Don't 'misunderestimate' Bush's verbal power - The New Dealer

George W. Bush has a stupidity problem. Democrats have a stupidity fixation. Bush doesn't need to worry. Democrats, though, need to do something soon.

Recently, a friend of mine and I were reliving the "Bush's greatest hits," relishing in the inanity of Bush's promise not to let "terriers" hold this nation "hostile." Many other documented slips exist, especially since being elected president. Search the web for "Bushisms" and one gets dozens of pages illuminating Bush's C-average intellect far better than any self-deprecation on his part could.

And then my friend and I lean back, angry that the rest of the nation won't listen to us. We think, if only they would open their eyes, they would see the man's stupidity.

That's not going to happen, though, because too many Americans don't care about Bush's intelligence. The President may be stupid, but he doesn't act it.

Bush proposed tax cuts in 2001 and he got them. Bush thundered that he would bring back high military spending and he has. Bush confronted Saddam Hussein over his weapons and now he has followed through.

Perhaps all of our cocktail party remarks and snickers at Bush's speech deficiencies have made us forget that Bush has a way of doing just what he says he will. The silly, little nuggets gleaned from speeches make us feel that we're smarter than the President, but it doesn't change the reality that he's pushing his agenda, and getting it through.

So if Democrats argue in 2004 that stupidity should disqualify Bush, they'll accomplish little. To beat Bush, Democrats need one of three things to happen. Calling Bush stupid affects none of them.

Attacking Bush's intelligence won't help convince Bush's faction to vote Democratic. Republican businessmen like Bush on principle, because he's one of them. Social conservatives love him. So do guys who drive around in pickup trucks with Confederate battle flag decals.

The political center doesn't want to hear the jokes anymore. They've accepted it and moved on. Allegations of stupidity have plagued Bush since the beginning of 1999, and haven't affected Bush's political situation in the slightest.

The only other source for new Democratic votes comes from the non-voting population. Calling Bush stupid just increases their cynicism and apathy. They'll laugh, but they won't vote.

The stupidity issue's lack of traction leaves educated liberals in a contradiction they cannot come to terms with: sounding stupid doesn't make someone unelectable, or even ineffective at leading.

Here at Hopkins, and across much of the world, we see education as a necessary qualification for public service. Bush presents the Bloomberg contradiction: How can a guy who spent his years getting C's and being drunk be an effective leader?

Often liberals explain Bush's successes as a triumph of advisors. Bush doesn't really lead, they say. That's Dick Cheney's job. Contradiction solved. Bush plays the role of a figurehead who reaches out to the masses but doesn't actually affect policy. The administration's effective leadership comes from the inside, not from the top.

But this view unfairly discounts Bush's very real and potent political skills. I don't question the fact that he's tongue-tied. But he's also got an ability to connect with people.

He's built a first-class team of advisors. He's managed to keep a White House that includes Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell from falling apart. They may disagree, but they're willing to bend to follow Bush.

Karl Rove may design political strategy, but Bush must make it happen. Bush holds the conservative coalition together. Almost half the nation votes for Bush on principle. That's no small achievement.

Don't confuse my admiration for the President's skills with agreement. He wants to unmake the New Deal and plunge us back into the laissez-faire system without a thought for the little person. Much of his compassion is a show. The dire consequences should Bush succeed scare me. Democrats who don't take the President seriously scare me even more.

It's fun to make jokes about the President's syllabobbles, and I readily play along whenever I get the chance. But two and a half years of experience should be enough to remind us that underestimating Bush is like playing with fire. You never know when you're going to get burned.

Raphael Schweber-Koren can be reached at raphaelsk@jhunewsletter.com.