<p>HOST: Im curious, have you ever googled anybody? Do you use Google?</p>
<p>BUSH: Occasionally. One of the things Ive used on the Google is to pull up maps. Its very interesting to see Ive forgot the name of the program but you get the satellite, and you can like, I kinda like to look at the ranch. It remind me of where I wanna be sometimes. </p>
<p>Just wait until he learns how to send e-mail fwds…</p>
<p>to govjeb27:
“you know you’re a redneck if…”</p>
<p>What’s your point? Do you think it’s amusing to make fun of the speech patterns of people from a different region of the country than you? </p>
<p>I’m sensitive to this issue, because I’m close to people from Texas, and they DO use idioms that are different to mine. My parents were not American, and they also used figures of speech that were different.</p>
<p>If you want to disagree with the President’s policies, that’s one thing. But ridiculing someone’s pronunciation or figures of speech is just petty.</p>
<p>I’m from Texas so I have no problem with how he talks. It’s the words he uses that I have a problem with.</p>
<p>What I noticed when I saw that on tv yesterday was that he is so interested in looking at his own ranch, but didn’t seem interesting in looking at other parts of the country or world.</p>
<p>I’m no GWB fan, but what’s offensive about the post? I don’t see the ridicule. Sorry.</p>
<p>Rather, I find GWB’s response to be quite human. After all, it’s not like he’s saddled with lots of down time. Liking to see his ranch, and wanting to be there? Pretty normal to me.</p>
<p>It is interesting how many of our leaders engage in mangled syntax, botched pronounciation, mixed metaphors and so forth, yet we love them anyway.</p>
<p>Look at Mayor Menino’s (AKA Mumbles Menino) popularity in Boston, for example. And there are many more.</p>
<p>Rather, I think it is one of the endearing qualities, one of the things that makes a leader more human, when they talk a bit like the rest of us. And it adds an air of sincerity.</p>
<p>Now, some will argue that GWB talks like he does out of practice. For instance, some have gone back and looked at old campaign tapes from his first runs at office, and heard an ivy educated person talking, like he is. They concluded that his current speech approach is scripted. Who cares?</p>
<p>Just good natured ribbing, sjmom. Wasn’t even thinking of his speech idioms when I posted this. When I initially read it, I got a mental image of Bush sitting in the oval office surfing the web, giddy over the fact that he can see his ranch online. That made me chuckle, so I thought I’d share it.</p>
<p>FWIW, I live in Texas. Glad to see you are sticking up for us. God bless your sensitive soul.</p>
<p>"when they talk a bit like the rest of us. And it adds an air of sincerity.</p>
<p>Now, some will argue that GWB talks like he does out of practice. For instance, some have gone back and looked at old campaign tapes from his first runs at office, and heard an ivy educated person talking, like he is. They concluded that his current speech approach is scripted. Who cares?"</p>
<p>You just answered you own question. If indeed his ‘aw shucks’ speech is scripted, then that proves he is NOT sincere but is playing us - he is pretending to be 'just a good ‘ol boy’ so that people can identify with him and vote for him. That is NOT SINCERE.</p>
<p>Second, I have never understood why some people like that aspect of bush, while ridiculing the intelligence of people like Gore.</p>
<p>Why on earth do people WANT ‘an average guy’ to be president??? Would you want ‘an average guy’ running your multi-million-$$ company?</p>
<p>It seems to me that superior intelligence and the ability to articulate clearly should be MANDATORY for such an important job.</p>
<p>TopPop, I probably AM too sensitive. I thought you were making fun of the use of the article “the” before Google. Most people just use Google without an article. I’m sorry if I misunderstood your post – so many people find the silliest things to ridicule GWB about, that it get a little irritating to me.</p>
<p>that is really interesting-
see I had thought he was dyslexic- because of the way he currently phrases his speech- and I had sympathy for him because of that- although he had denied it
But if he is capable of more formal language- it is interesting that he would choose to adopt a speech pattern that makes him sound impaired ( or at least overly casual)
On the one hand- I might argue that he wants to be “more familar and folksy” to appeal to more people- which is just marketing- which any person in business or politics does
but on the other hand- it is condescending to assume that the American public would rather have someone who speaks in dialect, than someone who has more suitable gravitas for his position</p>
<p>but we did discuss this already- sorry
so I wonder if bush has already visited whitehouse.com? :eek:</p>
Dyslexia primarily affects reading and writing. Rarely does it affect one’s speech.</p>
<p>Those of you who are so smug about the President’s diction should listen to your teenage children as they speak with their friends. Suddenly, your children are a lot dumber than you thought.</p>
<p>Dyslexia primarily affects reading and writing. Rarely does it affect one’s speech.</p>
<p>You are correct
I should have used the updated term “language based learning disabilties”
[Language-based learning disabilities interfere with age-appropriate reading, spelling, and/or writing. This disorder does not impair intelligence; in fact, most people diagnosed with learning disabilities possess average to superior intelligence. Learning disabilities are caused by a difference in brain structure that is present at birth, is often hereditary, and often related to specific language problems.</p>
<p>The term dyslexia has been used to refer to the specific learning problem of reading. Because of the increased recognition of the relationship between spoken and written language, and the frequent presence of spoken language problems in children with reading problems, the term language-based learning disabilities, or just learning disabilities, is more accurate.](<a href=“Sorry! That Page Cannot Be Found”>http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Language-Based-Learning-Disabilities.htm</a>)</p>
<p>I didn’t hear anyone being “smug” are you sure that is the word you are thinking of?</p>
<p>I think we do realize that some people change their speech patterns depending on who they are with- After visiting for a few weeks with my relatives from Missouri, I am liable to not only wear my cowboy boots constantly, but to drawl a bit.
Some people- may speak very heavy patois when they are with a small subgroup but conventional language when in broader society</p>
<p>I think the question came up, because IMO anyway the president is * always* in broader society, he is always “on” and the choice to use dialect apparently is deliberate</p>
<p>“Second, I have never understood why some people like that aspect of bush, while ridiculing the intelligence of people like Gore. Why on earth do people WANT ‘an average guy’ to be president??? Would you want ‘an average guy’ running your multi-million-$$ company? It seems to me that superior intelligence and the ability to articulate clearly should be MANDATORY for such an important job.”</p>
<hr>
<p>Unfortunately, Gore, Kerry, McCain, etc…ALL fit the ‘average guy’ description along with Bush. Or should I say the ‘mediocre guy’. None of these big-time political players are in danger of winning a Nobel in anything, yet we all have allowed them to rise to the top of the heap and we seem willing to allow them ultimate control over billions of our hard-earned dollars and weapons enough to destroy our world again and again. </p>
<p>Frankly, it bugs me too. What about our political process allows mediocrity to be repeatedly rewarded?</p>
<p>He used the google to find them three Shakespears he read this summer. Frankly, I wish he would spend more time on the google and less time doing whatever it is he is doing.</p>
<p>Exactly mini, Bush is NOT from Texas, so I feel it’s very acceptable to ridicule his “common man speak” that he loves to use so much.</p>
<p>You know there’s something wrong with the public when 42% of them believe Bush lowered gas prices for the upcoming elections and people actually think that Bush is a “simple rancher from Texas”. It saddens me to think that the people in our country want someone who’s “average”; I don’t really care if I even like who the president it, I just want someone who will be smart enough to do the right thing and not run our country into the ground.</p>
<p>Haven’t had too many intellectuals in the White House for a while have we? The last couple more prominent ones that I can think of were FDR and Wilson.</p>