“...unlike a “stupid” former president that managed get flight certified in supersonic jets.”
I’ve never thought of W as stupid, just a lousy president. His brother (YEB?), though is a different matter.
I never thought of him as stupid, either. Then again, I have recognized that some people have an aptitude for math or other technical skills, but have a tough time with verbal arts. The person that has issues communicating may not be dumb, its just that they may be smart in a different way.
I put that under the same file as the “wimp” father of his that flew planes off of aircraft carriers in WW2, was shot down 3 times and refused a stateside training assignment every time it was offered. That “wimp”.
Of course, our objective journalists would never just label somebody with an undeserving pejorative for political purposes, now would they?