.@hughhewitt you might be using the term differently than I do. I’m not talking about building things, but rather solving/defusing/leveraging by understanding people (motivations, moods, fears, etc). Clinton and Trump are both off the charts in this respect in my observation and experience.

“I laugh when people say [President Trump] is stupid. He’s got a human intelligence level akin to Bill Clinton’s, which is high praise.” @MarkHalperin to @Commentary podcast trio this AM. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the…

Some on the left refuse to understand this. The analogy to President Clinton is inexact but useful to people 40–60 who don’t recall the much better analogy which is to another NY-born and raised developer-turned-politician, VP Rockefeller.

For those who don’t have a good grip on Rocky, read Richard Norton Smith’s “On His Own Terms.”

Both Rocky and Trump built big things —I doubt President Clinton could run a tilt-up warehouse project much less skyscrapers or mixed used, luxury resort projects in at least four states and abroad— and Trump and Rockefeller grew up in the development business. Rocky didn’t read much at least as a young man (dyslexia) but was tough and resilient. He never got to the Oval because his politics did not fit within the GOP of his era. All three men are known to take in information through long and multiple conversations, and only Rockefeller was accurately understood as formidable by his political opponents (e.g. RN). It is a very interesting conversation about the lift-off of 45-47’s second term.