool. We weren’t trying to take over your minds.”
FWIW, I buy this completely. I think if they had been trying to embed a subliminablblblblblblppht message it would have been more an indication of stupidity than deviousness. I’m just chortling that it’s given Dumbya one more chance to expose his massive intellect to the voting public. As far as I’m concerned, the stories no bigger than that. And as far as I can tell, it’s already faded from prominence. Everywhere but here.
Yay SDMB!
People in the advertising business disagree with you. They have claimed, in various TV interviews, that before a commercial is aired, they view every frame. Fact is, Alex Castellanos is the idiot here, not necessaril Dubya.
Castellanos, IIRC, also birthed that hideous Jesse Helms commercial the last time he was up for election against Harvey Gant, which insinuated that black people were stealing jobs and women from the white folks. Yeah, he’s got a great track record.
As for Dubya’s intelligence, I find it very hard to see how anyone can think a jaw-flapping anti-intellectual has one ounce of intelligence.
Anyone remember the Hartford Courant interview of 1988?
Anyone remember his $4.7 million dollars which he blew in his 80s oil debacles?
Anyone see him waffling around like an idiot, refusing to confront Gore in debate?
I can just see Barbara Bush shaking her head and asking George Sr., “George, what are we going to do about that boy?”
MR
George Sr.: He’s your son.
Barbara: No, he’s your son.
George Sr.: No, yours.
Barbara: No, yours.
etc.
Yeah, what a disgrace to his parents, the dummy. No doubt his accomplishments pale in comparison to what you guys have managed to accomplish, with your far superior intellects. Any details?
What a truly preposterous line of reasoning. But I’ll bite. For now.
[ul]
[li] George Bush is almost three times my age.[/li][li] When he was my age, he was busier drinking, doing coke, and losing Daddy’s money than I could ever be.[/li][li] He has made a lifetime of terrible business decisions. He only struck gold, er, oil, when President Daddy got him a lucrative oil deal with Bahrain. Or when he screwed the town of Arlington by forcing them to shell out $191 million for a stadium for his baseball team.[/li][li]Neither lissener nor I were given the opportunity to demonstrate our magnanimousness by halting unpopular and disgusting executions. How many times did W blow it?[/li][li] Last but not least…neither of us are running for President! This invites the kind of scrutiny into his life, his background, and his intelligence that being a private citizen *doesn’t[/].[/li][/ul]
So if your last line of defense for Dubya is a resounding “so what have you accomplished?”, then the GOP is really screwed. That bullshit line’s not going to hold until November.
MR
This is utterly ridiculous. Listen to yourselves. “Dubya is an idiot! Don’t vote for him! He’s a doody-head too! Nyah Nyah.”
I’m sure there’s plenty of good reasons not to vote for Bush, but if this is this best one, he’s sure to win. Talk about the real reasons if you want to sway anyone.
PeeQueue
Hey, we could always all vote for Al “I Love Hollywood! No, Wait, I Hate Hollywood! Wait, Are They Giving Me Money This Week Or Am I Mad At Them?” Gore.
Disclaimer: No, I’m not voting for Bush. Gore either. But the whole “George Bush is an actual illiterate moron tack is just silly.”
Assumptions
[ul]
[li]We are talking about voting issues.[/li][li]I am trying to persuade IzzyR to change his mind and vote for Gore.[/li][li]Bush’s stupidity is the best reason to vote against him.[/li][/ul]
Until you have justified the above three assumptions, I suggest that you take your sanctimony elsewhere.
MR
(Don’t blame me - I voted for John McCain)
Ike and others may have it right - this insignificant gaffe might have dashed W’s inaugural ball plans. Even moderate Republicans are wondering whether W has both the intelligence and the necessary sense of humor to handle the job.
Shit happens - its how you deal with it that counts. W’s mouthing about “subliminabble” or “conspiracy theories abound!” make him look slightly loony.
On the other hand, he’s done quite well. Peace and prosperity doomed Dukakis’ campaign though Willie Horton and Snoopy driving a tank helped. W is neck and neck with Gore during even better times than 1988.
But what can W do to pull ahead? He can’t wait for Al to goof up. Like Bush, Gore is now surrounded by guy and gal wonks who will try to prevent any more Internet or Buddhist temple gaffes.
W’s team has tried to limit his damage by limiting W’s access to the ***holes in the press. But this looks like just what it is = a defensive move that’s like throwing chum to sharks.
Go negative? W’s pal and mentor Lee Atwater is roasting in hell right now and probably not taking calls. If the “rats” ad is an example of W’s negative campaign, W needs a sceance fast.
A possible solution is for Bush to go mainstream. Appear on every soccer mom talk show their is - Regis, Rosie, Oprah, Leeza, and push his charm, humor, and what he wants America to look like over the next four years. Take the spouse with him. Who knows? It might work.
Maeglin,
I have failed to understand most of your post (hey, maybe I’m an idiot too). Let me ask it this way.
If you had to bet your life on it, what do you think Bush’s actual intelligence would measure, expressed as a percentile of the general population? Your best guess.
Seriously? 85%.
Do you mean 85% as smart as an average person, or that he is in the top 15% of the population? (The latter is the standard terminology used).
I answered the question you asked: the latter.