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Reagan set the standard ... a standard that may never be equaled.

Dare I say it? The original JFK was well-spoken and quick with a comeback too. Personally, I have observed that some people just have a hard time quickly formulating their thoughts and organizing their thoughts quickly before they start to speak. It is no reflection of their intelligence, just how their brain-to-mouth functions. Anyone who has spent time with brilliant scientists (including medical doctors) can tell you that some of the smartest ones can't string a sentence together to save their lives.

I believe the difference between Reagan and Kennedy was Reagan's sense of humor. Kennedy was an excellent formal speaker, but I believe Reagan was better "off the cuff."

Two things that come to mind (and I realize they are inappropriate because of the Kennedy assassination), but they come to mind are Reagan's two quips after being shot. "Honey, I forgot to duck" and 'I hope the doctors are Republicans."

Personally, I have observed that some people just have a hard time quickly formulating their thoughts and organizing their thoughts quickly before they start to speak. It is no reflection of their intelligence, just how their brain-to-mouth functions. Anyone who has spent time with brilliant scientists (including medical doctors) can tell you that some of the smartest ones can't string a sentence together to save their lives.

That is often because their brains are working faster than their mouths can keep up and they change thoughts, or expressions, in mid sentence or word even (think "misunderestimated). For the scientists, they are often searching for the right word in everyday language when they normally speak and think in technical terms.

Bush's communications problems are two: Reading a prepared speech, even if he wrote most of it, and not attempting to communicate at all, thinking people can grasp the obvious.

That fails him when the Democrats and media lie about what he said and did. In key speeches Bush said that the war on terror would take a long time, maybe thirty years, and it would not be over during his presidency. Yet, that is ignored and even McCain misquotes him. The problem is he doesn't jump in and correct them.

He also said that Iraq was not an eminent threat but that Saddam's intentions were evident and dangerous so we must take him out before the threat is eminent. The Democrats claim the opposite and he doesn't correct them.

I suppose he may think others will correct the record for him but they rarely do. He also seems content for history to set the record straight. That could take a long time if the Democrats regain power and rewrite history as is their want. The Clintons are wonderful examples.

You are absolutely right! I do not know what my IQ is, but I did graduate Magna Cum Laude with a 3.87 from the University of NC at Greensboro - not exactly a party school. It takes a 3.9 (with no rounding off) to graduate Summa Cum Laude, so if I had made one less B, I would have received the highest possible honors. I was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, etc. IOW, there is no problem with my intelligence.

I have been teaching for 25 years and I have no difficulty talking to friends or even strangers. Yet, there are many times (more so since I am now 56) when my mind goes completely blank when speaking to a group and I can not think of a word that I want to say. A lot of times it has to do with whether or not I am a little nervous or under stress for some reason, but you would think with 25 years of teaching experience I would not have any problem with nervousness.

I also speak without thinking. One of my former bosses liked to call me "spontaneous" - a nice way of saying that I put my foot in my mouth a lot. If I have something important to say to a supervisor, I will often send them an email because it forces me to organize my thoughts and say what I really want to say, rather than what just happens to come out of my mouth.

Maybe that's why President Bush's lack of skill in oratory is one of his most endearing qualities to me (see my post #39 above).