Among public figures, Tom, and especially among politicians, one kind of intelligence is prized above all others: rhetorical intelligence. The ability to communicate with a broad range of people.

Neither Bush has it. Dan Quayle doesn't have it.

Gore doesn't have it either, though he does know how a sentence is put together. If he had it, he'd be President. Given the choice between two men who couldn't communicate their way out of a wet paper bag (even though Gore can talk a blue streak, the words hang in the air and go noplace), the people went half for the idea guy and half for the guy they'd rather have over for steaks and brewskis.

Bush's legendary string of grammatical blunders doesn't speak too well of the efficacy of private education vs. public education, either. Phillips Academy should have been able to drill subject/predicate agreement into his head -- that is, if it's always the school's job regardless of the student's abilities and application.

Regards--
Mary Anne