The more relevant question, especially in the context of startup success, is whether George W. Bush is wiser, more forward-thinking, or oriented toward better goals than you. Intelligence is only useful when you're directing it toward the right tasks and your end goals are genuinely beneficial.
George W. Bush is smarter than you
21–30 of 82 posts
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#22"President Bush intentionally aimed his public image at average Americans rather than at Cambridge or Upper East Side elites."
I suspect the experiences, and attendant political lessons, of George Bush Sr. had a direct influence on the way George Bush Jr. presented himself.
Bush I was often criticized as intellectual, elitist, nerdy, aloof, and "Ivy League." He was trounced in his reelection campaign by Bill Clinton, the ultimate charismatic -- a brilliant guy who was adept at hiding his formidable intellect behind a folksy manner and a slow, Southern drawl.
Bush II took great pains to present himself as a man of the people, a Texan (he was born in Connecticut), and a guy's guy. Whether this was a reflection of his true character, or a political affectation, doesn't really matter; the distinction has been lost to the sands of time. It's probably some combination of the two. (Affectations, carried out over the long haul, have a tendency to shape actual character).
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#23The more relevant question, especially in the context of startup success, is whether George W. Bush is wiser, more forward-thinking, or oriented toward better goals than you. Intelligence is only useful when you're directing it toward the right tasks and your end goals are genuinely beneficial.
what is a "better" goal. The whole point of the article is that things are not black or white - and what you consider right and beneficial may not be the same for someone else :)
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why was it killed?
degrades to political debate. The content doesn't really lend itself to much interesting startup commentary.
On the contrary, I think randall, commenting previously, highlighted perfectly well how it relates to startup commentary. HN is very much about accelerated startups and investor attraction I think, but there are those who also want to work differently.
I've had debates with friends and associates on exactly that topic in the past, about whether or not it's smarter to inject money, or just run your business.
There was definitely the intellectual argument that came up. Equating a difference of values to a difference of intelligence or wisdom is a hallmark of the inexperienced. In my opinion, those who do so invite themselves to peril.
Edit (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5605014) for context
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#25Who ever said he wasn't smart? This fad was created by comedians such as Letterman and bares absolutely no truth.
I think a lot of people said "he isn't very smart" when what they meant was "he isn't very stately". And his public persona wasn't.
His verbal gaffes are well known, even if they are overblown by the press. He sometimes spoke with a drawl. He was prone to making facial expressions that looked like confusion, even when that probably wasn't the cause. He embraced the whole Texas cattle rancher/farmer image with the cowboy hats. I think his sense of humor seemed a little pedestrian to some.
None of things really have much to do with intelligence other than it's not typically how we envision intelligent people.
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#26When George W. Bush was governor, he spoke at my sister's high school graduation (http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/president-bush). His public persona changed significantly from Governor to President, and he definitely played up the everyman persona during his presidency.
While this may have polled well, these type of false personas should have no place in politics. The President is not an actor playing a role -- we should demand candidates whom are genuine and present their true self so we know who we're voting for.
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#27> There is a bias in much of the mainstream press and commentariat that people from outside of NY-BOS-WAS-CHI-SEA-SF-LA are less intelligent, or at least well educated. Many public commenters harbor an anti-Texas (and anti-Southern, and anti-Midwestern) intellectual bias. They mistakenly treat John Kerry as smarter than George Bush because John Kerry talks like an Ivy League professor while George Bush talks like a T…
Bush was born and raised in CT an hour outside of NYC. The image of him being a Texan was cultivated in the same way as much of his persona.
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#28Even if this were true, pretending to be stupid with the goal of getting elected is far worse than actually being stupid.
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#29Politics aside, this is a good reminder on the importance of when confronted with an opposing viewpoint to consider "Why would a smart person think that?". They may in point of fact not be smart but it's too easy to use that as an excuse to stop thinking. Ever notice how hard it is to hear someone you respect say something you disagree with?
Re: George W. Bush is smarter than you
#30I have never met George W Bush so I can't say how smart he is. But you can look at his SAT scores (http://www.insidepolitics.org/heard/heard32300.html) before Yale, and his resume before he went to Harvard Business School.
Then ask: Could I have gotten in into Yale with that SAT? Could I have gotten into HBS with that resume?