[TheConservator]

Bush is not the first president to present this kind of self-effacing image. Eisenhower also beguiled his adversaries by pretending to not be as smart as he really was. He was also a delegator, like Bush. And he was a much more effective president than commonly credited.

Has anyone ever asked Bush about this similarity, and whether he is conciously modelling himself after Ike?

[Draco]

Ike was the greatest military mind of this century, and maybe longer. Of course the British PM at the time thought he was vapid and incapable of "higher thinking." As the French say, the more things change . . .

[cactmh]

I think GW is modeling himself after himself. He is who he is, which is why people like him. He is comfortable in his skin. The contrast with Billy Jeff just makes him look that much better.