That Dumbass Bush and the Intellectually Superior Kerry

[Gravitymaster 0]

Yale grades portray Kerry as a lackluster student
His 4-year average on par with Bush's
By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff | June 7, 2005

WASHINGTON -- During last year's presidential campaign, John F. Kerry was the candidate often portrayed as intellectual and complex, while George W. Bush was the populist who mangled his sentences.

But newly released records show that Bush and Kerry had a virtually identical grade average at Yale University four decades ago.

In 1999, The New Yorker published a transcript indicating that Bush had received a cumulative score of 77 for his first three years at Yale and a roughly similar average under a non-numerical rating system during his senior year.

Kerry, who graduated two years before Bush, got a cumulative 76 for his four years, according to a transcript that Kerry sent to the Navy when he was applying for officer training school. He received four D's in his freshman year out of 10 courses, but improved his average in later years.

The grade transcript, which Kerry has always declined to release, was included in his Navy record. During the campaign the Globe sought Kerry's naval records, but he refused to waive privacy restrictions for the full file. Late last month, Kerry gave the Navy permission to send the documents to the Globe.

Kerry appeared to be responding to critics who suspected that there might be damaging information in the file about his activities in Vietnam. The military and medical records, however, appear identical to what Kerry has already released. This marks the first time Kerry's grades have been publicly reported.

The transcript shows that Kerry's freshman-year average was 71. He scored a 61 in geology, a 63 and 68 in two history classes, and a 69 in political science. His top score was a 79, in another political science course. Another of his strongest efforts, a 77, came in French class.

Under Yale's grading system in effect at the time, grades between 90 and 100 equaled an A, 80-89 a B, 70-79 a C, 60 to 69 a D, and anything below that was a failing grade. In addition to Kerry's four D's in his freshman year, he received one D in his sophomore year. He did not fail any courses.

''I always told my Dad that D stood for distinction," Kerry said yesterday in a written response to questions, noting that he has previously acknowledged that he spent a lot of time learning to fly instead of focusing on his studies.

Kerry's weak grades came despite years of education at some of the world's most elite prep schools, ranging from Fessenden School in Massachusetts to St. Paul's School in New Hampshire.

It is noteworthy, however, that Kerry received a high honor at Yale despite his mediocre grades: He was chosen to deliver his senior class oration, a testament to his reputation as a public speaker. He delivered a speech questioning the wisdom of the Vietnam War, in which he would soon see combat.

Kerry gradually improved his grades, averaging 81 in his senior year. His highest single grade was an 89, for a political science class in his senior year. Despite his slow start, he went on to be a top student at Naval Candidate School, command a patrol boat in Vietnam, graduate from law school, and become a prosecutor, lieutenant governor, US senator, and presidential candidate.

In his Navy application, Kerry made clear that he spent much of his college time on extracurricular activities, including the Yale Political Union, the Debating Association, soccer, hockey, fencing, and membership in the elite Skull and Bones Society. Asked to describe nonschool training that qualified him for the Navy, Kerry wrote: ''A great deal of sailing -- ocean and otherwise, including some navigation. Scuba diving. Rifle. Beginning of life saving." He said his special interests were ''filming," writing, and politics, noting that the latter subject occupied 15 hours per week.

Gaddis Smith, a retired Yale history professor who taught both Kerry and Bush, said in a telephone interview that he vividly remembers Kerry as a student during the 1964-1965 school year, when Kerry would have been a junior. However, Smith said he doesn't have a specific memory about Bush.

Based on what Smith recalls teaching that year, Kerry scored a 71 and 79 in two of Smith's courses. When Smith was told those scores, he responded: ''Uh, oh. I thought he was good student. Those aren't very good grades." To put the grades in perspective, Smith said that he had a well-earned reputation for being tough, and noted that such grades would probably be about 10 points higher in a similar class today because of the impact of what he called ''grade inflation."

Bush went to Yale from 1964 to 1968; his highest grades were 88s in anthropology, history, and philosophy, according to The New Yorker article. He received one D in his four years, a 69 in astronomy. Bush has said he was a C student.

Like Kerry, Bush reportedly suffered through a difficult freshman year and then pulled his grades up.

[quade 4]

Still being distracted by the election?

How's the whole "let's invade Iraq" thing working out?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 3,114]

I hear that he was gay, too. And he liked jews. And his father couldn't beat up _anyone's_ father.

[Ron 10]

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I hear that he was gay, too. And he liked jews. And his father couldn't beat up _anyone's_ father

OH come one.

