It ain't just his public speaking. It's his short attention span, his gaffes, his poor perception, and his faulty analysis. You are right, he's not stupid, but he is sooo average--he's a self-described "C student". I give him a C-. We deserve a smarter President. You have it backwards. I've never maintained that Bush was "evil" or even insincere. I simply think that he is incompetent and not very bright.
Can YOU fly an F-104, Red? I'm guessing not. Not just any dummy can pilot a combat jet. This alone debunks your notion that he isn't very bright. Bush Derangement Syndrome. It is very real.
You do a lot of guessing, don't you? Bush flew an F-102, by the way. I notice you can't say "pilot a jet in combat". :grin:
The fact remains jet pilots are not dense people, no matter who your daddy is. People can assume Bush is a dumbass but it's just an assumption. Dumb and smart people make mistakes. Not agreeing with Bush policies enables his detractors to call him a dumbass. It's silly. Carter was a horrible president, and I can point to most things he has said/done since as something I firmly disagree with, but he is most assuredly not a dumbass.
With all the data I have to go on, I have come to the conclusion that Bush was an inadequate president. His skills at public speaking, one key aspect of the job, are subpar. I believe the clout of his father has played a large role in his career.
On the other hand Bush, on a personal level is a likeable fellow. He is not without PR skills and has an approachable, easy-going charm. A lot of people vote for folks they like. My moms group of gray-haired ladies always voted for who they considered to be a "nice young man", and it was Clinton twice and Bush twice. Politics be damned. Who will get the "nice young man" vote this year, Obama or McCain? :wink:
