I just have a dif-fer-ent phil...uh...intelligence

Misunderestimating Bush's intelligence

Let me run this by you: The Democrats are right. Bush isn't all that smart, in the sense of quick verbal analysis and spouting the latest shibboleths of untrammeled progressive thought, or untrammeled heartless Liberal thought, for that matter. He doesn't take his bearings from the chattering classes. But that isn't why he drives liberals so crazy.

Bush is very secure emotionally, and very perceptive and adept emotionally. He also has a healthy sense of his own failings and righteousness. Since leftist rhetoric operates at the level of emotions, in particular through equivocation and imputing guilt, Bush is neither easily manipulated or nor easily distracted. You'd think they would acknowledge his "different intelligence", but how much power would that get them?

Reporter: Mr. President, the Democrats are charging that your tax cuts have gone mostly to the rich, while half the population languishes below the median income level.
Bush: Our tax cut--tax rate cuts--have gone to folks at all income levels, and the people at the lowest incomes received proportionally the biggest changes. The tax rate cuts have helped stimulate economic growth, providing more opportunities for people to lift themselves above the median. . . what did you say?

In other words, Bush is the Republicans' Bill Clinton, except he isn't a sociopath.