Maybe I'm Missing the Nuance

John Kerry had a worse GPA than did President Bush:

The transcript shows that Kerry's freshman-year average was 71. He scored a 61 in geology, a 63 and 68 in two history classes, and a 69 in political science. His top score was a 79, in another political science course. Another of his strongest efforts, a 77, came in French class.

Under Yale's grading system in effect at the time, grades between 90 and 100 equaled an A, 80-89 a B, 70-79 a C, 60 to 69 a D, and anything below that was a failing grade. In addition to Kerry's four D's in his freshman year, he received one D in his sophomore year. He did not fail any courses.

''I always told my Dad that D stood for distinction," Kerry said yesterday in a written response to questions, noting that he has previously acknowledged that he spent a lot of time learning to fly instead of focusing on his studies.

Perhaps you remember the uproar when W said some funny things about being a "C student". I guess it's a nice kick in the teeth to find out that your candidate had four D's in one year.

Tim Blair comments here and here and quips:

Or take a subject. English, preferably. Still, what do you expect from someone whose academic record is equal to that of Chimpulator, the plastic McHalliburton oil turkey?