From Washington, Adams, Jefferson to George Bush.

[billydkid]

It is easy to make fun of Dubya's stupidity and there are probably a hundred websites dedicated to that purpose. I don't expect all of our Presidents to be the giants that the likes of Washingtion, Adams and Jefferson were, but I would expect them to maintain some sort of the basic core competency that should accompany adulthood. I think it is open to debate whether or not Dubya has normal adult competency and whether he would have even have made it through junior college or have been able to hold down any job more demanding than delivering the mail had he not grown up with advantages most of us could not even begin to imagine.

But that aside, try to imagine the likes of George Bush having written the Declaration of Independence. Impossible to fathom isn't it. In fact, it's virtually impossible to try to imagine George Bush having written a competent freshman term paper. Be honest, isn't it? Next, try to imagine George Bush simply reading and comprehending the Declaration of Independence. Not very much less difficult to imagine, is it? And isn't that just a little scarey for the leader of the free world? It is simply unimaginable to me that George Bush could be considered more or less equivalent to these other Presidents - the Presidency being considered the greatest achievement of each.

[Charlie Monoxide]

Isn't reading more of a Laura thing?

Charlie (stolen from Doonesbury) Monoxide

[The Central Scrutinizer]

How odd then, that you would support a party that put forth a loony toon as it's best and brightest in 2004.

:i:

[bob_kark]

Well, he may mispronounce things, have a hard time getting his point across, and may not be quite as poetic as the other presidents you mentioned. However, I don't know that that actually speaks to his intelligence.

It can be funny to poke fun at him. However, you don't want to misunderestimate Bushie. He may seem like a dumb hick, but he managed to become President. No matter how many cronies he has or how much nepotism factors in, you have to have some higher level of intelligence to become President and then get re-elected even after enraging half the country.

[Mephisto]

He may seem like a dumb hick, but he managed to become President. No matter how many cronies he has or how much nepotism factors in, you have to have some higher level of intelligence to become President and then get re-elected even after enraging half the country.

Unfortunately, Bob that may say less about Bush and more about the need of the common man to believe he can succeed. However, nothing has changed in my mind; they used to tell us in school that anyone could become President and this has never been more apparent.

I wonder how many of "us" here at JREF could have become famous and influential with Bush's money and background?

[Regnad Kcin]

I suggest we'll probably never see the likes of the founders in high office again. The requirements for election, not to mention the entirely different country & world which exists today, pretty much prohibit it.

That being said, having the presidency inhabited by the type of individual embodied by Mr. Bush is certainly an interesting experiment to witness.

[Regnad Kcin]

I'll go so far as to add that I don't think the United States of America (with its constitution) could be founded in today's world.

[bob_kark]

Unfortunately, Bob that may say less about Bush and more about the need of the common man to believe he can succeed. However, nothing has changed in my mind; they used to tell us in school that anyone could become President and this has never been more apparent.

I wonder how many of "us" here at JREF could have become famous and influential with Bush's money and background?

I guess I may be a little biased. I have a semi-fake conspiricy theory that's been running around in my head. I've always wondered if Bush fakes it just to get the good ol' boy vote.

I don't know if you remember the SNL where Phil Hartman plays Ronald Regan. He has a girl scout visiting the office and does the "well..." old man routine. As soon as the girl scout leaves he's pulling out war maps and cussing like a sailor.

But back to my semi-fake theory, remember how Bush Sr. had a big PR problem of looking like a wimp? This is the man behind the Iran Contra affair, as some believe, and the director of the CIA. Wimp? Really? I'm sure this man has seen and done things we couldn't imagine. However, seeming like a wimp rather than the mastermind, or co-conspirator, of a plot to supply arms to the enemy while attempting to overthrow another government through dubious means can be a good thing. Anyway, I figure the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. Yes, its a bit crazy, but... it still makes me wonder.

(ETC: "to back up my semi-fake theory" to "back to my semi-fake theory". The last paragraph, didn't back up my theory AT ALL. Bad phrasing...)

[Beerina]

But that aside, try to imagine the likes of George Bush having written the Declaration of Independence. Impossible to fathom isn't it. In fact, it's virtually impossible to try to imagine George Bush having written a competent freshman term paper. Be honest, isn't it?

Well, I don't think very many modern politicians would be capable of writing the Constitution. They'd load it up with all kinds of crap that empowers themselves, rather than limits government.

[ceo_esq]

It is simply unimaginable to me that George Bush could be considered more or less equivalent to these other Presidents - the Presidency being considered the greatest achievement of each.

Would we really consider the presidency to be the greatest achievement of Jefferson or Adams? With regard to Jefferson at least, he himself considered the office to be somewhat further down the list of his accomplishments.


Well, I don't think very many modern politicians would be capable of writing the Constitution. They'd load it up with all kinds of crap that empowers themselves, rather than limits government.

You are so right. Just look at the relative crapfest that is (or was) the European Constitution.

[Charlie Monoxide]

Well, he may mispronounce things, have a hard time getting his point across, and may not be quite as poetic as the other presidents you mentioned. However, I don't know that that actually speaks to his intelligence.

It can be funny to poke fun at him. However, you don't want to misunderestimate Bushie. He may seem like a dumb hick, but he managed to become President. No matter how many cronies he has or how much nepotism factors in, you have to have some higher level of intelligence to become President and then get re-elected even after enraging half the country.He still seems to be a someone who is unreal. I remember the 2nd election and people telling me (ones who fessed up to who they were going to vote for) that they felt they had to vote for him, since, after all , we're at war.

This is so sad. Rove and company sold the "war on terror" as a reason you should "stay the course". Not show show those evil bastards (ie Bin Ladin) that we are vacillating. We are united behind our (incompetent) head of state. We are powerful. We shall pray, since god and jeebus are american, we shall win this war on america, "oh say can you see, by the dawns's early light" ....

Charlie (waving a flag) Monoxide