Bush Press Conference

[AnchorAlum]

JAM, thanks for your supportive comments!

I think that the President's manner of speech is just fine. I would venture a guess that most of you cannot remember John F. Kennedy's speech and accent. I was just a young kid but I do distinctly remember that I thought it odd at the time that he was all hot under the collar about a place called "Cuber".

GWB does persist in saying "newclear" but you know what? So did Jimmy Carter, a trained naval nuclear scientist.

The question here is what is good enunciation? And if you and the President are in sync politically, I bet you understand him clearly.

[enlightenment06]

Originally posted by AnchorAlum
JAM, thanks for your supportive comments!

I think that the President's manner of speech is just fine. I would venture a guess that most of you cannot remember John F. Kennedy's speech and accent. I was just a young kid but I do distinctly remember that I thought it odd at the time that he was all hot under the collar about a place called "Cuber".

GWB does persist in saying "newclear" but you know what? So did Jimmy Carter, a trained naval nuclear scientist.

The question here is what is good enunciation? And if you and the President are in sync politically, I bet you understand him clearly.

Originally posted by AnchorAlum
The question here is what is good enunciation? And if you and the President are in sync politically, I bet you understand him clearly.

"I wish you would have given me this written question ahead of time, so I could plan for it. (Laughter.) John, I'm sure historians will look back and say, gosh, he could have done it better this way, or that way. You know, I just -- I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of trying to come up with an answer, but it hadn't yet."
-President George W. Bush


That isn't about enunciation, that's about being able to think on your feet and be mentally agile. People seriously have confidence in a president that requires difficult questions to be pre-written in order to develop a coherent answer? If Bill Clinton had said that I'd question him too.

[justamom]

I see your point enlightenment06, but for me, I really do feel more secure with a person who gives an honest answer, as awkward as it may be, to a question than one regurgitating a canned response...or a "scary" one.

"I'm an internationalist. I'd like to see our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations." -- John Kerry, 1970

"I've met with foreign leaders who can't go out and say this publicly," he said. "But, boy, they look at you and say: 'You've got to win this. You've got to beat this guy. We need a new policy.' Things like that." -- John Kerry discusses his meetings with unidentified "foreign leaders"

"I'm a Christian. I've read the Bible and I know you can find the clauses that go both ways (on gay marriage). I'm not here to argue that with you." -- John Kerry in March, 2004

"President Clinton was often known as the first black president. I wouldn't be upset if I could earn the right to be the second." -- John Kerry, 2004

"Everybody always makes the mistake of looking South. Al Gore proved he could have been president of the United States without winning one Southern state, including his own." -- John Kerry

----------------
From his Vietnam "Comrades" -"Under Kerry's leadership, VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against The War) members mocked the uniform of United States soldiers by wearing tattered fatigues marked with pro-Communist graffiti. They dishonored America by marching in demonstrations under the flag of the Viet Cong enemy.” -- Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry

edited-can't spell!

[swissmiss04]

Originally posted by xo_kathy
I tried - but when he started talking about "brown people" I became nauseated and had to turn him off. Seriously, my jaw dropped with that comment.

Say it ain't so! Did he really say, verbatim, "brown people"? I didn't watch the speech at all. Something tells me that might have been a good thing, although it may have raised my blood pressure up to a somewhat normal level

[AnchorAlum]

I stand by my comments. It all boils down to your politics.

I guess it also boils down to what the meaning of is is...at least according to certain Rhodes Scholars.
I wonder if Clinton did HIS best thinking on his feet. Methinks not.

Awesome quotes supplied by J.A.M. ! Kerryisms could go on and on. The attempt to make a silk purse out of THAT sow's ear continues. But if the head sow - known in Boston as Ted - remains in charge, expect the same result.

As to "brown people" I think people need to understand the context of the remark. And the President has Hispanic nieces and nephews. How many of us do?

[xo_kathy]

Originally posted by swissmiss04
Say it ain't so! Did he really say, verbatim, "brown people"?

My sincere apologies, I did mis-quote. Here is what was said:

"Some of the debate really centers around the fact that people don't believe Iraq can be free; that if you're Muslim, or perhaps brown-skinned, you can't be self-governing or free. I'd strongly disagree with that."

So, brown-skinned is a bit better than brown people but it's still completely inapropriate for a President to say.

Originally posted by AnchorAlum
As to "brown people" I think people need to understand the context of the remark. And the President has Hispanic nieces and nephews. How many of us do?

Well, considering the babies that will come from my womb will be 50% Hispanic, and my future husband is 100% Hispanic as is his whole family, I think I get even more "Hispanic points" than the President! Lucky me, I can go around making insensitive remarks and use my finace's family to make it ok!!!

Please, that's like saying you can use the N-word because "one of my closest friends is black!"

[AnchorAlum]

Again, there seems to be some difficulty here in interpreting people's spoken and written remarks. If one wishes to find offense in another's words, and has their mind already made up to do so, then it becomes a fait accompli, does it not?

President Bush was subtlely referencing the fact that radical Islamists push an idea that people in parts of the world where the Muslim faith is dominant must blindly follow the hate and ignorance necessary to justify their murderous and controlling actions. This does include large parts of the globe where people are "perhaps...brown skinned". By the way there are human beings who have brown skin and are members of many diverse cultures and faiths.

I referenced the President's family in order to point out that he would not have made that remark in a racist way.

I find no justification in using the N word EVER. Do you?

