Do we underestimate Bush?

[BurtWorm]

Poll question: Do we underestimate Bush?

[Frodo]

1. I believe it's "MISunderestimated"

And, yes - we do. His previous opponents have made that clear.

[BurtWorm]

3. "Misunderestimated" is a bullshit term, I think, (besides being idiotic)

meant to suggest he's a crafty dumb bastard. It's Rove's way of pretending there's more there, there than meets the eye. There's no doubt about it that Bush is a dolt. You can't underestimate him as an intelligence or human being because he's as bottom-feeding as you get on both those scores. As a political force, it's a different question. You have to take into account not just the Bush boy but his "court," his connections, etc.

[rucky]

2. #4 is an good analysis

Bush is alot of things... one of them is a survivor. he has amazing survival instincts, so you can never underestimate him.

[BurtWorm]

4. I'm not sure he does have those survival instincts.

What evidence is there of that? That he stole the WH? He survived the threat of having Florida counted? I don't think there's much evidence Bush could survive long if he didn't have his bubble to protect him.

[rucky]

5. the evidence is that he's not being run out of town with torches &...

pitchforks.

the thing that constantly amazes me is that he can keep using up all of his bubble points & people are still willing to give the oaf one more chance. by not giving him credit for that is an underestimation.

I can't even get away with taking another piece of cake out of the fridge.

[BurtWorm]

6. By convention, his term is not up until January 2005.

Most people feel we have no choice but to give him until then. I think. :shrug:

PS: I asked this question because I was thinking about Clinton in 1994, when his approval rating was rock bottom. He had a full two years to go until his reelection, of course, but I think he showed that for some extremely talented politicians, time is very malleable. One year is an eternity. One month can be half an eternity. I think some are expecting that Bush can turn his abysmal spring around. It's possible, I suppose, if Bush or his team is as talented as some make it out to be. I'm just not sure they're all that talented to dig themselves out of this mess.

[Bandit]

7. President Clinton said we underestimate Bush* at our Peril.

He said Bush* was far more savvy than he let's on.

[BurtWorm]

8. I sometimes think remarks like that are insurance.

It's never a risk to say someone is underestimated, because if they lose, no one remembers you said it because it doesn't matter, and if they win, your "assessment" sounds like prescience.

[Bandit]

9. I agree but that statement was made after the 2000 election.

:shrug:

[BurtWorm]

12. Well then it's even more useless as an opinion

with all due respect to Bill Clinton, whose opinions on politics and politicians I do tend to have great respect for.

[BurtWorm]

10. Kick, because I think the question is more relevant today than yesterday.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Bush Has Nothing To Do With Any Of This

He's an empty suit. The puppeteers are the problem, and he's just the dummy on their lap. And i used "dummy" intentionally.

He's an incurious buffoon who has never worked a day in his life and is a failure at everything he's ever done. The only thing that has pulled him from the fire are the connections he and his family have.
The Professor

[BurtWorm]

13. I totally agree. It's not Bush anyone has to worry about.

He's made very clear to me lately that he's beyond help. It's the web of connections one could easily underestimate.

[ProfessorGAC]

15. You're Right! We Totally Agree!

The "connections" are what got us into this mess. It is a form of "financial mafia" and they take no prisoners and maintain omerta. They are, indeed, dangerous.
The Professor

[indigobusiness]

14. This country let him take the reins once...

It might be idiotic enough to do it again.

I'd like to believe "fool me one...you can't get fooled again"--but I just don't.

[DaveSZ]

16. Yes we do

He seems like a bumbling idiot, and he may indeed be one, but he's still a tremendous politician.

He did beat Ann Richards.

[BurtWorm]

17. I don't buy that "Bush is a tremendous politician."

I buy that he has a formidable machine working for him. But I don't see any evidence of Bush's personal political skills. I don't think giving the press nicknames is very impressive as a political skill. It seems more in line with Bush's sense of imperial entitlement. He's an entitled narcissist with an incredible political machine working for him. He has one political skill worthy of the name, and that is the ability to say absolutely nothing and make it sound like a rock-solid American value. (This is Mark Crispin Miller's assessment, not mine, but I agree with him.)

[indigobusiness]

18. Which was a colossal tragedy...

fueled by the influx of yankees and westcoasters that didn't know Ann and were put off by her indomidable personality. They just didn't get it.
Plus, Texans, in droves, sold out a once proud State.