---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever one thinks of President George…"
description: "\"Whatever one thinks of President George W. Bush and his unilateralist crew, most of the people laughing at us do not think we are evil. What they think..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/richard-reeves-37144_bush_whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george_2836907.jpg"
---

#  Whatever one thinks of President George W. Bush and his…

![“Whatever one thinks of President George W. Bush and his unilateralist crew, most of the people laughing at us do not think we are evil. What they think is that we are naive and incompetent.” quote by Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/richard-reeves-37144_bush_whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george_2836907.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/richard-reeves-37144_bush_whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george_2836907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/richard-reeves-37144_bush_whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george_2836907.jpg)

> “Whatever one thinks of President George W. Bush and his unilateralist crew, most of the people laughing at us do not think we are evil. What they think is that we are naive and incompetent.”

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He notes that critics see a political leader as naive rather than evil, reflecting perceived incompetence.

**In simple terms:** Critics view the leader as incompetent, not malicious.

Key Takeaway

Address perceived incompetence.

Themes

politics perception leadership

Mood

analytical critical

Type

political psychological

When to use this quote

- elections
- policy debates
- media coverage

Key Concepts

public opinion competence assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence shows incompetence?
- How does perception shape policy?

A Different Perspective

Naiveté may be a symptom of deeper issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush/) [Bush Unilateralist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush-unilateralist-3697358/) [Crew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crew/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-think-363883/) [George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george/) [George bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-bush/) [George w](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/george-w/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Incompetent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incompetent/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Laughing Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing-think-2153225/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Naive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naive/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President george w bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-george-w-bush/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks/) [Thinks President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks-president-1722967/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Whatever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whatever/)

## Related quotes

> [Scaramucci said he wants to narrow the gap between what he thinks of the president and what he sees as the press' view of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-gonyea/scaramucci-said-he-wants-to-narrow-the-gap-between-what-he-thinks-of/)

[Don Gonyea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-gonyea/)

> [What do I know about Mitt Romney? I know that he's a self-serving egomaniac who puts himself first, who has a chip on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-collins/what-do-i-know-about-mitt-romney-i-know-that-he-s-a-self-serving/)

[Chris Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-collins/)

> [If he truly thinks he can be president, Donald Trump needs to understand that we need real solutions - not more walls and giveaways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-steyer/if-he-truly-thinks-he-can-be-president-donald-trump-needs-to/)

[Tom Steyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-steyer/)

> [One side thinks the president's request for war-making powers is too brazen and even reckless. The other side thinks it is too spineless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baker/one-side-thinks-the-president-s-request-for-war-making-powers-is-too/)

[Peter Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baker/)

> [You think your smart but I have u all worked out, u may think your funny but I'll be the one laughing, u may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-think-your-smart-but-i-have-u-all-worked-out-u-may-think-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I remember watching 'The Muppet Show' in the '70s. I was six or seven, and my dad watched it with me, and my grandparents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bobin/i-remember-watching-the-muppet-show-in-the-70s-i-was-six-or-seven-and/)

[James Bobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bobin/)

> [So I like switching it up. I like that people are laughing but they don't even know if they should be laughing. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-shepard/so-i-like-switching-it-up-i-like-that-people-are-laughing-but-they/)

[Richard Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-shepard/)

> [“feeling of when you think you can never stop laughing and you think if you don't stop, you'll burst in half and that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-paterson/feeling-of-when-you-think-you-can-never-stop-laughing-and-you-think/)

[Cecily Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecily-paterson/)

> [If I did live like there's no tomorrow I'd be in jail. Now your laughing because you think it's funny. I'm laughing because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-thomas/if-i-did-live-like-there-s-no-tomorrow-i-d-be-in-jail-now-your/)

[Iris Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-thomas/)

> [The important thing, I think, is not to be bitter. You know, if it turns out that there is a God, I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-important-thing-i-think-is-not-to-be-bitter-you-know-if-it-turns/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [“Future generations would be convinced that nothing good could ever have existed in a country that produced such evil. They would think only of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/future-generations-would-be-convinced-that-nothing-good-could-ever/)

[Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/)

> [“A child may ask, “What is the world’s story about?” And a grown man or woman may wonder, “What way will the world go?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-child-may-ask-what-is-the-world-s-story-about-and-a-grown-man-or/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [ You can choose who you want to be the hero \[in Hard Candy\], but youll be second-guessing yourself -- theres just no right answer.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/you-can-choose-who-you-want-to-be-the-hero-in-hard-candy-but-youll-be/)

[Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/)

> [I don't know if I've ever met anyone that's purely good or purely evil myself. I think most of us live with some varying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-sheridan/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-ever-met-anyone-that-s-purely-good-or-purely/)

[Taylor Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-sheridan/)

> [“Evil is not something instilled in a few unlucky persons by a malicious Lucifer. If we are to understand “evil” at all, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-flacco/evil-is-not-something-instilled-in-a-few-unlucky-persons-by-a/)

[Anthony Flacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-flacco/)

