the Forrest Gump presidency

[winterbadger]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3541706.stm

According to Jacob Weisberg, who has made it his job to catalogue the gaffes commonly known as "Bushisms", even when Mr Bush trips over his words he does not always fall flat on his face.

"I don't think it does him any harm, because people who are appalled by the way he speaks tend not to like him for other reasons," he told the BBC's World Today programme.

Indeed, he says, his flawed public performances should not be misunderstimated - to borrow a "Bushism" - as they actually strengthen his bond with ordinary people.

"I think his inarticulacy is part of it, people identify with his problem. You know, its hard to speak in public - one makes mistakes, it can be embarrassing. And this bonds him to people."

Comments

[sidhne.livejournal.com]

"I think his inarticulacy is part of it, people identify with his problem. You know, its hard to speak in public - one makes mistakes, it can be embarrassing. And this bonds him to people."

I totally disagree. This is one of the reasons I don't like him as a person, never mind his politics. I have a higher standard for my President than I do for the common man. I'd like to be able to respect him.

(But then, I'd expect a journalist to have a better command of punctuation, as well.)

[winterbadger]

This is one of the reasons I don't like him as a person, never mind his politics. I have a higher standard for my President than I do for the common man. I'd like to be able to respect him.

I knew I liked you for a reason. Well, for many, actually. ;-)

(But then, I'd expect a journalist to have a better command of punctuation, as well.)

It's the BBC, so it's hard to know what's bad punctuation and what's simply their odd and idiosyncratic style. I mean, these people lowercase acronyms, for heavans' sake (e.g., Nato, Unmovic).

[robbysmom.livejournal.com]

If in fact some folsk like him for his "Bushisms," I suspect it's because for most of this term, the press has been mostly-- and until recently-- hands-off in criticizing him. Further, he speaks publicly as rarely as possible. And for good reason.

Check out this one:

"Tribal sovereignty means that; it's sovereign. I mean, you're a -- you've been given sovereignty, and you're viewed as a sovereign entity. And therefore the relationship between the federal government and tribes is one between sovereign entities," Bush replied.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5900071

AND THIS:

"'Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we," Bush said.'"

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/shared/news/politics/stories/08/06bush.html

and

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/nation/9333409.htm?1c