George W. Bush has proven repeatedly that possessing mediocre intelligence is insufficient for serving as President. I'm not suggesting that Obama is the answer, but is McCain who graduated fifth from the bottom of his class the best answer?
Best regards,
Jay
Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net
Jay - do you know why McCain graduated 5th from the bottom? Has not much relationship with ability.
Thanks for the invitation
No correlation between grades and ability? If you had a heart problem and were given the choice between a cardiologist who finished near the top of the class or one who finished fifth from last, who would you choose?
Well i can tell we are in the full swing of the political race.
Jay, I have to tell you that grades in school doesn't have much to do with accomplishment. Unfortunately, I don't think much of McCain's ability. I also don't think much of Obama's ability. I am just not impressed with our choices. I want to choose the best of the best, not the least worst of the worst. When will I get that kind of choice?
"No correlation between grades and ability? If you had a heart problem and were given the choice between a cardiologist who finished near the top of the class or one who finished fifth from last, who would you choose?"
Why do doctors intern then? Based on their grades they should go right from the classroom to the operating room right? I'll take my chances with the c average guy who's done this procedure thousands of times successfully. Than the rookie doctor who finished top of his class. I'll take experience. Take a look back at Einstiens math grades. He probably wouldn't have qualified to teach math
That was in the Naval Academy. The fact that he even went there and graduated says a lot more than most of the so called educated people of this country.
More importantly, he survived the education he received at the Hanoi Hilton which most of the people I know would have not.
...and I am not even pro-McCain but I give respect where respect is due.
Jay - there is no point in asking whether the air is good when that is all there is to breath.
Thank you for the invitation to the group.
America has had some outstanding military and civilian leaders that graduated in the lower echelon of the military academy's. These are some of the most difficult institutions to even enter let alone graduate. Cheap shot pal.
Keith - Hey pal, there are no cheap shots when considering the leader of the free world. We're talking about the future our children and grandchildren. I will not be polite and ignore the fact that this man graduated lower than 893 other people in his class. Whether it's Harvard or the worst community college, the fact is he was less able than the vast majority of his classmates.
Pal, please tell us which outstanding military and civilian presidents graduated in the lower echelon... "W" was in the lower echelon, but I don't think we would have many people to say he is/was "outstanding" at anything worthwhile as President.
Jay, unlike some, I think there is some correllation between grades and ability - some. If he was an average student somewhere in the middle of the pack, that might work. But that was just squeaking through! Fortunately, my clients don't ask to see my college transcript! I graduated Magna Cum Difficulte.
that is certainly something to think about but we have had a really intelligent president and the economy tanked during his administration.
Larry, did you attend the Naval Academy? I sincerely agree with your statement about the "best of the best" and "cream of the crop." However, your statement that ANYBODY can attend a civilian school is inaccurate (perhaps, your Alma mater had non-existent admission standards) and your suggestion about no big parties at the Naval Academy is simply wrong.
The Washington Post printed article on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 titled "Reining In Academy Drinking". One paragraph stated: Aware of its problem, the Naval Academy started sending patrols onto Annapolis streets last fall to look for drunken midshipmen and conduct random Breathalyzer tests to ferret out underage drinkers. The academy has also launched ethics training that addresses the connections between drinking and sexual assault. Whether it is the Naval Academy, Harvard, Oral Roberts University, or GED school, most teenagers like to party.
Being a liberal or conservative does not indicate a person's intelligence. As far as being in the bottom 1/5 and not a liberal... Thomas Jefferson, Adam Smith, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln were all liberals and most people would say there were all fairly intelligent.
Bill Gates was a College Drop out, and look what became of him. Also I spent my tiime in the United States Marine Corps and had many friends unable to attend the Naval Accadamy because of it's very strict standards.
There are many examples through history of people of average performance in school (and below) who have exceeded their peers in life. As a former educator I have found that personal qualities such as motivation, drive, goal setting, interest, etc. are important in what a person does later in life. Most of those who have been successful have learned that it's not important how many times you get knocked down; but it is important how many times you get up. I don't support McCain in this election but I have to admire him for the level he has risen in his life and the things he has done. I don't believe he has the vision for America; at least his vision doesn't appear compatible with the direction we need to go.
Larry, Thomas, William and Jon - You all have valid points. However, we can always find anomalies and exceptions to any rule.
I would be surprised if any there is any measureable number of people who told their children or grandchildren "you're dropping out of college...great news", or an employer to say "you graduated in the bottom 00.6% of your graduating class...you're hired". Surely the American Dream isn't about dropping out of college or finishing any college behind 99.4% of your classmates.
It appears as though most people disagree with me on this issue. Whether you agree or disagree, I love reading and responding to your comments!
Best regards,
Jay
I agree, grade have nothing t do with accomplishment, but this is surely a good way to get comments...Our education system is laughing all the way to the bank as we set up a system of taking our money to supposely help us even get an interview. It's amazing,, we rely on HR departments to hire people to run companies and most of them can't get out of the rain and have no clue what a company needs. We have major problems for sure in our companies in this country. Knowing how to hire is one of them...
So Jay, did you go to College? and where were you in your Graduating Class???? The Naval Acadamy is similar to Stanford University.. hard to get in and hard to graduate from.
The Naval Academy is like a University. My father graduated from Stanford University and went into the Naval Academy. It was not easy even as a Stanford Grad! Katerina
The best entrepreneurs and some of the richest people and successful business people did not even finish high school! Albert Einstein was told he was a retard! Most of these great men and women would be diagnosed with ADD, Bi Polar and ADHD these days so they can fit in the box. I did not go to college but make more money than most college graduates. And I coach many others to gain the same success. Katerina
I think the personal accomplishments of John McCain trump his GPA and ranking at the Naval Academy. Maybe he is not the perfect answer but he is much better than the alternative. And God forbid something would happen to the country's first choice - who do you want in the 2nd position! I am sick of the personal attacks and I am looking forward to the debates. Who can spin the best or just maybe we might actually learn what they stand for!
Kathy Carson - RE/MAX 1st Olympic, Lynchburg, VA