It's Foreign Policy, Stupid; Kerry Crowd Underestimates Bush

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Byline: Suzanne Fields, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Fear and loathing of President Bush was the dish of the day, served piping hot (with a side serving of contempt) to the Democrats assembled in Boston's FleetCenter. They unanimously agreed that he's not smart enough to be president.

This belief in his lack of smarts has captured a large following, similar to the conventional liberal wisdom that dogged Ronald Reagan across his eight years in Washington. The notion of Ronald Reagan as a simpleton, with a worldview gleaned from fortune cookies, was discarded by his detractors in the week of national mourning. Foe no less than friend joined in praise for the man whose presidency ended the Cold …