English versus Texan
Kathleen Parker is another wonderfully logical lady. Her recent column was directed at the purveyors of the meme that President Bush is "stupid".
"Bush-bashing for sport has never lacked fans in the blogosphere, but questioning the president's intelligence lately has gone mainstream.
Joe Scarborough, former Republican congressman and host of MSNBC's "Scarborough Country,'' recently tossed his beanie into the ring, running a 10-minute segment titled: "Is Bush an 'Idiot'?''
Scarborough wasn't calling Bush an idiot, mind you. He was just quoting that renowned American intellectual, Linda Ronstadt. Recently, Ronstadt had commented on the president's performance while attending an international summit of heads of state.
No wait, my mistake, she made those comments to reporters and audiences while touring in Canada. But never mind. When Ronstadt talks, people listen. Citing other leading American intellectuals -- The Dixie Chicks, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Joan Baez..."
This phenomonon is what prompted Laura Ingraham (yet another great logical lady) to pen the book "Shut up and Sing".
Lawrence Kudlow takes on the President's "communications shortcomings" in this column on the untold story about our robust economy:
"Some conservatives are alleging that the president suffers from an inability to communicate with the American people, and there may be some overrated truth to this."
I had the extreme good fortune to see President Bush speak several times during the 2004 campaign. I found him to be very good at communicating the important issues to the audience. John Hinderaker also has the same experience.
"The conventional wisdom is that Bush is not a very good speaker. But up close, he is a great communicator, in a way that, in my opinion, Ronald Reagan was not. He was by turns instructive, persuasive, and funny. His persona is very much that of the big brother. Above all, he was impassioned. I have never seen a politician speak so evidently from the heart, about big issues--freedom, most of all."
Those that do not understand the President blame the President for not making himself "clear" but I think that too many have gotten too used to hearing political double-speak...to the point that when they hear a straight forward speaker, the temptation is to insert meanings that are not there. A great case in point is the meme that the President said that Saddam was tied to the 9/11 attacks. He never did say that...he did say that Saddam was tied to TERRORISM. Now at the time that was said, most people were still dealing with the shock of 9/11. However that does not erase the reality of the situation. Saddam did have ties to terrorists who had attacked Americans - most notoriously Abu Nidal the mastermind of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. Saddam also played host to Abu Abbas, who took part in the hijacking of the Achille Lauro.
I think that Ms. Parker nails the problem in this paragraph.
"My theory dovetails with something one of his most acerbic critics, columnist Molly Ivins, once wrote: "George W. Bush sounds like English is his second language.'' That's because it's true. "Washington English'' is a second language for Bush; "Texas English'' is his first."
I have several friends from Texas. They definately do not speak "northern" and most northerners just don't know how to handle them. Oh sure, they chuckle at some of the quaint phrases that Texans use, but many just don't get Texans and never will. Which is a pity....my Texan friends are some of the smartest most wonderful people I know. Loyal to a fault, ready to do battle for a friend if needed. We need more Texans in the world. Heaven knows if we had more people like that, this world would be a MUCH better place.
"Bush-bashing for sport has never lacked fans in the blogosphere, but questioning the president's intelligence lately has gone mainstream.
Joe Scarborough, former Republican congressman and host of MSNBC's "Scarborough Country,'' recently tossed his beanie into the ring, running a 10-minute segment titled: "Is Bush an 'Idiot'?''
Scarborough wasn't calling Bush an idiot, mind you. He was just quoting that renowned American intellectual, Linda Ronstadt. Recently, Ronstadt had commented on the president's performance while attending an international summit of heads of state.
No wait, my mistake, she made those comments to reporters and audiences while touring in Canada. But never mind. When Ronstadt talks, people listen. Citing other leading American intellectuals -- The Dixie Chicks, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Joan Baez..."
This phenomonon is what prompted Laura Ingraham (yet another great logical lady) to pen the book "Shut up and Sing".
Lawrence Kudlow takes on the President's "communications shortcomings" in this column on the untold story about our robust economy:
"Some conservatives are alleging that the president suffers from an inability to communicate with the American people, and there may be some overrated truth to this."
I had the extreme good fortune to see President Bush speak several times during the 2004 campaign. I found him to be very good at communicating the important issues to the audience. John Hinderaker also has the same experience.
"The conventional wisdom is that Bush is not a very good speaker. But up close, he is a great communicator, in a way that, in my opinion, Ronald Reagan was not. He was by turns instructive, persuasive, and funny. His persona is very much that of the big brother. Above all, he was impassioned. I have never seen a politician speak so evidently from the heart, about big issues--freedom, most of all."
Those that do not understand the President blame the President for not making himself "clear" but I think that too many have gotten too used to hearing political double-speak...to the point that when they hear a straight forward speaker, the temptation is to insert meanings that are not there. A great case in point is the meme that the President said that Saddam was tied to the 9/11 attacks. He never did say that...he did say that Saddam was tied to TERRORISM. Now at the time that was said, most people were still dealing with the shock of 9/11. However that does not erase the reality of the situation. Saddam did have ties to terrorists who had attacked Americans - most notoriously Abu Nidal the mastermind of the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. Saddam also played host to Abu Abbas, who took part in the hijacking of the Achille Lauro.
I think that Ms. Parker nails the problem in this paragraph.
"My theory dovetails with something one of his most acerbic critics, columnist Molly Ivins, once wrote: "George W. Bush sounds like English is his second language.'' That's because it's true. "Washington English'' is a second language for Bush; "Texas English'' is his first."
I have several friends from Texas. They definately do not speak "northern" and most northerners just don't know how to handle them. Oh sure, they chuckle at some of the quaint phrases that Texans use, but many just don't get Texans and never will. Which is a pity....my Texan friends are some of the smartest most wonderful people I know. Loyal to a fault, ready to do battle for a friend if needed. We need more Texans in the world. Heaven knows if we had more people like that, this world would be a MUCH better place.
posted by The Lady Logician at
1:50 PM
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