George W Bush

[GrumpyPom]

Was George W Bush really as stupid as he came across on TV or was it down to media manipulation?

[R1Geezer]

well he had 2 degrees, one from Harvard and one from Yale. Yes I do think there was an element of media/left propaganda there.

[jake-the-peg]

He'd exagerate it a bit himself - it 's often an advantage to have people underestimate you but he did often have a problem with language

As for his Yale degree - although he characterised himself as an "average " student he only graduated in the top 85% of his class ( ie the bottom 15% )

It's interesting that despite this Harvard Business school accepted him to study there.

I doubt you'd get in there with that record now.

probably exagerated but he was certainly no intellectual

[Davethedog]

There is no doubt that if you have enough money in America you can get in anywhere.

George Bush Snr was/is a seriously rich man, today George Jnr would get into Harvard Business school, if Snr wanted him to.

This rise of the "stupids" isn't exclusivly for the Bush's or Republicans though :-)

USA = Money talks.

[VHG]

The is a film called "W" being shown on Sky at the moment about George W Bush (made by Oliver Stone).

While he did have a powerful father he was somewhat of a tearaway in his teens and early twenties: drinking, womanizing etc.

His father got him a few jobs (in the family oil business, in the "city" etc) but he failed at many of them.

Then he had a sort of "rebirth" and abandoned drink and worked his way up through the political ranks.

So he setled down later in life. He did not marry till he was 31 and did not run for any office till he was 32.

My guess is that he is not stupid, but a bit of a "plodder".

Very unlikely that he would have got to be president without his father also being President earlier (and lots of money backing him). It costs millions of dollars to become President in the USA.

President Obama's last campaign cost over 650 million dollars.

Money can buy you a lot in the USA.

[jake-the-peg]

Buys you a bit here

I think the Tories spent about £20 million or £3 per head of population as opposed to Obamas which would be about $2 per head of population!

[weecalf]

Maybe he thought a degree from yale would have made him a locksmith .

[jno]

I see Cambridge has been ranked as world's top university, beaing Harvard for the first time since 1353 or thereabouts.

Amazingly, our royal family seem to have no problem getting in there to study, though bright kids all over the country are rejected. So it's not just an American thing.

VHG, I think that's right: a late developer, once he gave up the drink (and allegedly worse). Americans like to elect as president a guy they think they'd could have a beer with. Brits prefer their leaders to be educated - especially at Eton. They get W, we get Cameron. Which will actually prove to have run his country better, I wonder?

[VHG]

>I think the Tories spent about £20 million or £3 per head of population

I think you may be a decimal point out.

UK population about 60 million. £3 a head comes to about £180 million.

Should it not be about 33p per head of the population ?

[Davethedog]

JNO - I think that we would like to elect someone we feel we could have a drink with, but we never get the chance.

[jno]

neither do Americans, Dave. But do you think anyone ever fancied a drink with Maggie? Maybe some did, but she was never on my G&T list.

[jake-the-peg]

Duh!

Not enough coffee yet!

Still that is only 1/4 the Obama spend - we're catching up.

It is a worrying trend

[youngmafbog]

Cracking bit of spin there Jake.

[joko]

he seemed to stumble over words...perhaps because he was 'on the spot'...?

and his other problem seemed to be appropriateness...he often would respond to news etc in an odd way...probably again because he was 'on the spot'...

doesnt make him stupid exactly ...but certainly not charismatic leadership qualities

i am sure lots of peoples initial reaction to things isnt 'right' ... sometimes things just need a moment to sink in...