Former Schroder Spokesman Questions Bush's Intelligence

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  1. Stacie L profile image89
    Stacie Lposted 13 years ago

    US President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder in the Berlin Chancellery in May 2002.
    http://www.spiegel.de/images/image-150385-galleryV9-cjpa.jpg
    Already having been branded a liar by former Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, ex-US President George W. Bush's intelligence has now been questioned by Schroder's former spokesman. Uwe-Karsten Heye said on Wednesday that Bush "had no idea about what was going on in the world."

    Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder is hardly a popular figure in Germany these days. His own party, the Social Democrats, has distanced itself from the reforms he made to the country's welfare system. And his decision to take a post-Chancellery job with a company owned by the Russian state-owned fossil fuels firm Gazprom has been widely criticized.

    This week, however, he seems to have nothing but friends. Ever since former US President George W. Bush's memoir hit the bookshelves, former German government officials have joined Schroder in questioning the veracity of Bush's portrayal of Germany's position in the run-up to the Iraq invasion.

    Indeed, one official, Schroder's former spokesman, has even gone so far as to question Bush's intelligence.

    "We noticed that the intellectual level of the (US president) was exceedingly limited," Uwe-Karsten Heye, Schroder's former government spokesman, told the television news station N24 on Wednesday in reference to Bush. "As such, it was difficult for us to communicate with him."
    http://www.spiegel.de/international/wor … 82,00.html
    a lot of people question his intelligence   roll

    1. LillyGrillzit profile image79
      LillyGrillzitposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      What a shocker!

    2. William R. Wilson profile image60
      William R. Wilsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this
    3. tony0724 profile image59
      tony0724posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      And all of Asia Europe and most of America questions Obama's intelligence

      1. Doug Hughes profile image61
        Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        The facts suggest otherwise. Unless you have a factual recent poll?

        "The Pew Global Attitudes poll found that a majority of individuals in 16 of the 21 countries surveyed feel confident in Obama as an international leader. Ten of these countries, in fact, express a higher confidence in the president than America does (at 65%). Obama’s popularity remains high in Europe, especially in Germany (where he enjoys a 90% confidence rating), France (87%), and Great Britain (84%).

        That said, confidence in Obama fell in Asian countries. Still, more than seven in 10 in Japan (76%), South Korea (75%), and India (73%) approve of the president and his actions. Even in China, a slim majority of the population (52%) has confidence in the American president. Global support for Obama’s foreign policies is not as widespread as it was when he first took office in 2009, but still remains favorable in most countries."

        June 17, 2010 from NBC
        http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20 … n-at-home-

        1. tony0724 profile image59
          tony0724posted 13 years agoin reply to this
          1. Doug Hughes profile image61
            Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            So you are quoting a conservative editorial opposed to Obama  running in 2012.  Obama is not popular with conservatives.  This is news?

  2. habee profile image92
    habeeposted 13 years ago

    Bush had higher SAT scores than Clinton. Did you see him on Oprah? He was really funny, and he wouldn't say anything negative about Obama, which I found refreshing. His popularity is improving since he left office!

    1. Ralph Deeds profile image65
      Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      "Bush had higher SAT scores than Clinton."

      I don't believe that's true. Clinton would never have been admitted to Yale Law School. Bush was admitted to Yale and Harvard because his grand father and father went there and their political and New England social prominence. Clinton had nothing going for him other than his high intelligence, ambition and social skills.

      1. Uninvited Writer profile image80
        Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        It's possible, Bush had a private school education, Clinton did not.  However, I don't believe the SAT is a definition of intelligence; not everyone does well on tests.

        As I said in the other thread, it's what you do after that counts.

        1. Ralph Deeds profile image65
          Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Agreed. Character is much more important than intelligence. Bush was deficient on both counts.

  3. Aficionada profile image79
    Aficionadaposted 13 years ago

    Just something that I read years ago:  one commenter said that Bush actually is far more intelligent than the persona he has projected through the years.  He started "dumbing down" his communication style when he realized that voters were turned off by more intelligent modes of speech.  The article that I read gave examples of phrases that he had used before and after making that change.  The purpose, apparently, was exactly what niall.tubbs mentions - to identify with the "common people." 

    Well, I guess it worked.  He definitely did create an image that many people perceive to be unintelligent.  But I do realize it is not only his phraseology and malapropisms that have given that impression.  ETA:  Many people will evaluate a person's intelligence based on whether or not the evaluator agrees with the person.

    1. habee profile image92
      habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I read that, too, Aficianada. And how did he get that Texas accent?? I wonder if that was exaggerated, also. The guy graduated from Harvard and Yale.

      1. profile image0
        PrettyPantherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Yeah, and that ridiculous swagger.  I believe he was a phony who was in way over his head.

        1. Aficionada profile image79
          Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Aren't most Presidents?

          I would love to find one who fits the qualifications you listed in your post prior to this one.  There are such people in the world, I know.  But even they, I believe - at least many/most of them - have their own degree of hypocrisy and phoniness.  All of us are human.  We expect more from leaders in every field, but they are human too.

          1. profile image0
            PrettyPantherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I actually don't think it should be that hard to find people who meet those criteria.  However, if we care more about a potential leader's ability to appear to be a "regular guy" more than we care about their intellect, education, knowledge, and temperament, then we're not setting our standards very high, are we?

            1. profile image56
              niall.tubbsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              Deleted

              1. profile image0
                PrettyPantherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                "Man of the people"  He fooled enough people to get elected.

                http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z205/JekyllnHyde_photos/October%2031st%202010/PlantB20101110_low.jpg

  4. Evan G Rogers profile image60
    Evan G Rogersposted 13 years ago

    this is news?

    We've all been calling the guy a complete moron for ... a decade now?

    1. profile image56
      niall.tubbsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Deleted

      1. Evan G Rogers profile image60
        Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        I vote anarchy - Don't blame this on me!

  5. Mighty Mom profile image77
    Mighty Momposted 13 years ago

    And an updo!

  6. tony0724 profile image59
    tony0724posted 13 years ago
  7. salt profile image59
    saltposted 13 years ago

    intelligence, thats a big word!!!

 
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