NP? somebody has to say it

[Michael Kenny]

--- calbert at hslboxmaster.com wrote:
> 
> Michael Kenny sez:
> > 
> > The most important quality in a president is the
> ability to
> > identify and solve problems.
> 
> Clearly Dubya's inability to articulate constitutes a
> "problem", 
> which he has failed to take steps to address........his
> blindness to 
> the obvious does not encourage me to give him GREATER 
> responsibilities which demand focus and perseverance...

Bush sometimes has trouble making a point.  But how does
this affect his ability to lead?

>   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? 
> 
> I have not granted Scrubby those qualities, nor have I
> seen them in 
> evidence.....So far much of what he has "done" has been 
> "reactive".... 

I didn't say "Bush".  I said "a candidate".  What's your
answer?

>  There are a whole host of leaders who
> > were not good speakers but were good leaders.  Thomas
> > Jefferson comes to mind.
> 
> I'll have to take your word for it......I'm only 44......

You don't have to take my word for it.  The historical
record will suffice.  Jefferson didn't like to give
speeches and wasn't known as a good public speaker.  He
liked to write.

>  > 
> > By the way, do you think Reagan was smart because he
> was
> > the "Great Communicator"?
> 
> No, he was an accomplished script reader, a skill I am
> prepared to 
> believe he spent time cultivating.....
> 
> > > 
> > > 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.
> 
> Bush rarely, if EVER, exposes himself to the press
> in
> such a 
> manner.

Bush takes questions from the press.

> ....With good reason - his handlers don't trust
> him going 
> "off the cuff".

How do you know this?

> ......For the most part Scrubby is reading
> prepared 
> lines and wishing everyone a good day......and how much
> longer 
> must this remain a novelty to the guy? At what point does
> he begin 
> to "pick up on it"?
> 
> > > 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?
> 
> I find this line of defense puzzling.....We are not
> talking about 
> Nowherestan, we are talking about a component of Great
> Britain. 
> The Bushs claim irish ancestry, Wales is RIGHT ACROSS THE
> 
> WATER - are you suggesting that there is nothing wrong
> with a 
> guy of 55 who has the geographical sense of my blind dog?

What does knowing the location of Wales have to do with
your ability to be a good leader?

> The Norris thing is frightening because it illustrates
> that IN SPITE 
> of enormous financial and academic advantages, Bush has
> to date 
> developed all the cultural discrimination of your basic
> bait shop 
> employee.

I didn't know bait shop employees all judged culture the
same way.  What does cultural discrimination have to do
with being a good president?

--Mike

>.......Good people, but not presidential
> material, hence 
> their field of employment.....
> If Scrubby put his wits to keeping the nightcrawlers
> moist - I 
> wouldn't be concerned....
> 
> 
> love,
> cfa
> 


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