Izz, I don’t want to seem like I’m picking on you or anything, but your last two statements have been “What have YOU done that’s so great?” and “AT least he’s not as stupid as that check-out girl down at the Shop ‘n’ Save!”
Izz, the man is running for PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Don’t you think he SHOULD be a little brighter than the average bear, and maybe even brighter than us, who are the electronic modern-day equivalent of the loafers sittin’ on the nail kegs out by Zeke’s General Mercantile, whittlin’ and arguin’ pollyticks?
Woodrow Wilson was probably our smartest, most educated President; but generally history looks upon him with mixed opinion as a President. Likewise, Thomas Jefferson- a brilliant man, and greater writer with a master of the English language- was a mediocre President, the Louisiana Purchase contrasted by the Failed Embargo and other mistakes.
Absolute intelligence and education does not inherently make a man a better President than moderate intelligence and/or education. In fact, for many presidents- Carter, Wilson, Kennedy- high intellectualism led to arrogance, which made a mockery of their presidencies. Conversely, Lyndon Johnson and Abraham Lincoln were no intellectual giants, but their charisma and ability to choose competent subordinates made them successes.
I’d also point out to fellow posters that I barely graduated college with a C+ average, and I mangle words regularly in conversation. If this is to you the sign of a lax mind unfit for dealing with, let me know and I’ll stay out of your way in GD. Wouldn’t want to bring you down by making you deal with idiots, after all.
In that case we have no dispute. I would guess 80% (meaning the top 20%). I have no problem with a guy that smart (or dumb) being president.
Ukulele Ike
No problem with that.
The central theme of this thread is that the guy is so dumb that he is not familiar with the word (and concept) subliminal. When people use this to prove his idiocy, they are implying genuine idiocy, and I am justified in my last two posts. I had earlier suggested to lissener that he was applying an expansive definition of the term idiot, and decided to address the issue directly.
As mentioned, I don’t think he (Bush) is one of the worlds greatest geniuses. The same could apply to many other presidents, leaders and other people of accomplishment (including Al Gore). Obviously a true moron could not function effectively as president (or governor of Texas or Senator etc.) But once you get past a certain level of intelligence, you are at a point of diminishing returns.
Jimmy Carter was by all indications an exceptionally intelligent president. But his failings in other areas more than made up for whatever marginal advantage his great intelligence may have given him.
Um, the Governor in Texas does not have to power to halt executions more than 30 days, and a Gov. can only do that once. Can you cite any “blown” examples?
Read my posts again. The catalyst for Dubya-bashing may in fact be his malapropisms, but I have never used them as the primary reason for his stupidity. Bush partisans often assume this because it is relatively easy to ridicule such accusations. My attacks on Bush’s intelligence and skill are, IMHO, much more important than bumbling a few words. I am more concerned with his pride, stubbornness, and gleeful lack of knowledge in certain areas which I think presidents should be experts.
I don’t think that rocket scientists make the best presidents. If I did, I would vote for Hagelin. Our president must be a political animal, with skills and guts. I think Dubya is deficient in both areas, and not because he farkles speeches. His verbal mistakes may be emblematic of his deeper problems, but they aren’t the most important aspect of them.
I said 85% off the top of my pointy head. I’d class Dumbya as a C+ student, maybe B- if he stayed after school to um, beat my erasers. I think the President of the You Ess Ay should be an A+ student.
Come on, you Bush-babies. Can you really picture him in a room with Barak and Arafat and actually contributing something? Can you picture him with any head of state and not outright embarrassing himself?
Anyone who can call him presidential material with a straight face is fooling himself. Sell it somewhere else.
Ya know – we have these people called diplomats now, who can coduct foriegn diplomacy on a president’s behalf.
All I can see Gore doing is talking condescendingly to other world leaders, and probably randomly bombing sovereign nations like his best buddy “greatest president” Clinton.
Well thank you for admitting that Dumbya would be incapable of handling such a situation and would be forced to delegate out of incompetence.
I want you to seriously imagine this scenario (I don’t know why I bother, you obviously won’t):
Barak and Arafat are sitting at Camp David, waiting, the fate of the Middle East in their hands. President Clinton stays home–he’s behind on his “Hooked on Phonics” and can’t spare the time–and sends a diplomat to deal with B and A.
(This is of course what you’re saying would be perfectly acceptable coming from Dumbya.)
Who would be the first person to cry foul, to claim he’s shirking his responsibilities, to demand that Janet Reno open an independent investigation?
Well, I don’t know if you understand how diplomacy works. Generally, these high level meetings are little more than photo-ops and polite conversation. I don’t know if Gore putting then to sleep would be considered polite, but Camp David should definitely get some extra pillows if Gore is elected.
You really think Clinton had been hovering over every exchange at the last submit like some referee?
Clinton and Carter are/were extremely hands-on with their foreign policy; they are/were also extremely effective. If you kept up with things better you’d know that even among his detractors Clinton’s skills as a facilitator are acknowledged. Dumbya would be even weaker in this area than his dad, who was bad enough.
Well, the Cold War is over. Bush in Texas did do a good job over running diplomacy between Dems and Repubs, in fact that is one of the best things going for him in my book. I don’t see why he’d be any different in the cicurmstances you are suggesting.
You know what, jmullaney, this is ridiculous. [list][li]First you insist it’s a Texas accent. []Then it’s the grandiocious Southernstylistical tradionatiousness of speechificationalizing like Don King. []Then it’s his overwhelming knowledge of chemistry bleeding over into other parts of his brain.*Now you insist that stupidity and incompetence are not an obstacle to the presidency, because it’s mostly just a photo-op: the real work is done other people.[/li]
We’re supposed to give credence to this argument, I suppose, because your previous arguments have been so impressive?
If this were the pit I’d graciously point out that you’re making a fool of yourself. Since it’s not, I’ll just acknowledge that you’ve made a fool of me by somehow keeping me actually responding to you.
I think the whole supposition that someone who mispronouces a word can’t be president is ridiculous too. I have no qualms with making an argument in just as silly a fashion in response.
:eek: Is that??? It can’t be! No, wait – by Jove I think that’s sarcasm. Run Away!!!
Good thing it ain’t, or I’d have to reply thusly: :rolleyes:
I too am worn out keeping up with such a high level of political discourse – my mind is reeling!
But, as King of the Hill’s Boomhauser would say: tha the za wa it gone be roun here gone jut git goin up back a reckon, shucks.
