Dizzy Dickerson
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- John Dickerson has written an article for "Slate" entitled "All the President's Dodges". In it, Dickerson describes George Bush as "a quick wit", noting his snappy one-liners. Yet, many of his critics continue to portray him as a bumbling idiot.
Dickerson then expresses his disappointment that Bush is not as snappy when it comes to answering questions about serious issues.
"Dealing with delicate issues on camera, Bush's mind may work just as quickly, but he keeps his mouth shut. The pause to think gives him away."
So what's the problem? Sounds like a wise thing to do with delicate issues...
Proverbs 13:3 - He who guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 15:28 - The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 - Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word...
But Dickerson does not view the pauses of Bush as a sign of wisdom. Instead, he accuses the President of being deceptive...
When he doesn't punch out a response, he's not puzzling out the answer. He's puzzling out the spin.
Frankly, I'm rather glad that a President of the United States, with all the power at his command and representing nearly 300,000,000 Americans and whose words are listened to by friends and foes alike around the globe, takes time to weigh those words.
Dickerson then goes on to describe the various "spin" techniques that George Bush has apparently mastered. When Bush expresses some optimism that free elections are being held in Palestine, he says Bush is putting "a happy face" on a bad situation. When Bush says that revealing details of the NSA surveillance program would aid and abet our enemies, Dickerson says Bush is using a "trump card that shuts off further discussion". When Bush says he's had his picture taken with lots of people, Dickerson says Bush is "distracting" us from the real issues of an alleged Abramoff--White House scandal.
Talk about spin. John Dickerson is spinning so fast he's apparently become dizzy.
posted by Hawkeye® -- Friday, January 27, 2006
6 Comments
6 Comments:
I think the point is, Bush is quick witted and playful in a frat boy sort of way. His cute nicknames for everyone reflect this side.
When asked a question that concerns something of substance, he has to pause and recall what he "supposed to say". Recall the agonizing pauses in the 2004 debates. He's not agile and quick witted when speaking on issues of any depth, or when the obvious truthful answer can't be given
Cranky,
I think Bush is plenty quick-witted even when it comes to issues of depth. I just think he's searching for the right words to express what he's feeling. I'm sure you would agree that he is no orator.
I believe that ideas and feelings come quickly to Bush, and in matters that are not too serious he is relaxed enough to respond quickly. When the matter is indeed serious, Bush tenses up for fear of 'tongue-tangling' or 'syllable-mangling'.
It's sorta like the person who is prone to stuttering. They have to stop and take a deep breath and then speak very deliberately.
Let's face it, Bush is intelligent. He's a Yale graduate who actually got better grades than John Kerry did when he was at Yale (just 2 years apart). But Bush is no orator and he himself knows it. On top of that, he has the burden of the Presidency upon him. He is trying to avoid embarassing both himself and the Office.
That's my take, and I'm standing by it.
Don't you think, too, that President Bush knows that much of what he says will be taken out of context in print and used to malign him? As with the pictures that the media choose to run,their efforts to portray the president as a fool must make him wary.
He does have a terrific self-deprecating humor though that is part of his charm. He usually turns the joke against himself, not to hurt others.
Since when is thinking before speaking a bad thing? I wish more people of all stripes would practice it more often!
I liked his response t'other day when somebody asked him about Butt...er, Brokeback Mountain.
Hey everybody,
Thanks for stopping by. Been busy all weekend. Hope you had a good one.
Regards...
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