Bush was definitely acting dumb. I realized this was not just a hunch when watching a recording of him giving a minor speech on foreign policy to some group of media that covered this (like foreign press assn or something).

He was articulate, intelligent, using “big words”, and had dropped the aw shucks accent. The speech was measured and insightful.

I don’t agree with his politics but the idiot thing was an act to trick the rubes.