Flashback: 1999 - Broder determines Bush is stupid:

[DesEtoiles]

Apropos of nothing:

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19991205&slug=2999460

Bush is brimming with self-confidence. Early in his first race for governor, when few gave him much of a chance against incumbent Democrat Ann Richards, he told me - and anyone else who would listen - "I am going to be governor of Texas." Now, he fully expects to follow his father to the White House.

But he does not intend to overextend himself in getting there. His rhetoric is modest. He may quote Pericles in a speech written by his advisers and carefully rehearsed beforehand, but on his own, he makes no effort to impress anyone. When asked in the debate about his reading habits, he mentioned four daily papers (from which he said he didn't learn much), one biography - and stopped.

The implicit question - Is that all there is? - applies to every dimension of Bush. His experience consists of six successful years, in prosperous times, as head of a state government where the power of the governor is constitutionally circumscribed. His agenda in Texas has been carefully chosen - and constrained. His single boldest proposal - a basic overhaul of the tax system to harness the revenues of the growing service sector - failed once in the Legislature, and was never revived by Bush.

His mind is adequate, but not subtle or particularly agile. He has offered a limited menu of ideas in this campaign.

[book_worm]

1. not exactly, he says his mind "is adequate", it's hardly a glowing endorsment of brilliance

but it's not exactly saying he is stupid. But of course he couldn't just come out and say it in those words.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. At the time of his emergence it was clear that it spelled trouble.

Having lived thorough the old man, it was easy to predict his egging on of a recession as an excuse for tax relief for the rich, a renewed push for star wars, and some kind of a war.
We got all three in spades.