Blair: Bush is 'highly intelligent'

[Al B. Sure!]

Gore had 1355? i took the test once and beat him and that's with being in the philly public school system...

you know what... i really think that my boys here in philly should be running the country; not these rich crackers... anyone who can stay straight here is beyond presidential material


thanks

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Drogue, the smartest, smartest people usually aren't the best leaders. In fact, a lot of them are very introverted and the rest don't want to be bothered by the BS of politics (and thus can't really navigate it).

True, but I would have thought being pretty clever was a pre-requisite. I mean there must be enough really really clever people who want to be President, and who have all the other necessary skills, so you don't have to choose one who has the necessary skills, but not the brain-power.

I would admire Bush's courage, but that isn't something I admire much. Like blind patriotism. I'll never forget this small lady on a British program about America in Iraq, who said she had no idea about it, but she follows her President 100%

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, cleverness is a pre-requisite... but I think Bush is pretty damned clever.

Of course, the most clever people end up behind the scenes, because they are unelectable for one reason or another.

[orange]

He went to Yale and Harvard Business School. What have all these other geniuses done to be able to all him a "moron" (the current epithet of the day)?

If my Daddy was a former president and a Yale alumnus, I could manage a C- average at there too.

[GePap]

Next we will have people claiming Bush can jump skyscrappers and the sort. There is this Cult of Personality around him, like with Reagan, which is absurd. My bet is, in 20 years, we will hardly be getting "the writings of Bush II" of a quality anywhere near those of Reagan.

People should be recognized for thier strenghts, but their weaknesses have to be understood as well. Bush is a man of conviction and determination. Once he decided on somehting, he will push it relentlessly. That is a important value for a leader. Bush is not a genius, nor is he well above normal intelliegence, and he shows very little intelelctualism or intellectual curiosity. Now, it is fair to say determination and conviction are more important than being brilliant for a leader- but do not confuse the two for they are not the same.

[SlowwHand]

So far he's allowed military leaders to make miltary decisions.
Made for well-run operations that were quickly over.

What a dope Bush is.

[Drogue]

However he's also given a controvertial tax break to the rich, among many other policies. He may have been good over Iraq, but I think GePap was not just refering to Iraq (although I could be wrong )

[Al B. Sure!]

what is with this idea that people have that if somebody is of a different idealogy than you then automatically they are stupid?

[SlowwHand]

He's going to have to step aside all the more, and seek advice from domestic advisors; this I will certainly admit.

GePap's true point is that even a blind squirrel finds a nut on occasion.
A blast with a shotgun is bound to hit something.

[Al B. Sure!]

one thing that i do find odd about the Bush/Blair relationship is that there seems to be no conflict between the Republican Bush and the Labour Blair...

[TCO]

Originally posted by Drogue
However he's also given a controvertial tax break to the rich, among many other policies. He may have been good over Iraq, but I think GePap was not just refering to Iraq (although I could be wrong )

Taxes will still be progressive. They will just be less progressive. There is plenty of economic research to show the benefits of cutting taxes AT THE MARGIN.

Anyway, there are smart people on both sides of this issue. At some point, it comes down to what your beleifs are in terms of amount of free marketism/amount of socialism.

And if taxes for the rich were 70% (at one time they were), you'd still have people saying that it is a
break" to lower them. Even if they were lowered to a rate higher than what we have currently.

Think about it...Einstein.

[Drogue]

Blair is not left wing though. With New Labour, it seems the Lib Dems are the only even slightly left party we had. I'm begining to think I'd rather have the Tories back, if it wasn't for them elected people like IDS as their leader. Blair and Bush, personally, seem to have a lot in common. The fact one wants slightly higher tax and better public services, and the other want's the opposite, probably wouldn't come up in Foreign Relations.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by GP
Anyway, there are smart people on both sides of this issue.

Exactly my point. That's why it's contravertial.

Originally posted by GP
Think about it...Einstein.

I think it was you that didn't get my point. I didn't say they were bad, I said they were controvertial

[Al B. Sure!]

is it a fair assessment to say that Labour is equivalent to the American Democratic party?

[SlowwHand]

You'll get all kinds of War of The Words asking that, Albert.