How so? How is it dumb to allow an opponent to assume a stance of victory due to false speculations of one's intelligence?
Bush has done this before, as did Reagan. It's commonly called a, "Rope-a-dope."
Why does Bush's podium seem to be taller than Kerry's?
Bush didn't perform poorly because of intelligence; he lost the debate because he wasn't prepared. Couple that with all the weird facial expressions (something Bush has never done before) and it leaves the impression that Bush just didn't care about this debate. That is NEVER a good image to leave in viewers' minds.
Bush has done this before, as did Reagan. It's commonly called a, "Rope-a-dope."
Neither Reagan nor Bush ever intentionally lost a debate; in fact, Bush has never lost a debate for any reason in his political life.
This was not strategery; it was bone-headedness.