That is an intemperate remark to make on a board filled with well-educated Caucasians from the South, who are very sensitive in avoiding hurtful name-calling and who strive every day to build strong communities which are inclusive and caring.

[James]

I think its generally conceded that JFK was a more charismatic speaker than the current President.

I don't hold that against him to much, content is more impotant than style.

I think we have just gotten used to "movie star" presidents. Both Reagen and Clinton were excellent speakers.

Originally posted by AnchorAlum
JAM, thanks for your supportive comments!

I think that the President's manner of speech is just fine. I would venture a guess that most of you cannot remember John F. Kennedy's speech and accent. I was just a young kid but I do distinctly remember that I thought it odd at the time that he was all hot under the collar about a place called "Cuber".

GWB does persist in saying "newclear" but you know what? So did Jimmy Carter, a trained naval nuclear scientist.

The question here is what is good enunciation? And if you and the President are in sync politically, I bet you understand him clearly.

[xo_kathy]

Originally posted by AnchorAlum
I referenced the President's family in order to point out that he would not have made that remark in a racist way.

Please don't chastise me for mis-interpreting words when you did the exact same thing. I never called Bush a racist. I simply said the President of the United States should know enough not to make sweeping generalizations about people of a certain skin color.

Also, President Bush did not marry a Hispanic woman. Nor did he have any choice in the matter that his brother did or that he would gain Hispanic nieces and nephews from the situation. Personally, your justification doesn't work for me because he didn't choose for them to be part of his family. And I say that because I'm sure there are members of my very Caucasian family who have said a not so nice thing or two about Latins before I ever brought home my fiance. Just because I'm not a racist doesn't mean members of my family can't be.

Originally posted by AnchorAlum
I find no justification in using the N word EVER. Do you?

Of course not! Again, thank you for completely misconstruing my words. As I said, I was pointing out that your idea that Bush couldn't say something racially insensitive because he has Hispanic family members holds about as much truth to me as completely closed-minded people who think it's ok to use the N-word or other such racially insensitive phrases simply because they "have a close friend whose black". It's an excuse that doesn't fly.

Originally posted by AnchorAlum That is an intemperate remark to make on a board filled with well-educated Caucasians from the South, who are very sensitive in avoiding hurtful name-calling and who strive every day to build strong communities which are inclusive and caring.

Again, what I said had NOTHING to do with the well-educated Southern members of this board. What I said was in reference to the President of the United States using the term "brown-skinned" - it's simply inappropriate.

[Rudey]

How come you're the only one who seems upset over this?

-Rudey

Originally posted by xo_kathy
Please don't chastise me for mis-interpreting words when you did the exact same thing. I never called Bush a racist. I simply said the President of the United States should know enough not to make sweeping generalizations about people of a certain skin color.

Also, President Bush did not marry a Hispanic woman. Nor did he have any choice in the matter that his brother did or that he would gain Hispanic nieces and nephews from the situation. Personally, your justification doesn't work for me because he didn't choose for them to be part of his family. And I say that because I'm sure there are members of my very Caucasian family who have said a not so nice thing or two about Latins before I ever brought home my fiance. Just because I'm not a racist doesn't mean members of my family can't be.



Of course not! Again, thank you for completely misconstruing my words. As I said, I was pointing out that your idea that Bush couldn't say something racially insensitive because he has Hispanic family members holds about as much truth to me as completely closed-minded people who think it's ok to use the N-word or other such racially insensitive phrases simply because they "have a close friend whose black". It's an excuse that doesn't fly.



Again, what I said had NOTHING to do with the well-educated Southern members of this board. What I said was in reference to the President of the United States using the term "brown-skinned" - it's simply inappropriate.

[xo_kathy]

Good question, Rudey! I think it's sad others aren't bothered by it.

By why does that matter? Because I'm the only person voicing displeasure doesn't mean I'm not allowed to, right?

I think AnchorAlum and I are having a fine time discussing it - if you want to join in go for it! I always find your input interesting to say the least (even if it doesn't lean the same way my ideas do!).

P.S. My finace is upset over it, too, but he doesn't post on this board. Sorry!

[Rudey]

Originally posted by xo_kathy
Good question, Rudey! I think it's sad others aren't bothered by it.

By why does that matter? Because I'm the only person voicing displeasure doesn't mean I'm not allowed to, right?

I think AnchorAlum and I are having a fine time discussing it - if you want to join in go for it! I always find your input interesting to say the least (even if it doesn't lean the same way my ideas do!).

P.S. My finace is upset over it, too, but he doesn't post on this board. Sorry!

I don't question your right to your feelings. But at the end of the day, this wasn't an issue for most people - including the "brown" ones. If it were there'd be a bit of complaining - and not just on GC.

-Rudey

[xo_kathy]

OH! I totally agree with that! Seriously.

This whole thing started because someone said we should listen to what he was saying. I said it was hard *for me* to take someone seriously when they use a term like that. I guess that started the ball rolling...

OK, OK, I'll take my bleeding heart and go hang out on the Women's March on Washington thread and let you all extoll the virtues of Bush's "speaking from the heart"!

[AnchorAlum]

Sorry, but don't tell me you haven't decided in advance my position on this - classic "my mind is made up, don't confuse me with the facts."

I'll leave it at that. I'm done with this thread as well. Why don't you print it out and use it to prove how politically correct you are to those who don't think and who probably don't do well on interpretive tests.

[The1calledTKE]