It is a little dated, but how many times have you heard that Kerry was smart and Bush was dumb as a reason to vote for Kerry?

Several on here said that EXACT thing.

I find it funny even if its not current.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[tcnelson 1]

don't worry Ron; it's just the usual reaction one would expect here in SC right?

"Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch
NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329

[kelpdiver 2]

Bush has deliberately dumbed down a bit as part of his populist appeal, to contrast with people like Gore and Kerry. Under that dumb look is someone of decent intelligence. Qualye wasn't nearly as dumb as he sounded either.

College grades are a poor indicator of intelligence, or wisdom.

[kallend 2,147]

Bush won - get over it.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[narcimund 0]

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College grades are a poor indicator of intelligence, or wisdom.

Popular votes are similarly a poor indicator of fitness for a job. And the results of elections are a mediocre indicator of popular votes.

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"The rabblement hooted" -- Shakespeare

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[Ron 10]

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And the results of elections are a mediocre indicator of popular votes.

Better than letting some activist judge do what he wants to please a small group.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Vallerina 2]

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Bush won - get over it.

I love you, John!

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Nightingale 0]

What someone did decades ago is generally a poor indicator of who they are now. Goes for Bush and Kerry alike.

Grades are also a poor indicator of intelligence, since there are so many other factors, such as extracurriculars and boredom or just not liking school.

When I was in junior high, I had barely a C average. When I was working on my master's, I had a 4.0. The difference wasn't in my intelligence, but in my interest in the subject. In junior high, I was bored out of my mind with school and extremely busy with karate, so I didn't do homework. Straight As on tests and straight Fs on homework equalled a C average. In grad school, I enjoyed what I was doing, and there was no busy work, so naturally, my grades were a lot better.

So, I don't put much weight on anyone's GPA, especially one from decades ago. It just isn't relevant now.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Still being distracted by the election?

How's the whole "let's invade Iraq" thing working out?

Nope, just laughing at how you Dems were duped by Kerry. Sometimes old humor is the funniest.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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I hear that he was gay, too. And he liked jews. And his father couldn't beat up _anyone's_ father.

Your response is all rumors and innuendo. The facts speak for themselves.

[ViperPilot 0]

The Dems would have voted for a rock or a shoe. They don't care who was in office, as long as it wasn't Bush. It's just sad that American political thinking has come to that. They're only screaming about Gitmo b/c they want to hurt Bush, nevermind if it actually helps the terrorists. It's about time this country starts considering what's best for us and not what's best for a sidetracked political agenda.

[kelpdiver 2]

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The Dems would have voted for a rock or a shoe.

Whereas the Republicans voted for a shrub.

[ltdiver 3]

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The Dems would have voted for a rock or a shoe.

Whereas the Republicans voted for a shrub.

Laughing out loud! That's the funniest thing I've heard all day. Thanks!

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[rushmc 23]

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Still being distracted by the election?

How's the whole "let's invade Iraq" thing working out?

Just like Bush said it would...........

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Just like Bush said it would......

In which version?

[billvon 3,114]

>Your response is all rumors and innuendo.

Dude, it was a joke!

I swear, someone could post "Bush is ugly and his mamma dresses him funny" and some conservative here would reply:

"Typical liberal america-hater. The facts are that Bush's mother once won a Best Dressed First Lady award, and that Bush has been objectively judged by the People who Love Conservative Presidents Council to be in the top 10% of appearance of all presidents. But don't let facts interrupt your little Bush-hating fantasies!"

[Gravitymaster 0]

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>Your response is all rumors and innuendo.

Dude, it was a joke!

I swear, someone could post "Bush is ugly and his mamma dresses him funny" and some conservative here would reply:

"Typical liberal america-hater. The facts are that Bush's mother once won a Best Dressed First Lady award, and that Bush has been objectively judged by the People who Love Conservative Presidents Council to be in the top 10% of appearance of all presidents. But don't let facts interrupt your little Bush-hating fantasies!"

Hmmmm.... seemed like ridicule. Sorry, hard to tell sometimes when you are kidding and being serious.

[ViperPilot 0]

"Whereas the Republicans voted for a shrub", how original, bravo. Hopefully you understood what I was saying and just joking around

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[kelpdiver 2]

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"Whereas the Republicans voted for a shrub", how original, bravo. Hopefully you understood what I was saying and just joking around

I was just as serious as you were.

In 2000, the republican voters were so desperate to get rid of Clinton/Gore that they quickly bandwagoned onto Bush's son, the man with the name and the money. They would have gone for McBain if he looked to be the best shot at winning.