Letters to the Editor
-
sorry...
Biographer Robert Draper explains that Bush has a surprising intellect but is incapable of curiosity and owning up to mistakes.
Sorry - if you lack curiosity and are not self-aware, you are not intelligent - bottom line. Enough of this garbage ... Bush has "scruffy charms" only if you believe having an emotionally and intellectually stunted 11 year old for US president is a good thing. Most of the country would disagree.
-
Do they look at this diiferently in Texas?
The way I was raised and educated, intellectual curiosity was encouraged and was a hall mark of learning. That was the basis of knowledge, you devoured information and learned from it. My religious training required that I own up to my mistakes, take resposibility for them and learn from them. That is my definition of maturity as well. Draper seems to be giving W a lot of latitude in this book. Way too much latitude.
-
Surprising Intellect?
I have never been in the presence of the king, but I have seen plenty of video. I have a hard time believing that Bush could complete a serious job interview, let alone honestly compete for the presidency. Bush comes across as simple and inarticulate, obviously a tool for other interests.
I might read this book (some day) but based on the interview I imagine w/some time this will turn out to be amazingly wrong.
-
Mr. Draper mistakes experience and charm for intellect...
Let us just re-examine the statement made: Bush has a 'surprising' (as compared to what?) intellect but is incapable of curiousity and owning up to mistakes. All I can say is: not a man I want in the position of President. In other words, not a very good defense.
But how can this man be defended? Good question.
-
Bush Derangement Syndrome
"The acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal people in reaction to the policies, the presidency—nay—the very existence of George W. Bush."
- Charles Krauthammer
As first described by conservative columnist and Psychiatrist Charles Krauthammer, Bush Derangement Syndrome (or BDS) is a loss of the capability for rational thought. This loss is often displayed over a period of hours, days or even months and years. The sufferer in all cases blames President George W. Bush for any and all types of disasters, human maladies, etc. despite abundant evidence of contrary causal effects. BDS is also manifested in many sufferers by a determination to label President Bush as the greatest single threat to democracy and freedom in the United States since the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts during the presidency of John Adams. Also, closely related, see Karl Rove Syndrome (KRS).
A person who refuses to remove the Kerry / Edwards bumper sticker from his / her car, believing that keeping such sticker will in some way alter the results of the 2004 election. This is the most common example of Bush Derangement Syndrome - especially in Blue states.
In close relation to the above example, a person who from time to time will comment that Al Gore was really elected in 2000 despite the fact that however anachronistic, the results of the Electoral College determines the result of presidential elections, not the results of the popular vote.
And in yet another related area, any person who insists that in 2000 that voter irregularity in Florida gave that state to Bush and /or in 2004 that voting machines in Ohio were tampered with by the RNC, again to throw the last, critical state over into the Red column.
-- Urban Dictionary
A person who resolutely insists that hurricane damage is controlled from the White House and is routinely directed towards areas of lower income / high minority population.
Persons who routinely use terms such as "dictator", "fascist", "monarchary" or "Generalissimo" when discussing George W. Bush.
Persons who never had any problem with former President Bill Clinton attending Sunday worship services with Bible in hand, but who see in George W. Bush the man who would be Grand Mufti of the USA.
-
Ludicrous
Did Draper ask Bush why he invaded Iraq? Or why he believes that more of the nation's wealth should be given to the super rich? Does Bush ever ponder what his life would be like if he had not been born into the power elite? Does he think that he would have become President in any case? I doubt that these questions were asked. Certainly they would not have been welcome. It is of course gratifying to learn that Bush is not actually stupid, but is merely incapable of admitting a mistake and has no curiosity. A cynic might say that the man is a pig-headed fool and that he is ludicrously unqualified for high office. But that would be to overlook his scruffy charm. Let us hope that this book, far from being a first draft of the history of the Bush administration, is consigned, deservedly, to the realm of gossip and hagiography.
-
I think Bush is likeable for Beltway people
While the author acknowledges that Bush is incurious, petulant, and insecure, he claims that Bush is "likeable" because "He doesn't really put on airs." I suppose that may be a distinguishing feature for those surrounded by a bunch of pretentious hacks in DC (and there are plenty), but for the rest of us, just because a guy isn't pretentious doesn't make him automatically likeable. I think Bush is being graded on a curve-- in a town of elitist pretentious jerks, Bush's "rich asshole fratboy" shtick is charming in comparison.
And too much is made of Bush's supposed "intelligence." Look, the man isn't that bright. Whether it comes from genetic incapacity or the fact that he has no interest in learning anything doesn't matter-- we can't look into a man's soul, we only know the results: he doesn't know much, doesn't think much, and doesn't learn much. How, precisely, this is different from stupidity isn't that important.
-
Libruls misunderestimate PRESIDENT George W. Bush ...
... at their political peril.
Nutroots foam at the mouth at the very mention of PRESIDENT George W. Bush's name.
-
Hitlery, you forgot something
the childrunnnn and "terists" and the Baby Jesus.
-
Hitlery
just change the Chimp's name in your cute little post with Clinton's. There, are you foaming at the mouth now? Are you secretly aroused? Do you have carnal thoughts about Slick Willie and Charles Krauthammer making a sandwich with you in the middle?