I've been reading the debate on this, and I'd like to throw my 2 cents in. In conventional terms, he doesn't seem to be especially bright. A Republican friend of mine mentioned that a noted conservative columnist stated that GWB "wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer" before he became president. I'm guessing from his language use that he probably would not have gotten 800 on the verbal part of the SAT.
Having said that, Gautam's point about underestimating him is still valid. Yes, his election in 2000 was a bit flukey; he was the only 20th century presidential to win when an opponent received significantly more votes than he did. The margin of victory in Florida was partly due to his team outplaying the endgame; but it was also partially due to things that he couldn't have planned: like ballot confusion causing liberals to accidentally vote for good 'ol Pat. But, he shouldn't have been in the game. It's the economy, stupid...in every presidential election, except 2000. Gore had such an advantage there, it should have been an easy victory. To use an analogy, one could argue that a bad close call by the refs cost the Dems the game. However one should really think about the Democratic fumbles and the touchdown passes thrown by the Republicans in the first 59 minutes of the game. Even if a bad call was the turning point, it is a mistake to focus on the call. Bush is a good politician. He has something that Clinton has and that Gore and Bush Sr. don't: the ability to connect with ordinary folks. Why does he need to be a brilliant political strategist, if he can get one to work for him? Indeed, the president of the United States doesn't have to be overwhelmingly bright. He can have a very bright staff. What he needs is the ability to manage and lead the folks on his team, and to be able to work with the opposition. Feynman would not have been the ideal president. The other thing that he seems to have going for him is that he doesn't have any apparent self destructive tendencies. As such, he is a worthy opponent for the Democrats, and they would do well accept that reality. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
