Is Bush the least intelligent President ever?

[SeveneightyWhoa]

As the creator of this poll, I'd like to be as impartial as possible.

But, if you know of any past President that has been less intelligent than George W. Bush, please provide his name. Thank ye.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. His performance today points to low IQ or damaged brain cells

from alcohol abuse. My 3-year old niece is more articulate, and my six-year old nephew has a bigger vocabulary.

[onebigbadwulf]

6. Performance today what?

???????

[WillyBrandt]

2. Calvin Coolidge? No, he was semi-witty...

I can't think of any stupider or less-talented President

[Doctor_J]

3. RWR was nerely as incoherent

but it was because of Alzheimer's. * is astoundingly ignorant.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Warren G. Harding and Zachery Taylor

Neither are considered to have been very bright. I'm not saying either made Bush look like a rocket scientist, but they are possible candidates.

[vanityfair]

5. This is really a moot question.

Of course he is. How can there be any doubt?

[0rganism]

7. He's the only president I know of who TAKES PRIDE in his ignorance

Someone else mentioned Harding and Taylor as potential candidates. Although I haven't looked closely at their records, I don't recall the sheer contempt for knowledge being such an asset during their terms. Reagan, well, he wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree, but he knew how to act presidential and read his lines without bumbling.

[wabeewoman]

8. After watching meet the press....

I'd have to say YES! Most definately the least intelligent in my lifetime. By a mile...

[0007]

20. I agree!

[acmavm]

9. You have to ask?

Hands down, not even smart enough to be dog catcher.

[teach1st]

10. There are many types of intelligence....

...Bush has none.

I might have picked Millard Fillmore, but he was smart enough to marry his teacher, and, besides, he refused to join the Republican party.

Harding ("Less government in business and more business in government.") was smart enough to avoid scandal involvement with a fatal heart attack.

[UTUSN]

11. Need a Category for "Sucks" n/t

[maggrwaggr]

12. I believe Reagan was actually stoopider

Reagan was a complete idiot.

Did you ever see him in a press conference? Even though I despised him, I would feel embarrassed for him. He was so incredibly clueless and bumbling. Without a script he was like a three-year-old.

Bush is almost as dumb. I think Bush is more evil. I think Reagan honestly believed his own bullshit and was used by those around him, but Bush knows he's full of shit.

[PeanutOne]

17. But Reagan actually had some verbal skills

And Reagan's sense of humor wasn't stuck at the middle school bully stage. Of course if you're comparng them today, Bush could probably outsmart Reagan in a contest of intelligence... maybe.

[VOX]

18. Right. Reagan could sort of -- sort of -- act.

But the current rube?

Pitiful.

[renegade000]

13. well...definitely out of the presidents from the last 100 years

[opihimoimoi]

14. Ignorant, inept, and insolent..... Damn

[OneBlueSky]

15. not having seen them all in action, it's hard to say . . .

but I'm pretty confident he's in the bottom 10% . . .

[flaminbats]

16. another reason for faith-based politics, we can only vote&prey that he is!

:scared: :nuke: :scared:

[WoodrowFan]

19. Harding... no contest (NT)

[BonjourUSA]

21. Actually, he is !

It's a worldwide feeling... Excepted in the USA ?

But perhaps some dumbs will be elected again as long as the majority of American voters think that the brainpower isn't the best criterion for being an US president ;-)

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. The majority of American voters didn't vote for Idiot boy

:eyes:

[THUNDER HANDS]

22. not only is he stupid

He has the unfortunate timing of following possibly the MOST intelligent president of all time.

[Lindsey]

24. Good point - Yes, he is the most stupid

and yes, he followed the most brilliant presdent we've ever had. I mean really, why would you admit that you don't read the newspaper??????????? What an idiot!

[KharmaTrain]

25. William Henry Harrison

The darn fool wasn't smart enough to wear proper clothing to his inaugural, caught cold and died.

[skippysmom]

26. yes

at least in my recollection. He has no clue what's going on, if the MTP interview is any guide. Reagan was much better at faking it.

The man is dumb as dirt, and doesn't really care to know anything about the world around him.

[11 Bravo]

27. I've seen a few other names bandied about,

but I'm pretty all of them were possessed of sufficient intellect to avoid being taken down by a pretzel.

[FatSlob]

28. Warren G. Harding and Millard Fillmore

are my top two dumb-asses.

[arwalden]

29. Uninformed, Uncurious, Unread, Undiciplined, Unintelligent.

[Cat Atomic]

30. I think he may the least intelligent *politician* ever.

He even beats Quayle.

[Aristus]

31. I used to think that Harding was the least intelligent, but I remember

reading about Harding's bumbling on the job. He recounted how difficult it was to sort through the complexities of the office and wailed "God, what a job!"

So, he was at least smart enough to know he wasn't smart enough. And that greater intelligence and a grasp of the details would have made him a better President. (Greater judge of character would have been a bonus, too.)

* is dumb. Anti-intellectual, and proud of it. Intellectuals and policy-wonks are looked down upon as being 'elitist', instead of being valuable for good governance. No redeeming traits there.