NP? somebody has to say it

[Michael Kenny]

--- calbert at hslboxmaster.com wrote:
> 
> > > how bout this...
> > > why is bush such a horrible public speaker?
> > 
> > I've seen him give stirring speeches."
> 
> Was it the context or the speaker which made them
> "stirring"?

Both.
 
>   Besides that, does
> > poor public speaking abilities constitute stupidity?
> 
> In a very real sense. Scrubby has embarked upon a career
> in 
> public service, choosing HIGH VISIBILITY offices, rather
> than 
> working his way "up". One might think that anyone with
> such 
> ambitions would easily recognize how important it is to
> master 
> such a skill, and would work on developing it.

The most important quality in a president is the ability to
identify and solve problems.  If you think a candidate
identifies problems accurately and offers policies that
will solve them, why would you care if he had trouble
speaking sometimes?  There are a whole host of leaders who
were not good speakers but were good leaders.  Thomas
Jefferson comes to mind.  On the other hand, there have
been a whole host of leaders who could speak well but
couldn't lead.

By the way, do you think Reagan was smart because he was
the "Great Communicator"?

> For a
> perfect 
> example see Tiger Woods - his schedule is far more hectic
> than 
> that of the Dimwit Dauphin, and yet he has made of
> himself a very 
> impressive public "performer".....
> 
> THere is also that gross disparity between Scrubby's
> academic 
> track, his alleged SAT verbal scores and the mush that
> flows from 
> his lips. 

There is a difference between taking a test in a quiet room
and speaking to a room full of reporters who want to grill
you.

> But if you are convinced that he is getting a bum rap,
> maybe you 
> can tell me how large is the set of Andover, Yale, and
> HBS grads 
> who cannot place Wales on a map, and who consider Chuck
> Norris 
> their favorite actor?

I don't see how either of these examples have to do with
the intelligence a president needs to lead.  Should
presidents be chosen on how much unimportant trivia they
know about another country or who their favorite actor is?

--Mike

> love,
> cfa
> 
> 


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