## More by Richard Reeves

> [The news in Europe, West and East, is still showing America in flames, flood, etc. Cities are shown underwater; befuddled American officials are shown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/the-news-in-europe-west-and-east-is-still-showing-america-in-flames/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [It is perfectly obvious that no one nor any single country can save the world from the horrors of tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and winged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/it-is-perfectly-obvious-that-no-one-nor-any-single-country-can-save/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [Most of those mocking us and our works night after night have not reached the point of suggesting we are going to use those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/most-of-those-mocking-us-and-our-works-night-after-night-have-not/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [Character is a word that seems to define almost all human activity and then some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/character-is-a-word-that-seems-to-define-almost-all-human-activity/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [Just think of me and I will be there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/just-think-of-me-and-i-will-be-there/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [A lot of history is just dirty politics cleaned up for the consumption of children and other innocents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/a-lot-of-history-is-just-dirty-politics-cleaned-up-for-the/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [After he was assassinated, his family and the men who had served him continued the lying and began the destruction, censoring and hiding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/after-he-was-assassinated-his-family-and-the-men-who-had-served-him/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [Kennedy lied and lied about his health while he was alive, even using his father's influence to get into the Navy without ever taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/kennedy-lied-and-lied-about-his-health-while-he-was-alive-even-using/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [“Two bright young men were on the air, one named Brad, who looked like Dana Carvey, and one named Mike, who looked like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/two-bright-young-men-were-on-the-air-one-named-brad-who-looked-like/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [Think of me, and I'll be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/think-of-me-and-i-ll-be-there/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

> [An intellectual is someone who avoids the mundane by lowering his handicap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/an-intellectual-is-someone-who-avoids-the-mundane-by-lowering-his/)

[Richard Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

[Explore all 12 Richard Reeves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/)

## More Bush quotes

> [President Bush is a friend of mine. He's not a moron at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chretien/president-bush-is-a-friend-of-mine-he-s-not-a-moron-at-all/)

[Jean Chretien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chretien/)

> [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/)

[Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/)

> [Obama's policies have been approximately the same as Bush's, though there have been some slight differences, but that's not a great surprise. The Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-s-policies-have-been-approximately-the-same-as-bush-s-though/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [This country was the moral leader of the world until George Bush became president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/this-country-was-the-moral-leader-of-the-world-until-george-bush/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [We're half an hour from Toronto, which offers everything you could want from a city, and a couple of hours from beautiful vacation country.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linwood-barclay/we-re-half-an-hour-from-toronto-which-offers-everything-you-could/)

[Linwood Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linwood-barclay/)

> [On election night 2000, I had never met then-Governor Bush, though I'd supported him for years. I believed he would be a strong, optimistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/on-election-night-2000-i-had-never-met-then-governor-bush-though-i-d/)

[Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/)

> [The president of the United States of North America, George W. Bush, the little gentleman of the North, the political cadaver that is visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/the-president-of-the-united-states-of-north-america-george-w-bush-the/)

[Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/)

> [Obama and the Democrats were so critical of what Bush did, the interrogations, the secret prisons, Guantanamo and all of that, and even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/obama-and-the-democrats-were-so-critical-of-what-bush-did-the/)

[Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/)

> [I remember when President Bush, George W. Bush, came into office, he focused on No Child Left Behind, and with - and before very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-alexander/i-remember-when-president-bush-george-w-bush-came-into-office-he/)

[Lamar Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-alexander/)

> [ If George Bush \[Jr.\] decided he was going to turn the troops loose on Syria and Iran after that he would last in office… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-eagleburger/if-george-bush-jr-decided-he-was-going-to-turn-the-troops-loose-on/)

[Lawrence Eagleburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-eagleburger/)

> [I mean, look, no matter how you feel about Bush, watching him speak is difficult. It's like- it's like watching a drunk man cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/i-mean-look-no-matter-how-you-feel-about-bush-watching-him-speak-is/)

[Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/)

> [I'm not tempted to write a song about George W. Bush. I couldn't figure out what sort of song I would write. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/i-m-not-tempted-to-write-a-song-about-george-w-bush-i-couldn-t-figure/)

[Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/)

> [It would be a tragic mistake for us out here to imagine that Bush represents the hearts and the minds of the majority of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breyten-breytenbach/it-would-be-a-tragic-mistake-for-us-out-here-to-imagine-that-bush/)

[Breyten Breytenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/breyten-breytenbach/)

> [In the bush, trust no one you don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/in-the-bush-trust-no-one-you-don-t-know/)

[Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/)

> [Leadership is about making decisions with the information you have, not the information people will have 12 years later, i kind of feel sorry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/leadership-is-about-making-decisions-with-the-information-you-have/)

[Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/)

[Browse all 764 Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Whatever one thinks of President George W. Bush and his unilateralist crew, most of the people laughing at us do not think we are evil. What they think is that we are naive and incompetent.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Reeves"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george-w-bush-and-his-unilateralist/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bush"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george-w-bush-and-his-unilateralist/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/richard-reeves-37144_bush_whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george_2836907.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/richard-reeves-37144_bush_whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george_2836907.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9eb/richard-reeves-37144_bush_whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george_2836907.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Whatever one thinks of President George W. Bush and his unilateralist crew, most of the people laughing at…” — Richard Reeves",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Richard Reeves",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-reeves/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Whatever one thinks of President George...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george-w-bush-and-his-unilateralist/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-reeves/whatever-one-thinks-of-president-george-w-bush-and-his-unilateralist/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
