Posted on 10/28/2009 6:24:21 AM PDT by nuconvert
If vindication means anything its name is spelled George Bush.
As former U.S. president George W. Bush spoke to a Saskatoon audience, I stood in the wings, sneaking a peek through the curtains at the spectators beyond the footlights.
The crowd was friendly to be sure. But more than that, the relationship was like a musical virtuoso carrying the audience through every nuance, crescendo and dynamic of a composition.
With every pause, smile, laugh and down stroke of seriousness, Bush had the crowd in his hand.
Before the show, a friend who recently dined with the former Texas governor and two-term president put it bluntly: "Whatever you think you're going to see with this guy -- good or bad -- your reaction will be anywhere from pleasantly surprised to completely blown away."
Bush was open, charming, humble and self-deprecating. But as he spoke, the internal voice asked: "How is this guy the same evil manipulator who 'stole' the 2000 election from poor Al Gore?"
As the 43rd president talked about events and decision-making, accountability and principles -- not only within political life but also within ourselves -- he was passionate and uncompromising.
As Bush spoke of families held together by love, of HIV-AIDS projects in Africa and of educational reform designed to raise up the most vulnerable of children, was this the same moron, the dark and shifty war criminal we've been treated to in the mainstream media?
How could this be the same bumbling klutz, the man-child of spoonerisms that the smarmy David Letterman mocked on television every night?
As the president spoke of regrets, the intelligence reports and legal options open to fight an enemy that had declared war on America, where was this one-dimensional warmongering puppet so demonized by filmmaker Michael Moore and the truthers and haters on the Internet?
Was this guy on stage talking about dissidents, free speech and opening Middle Eastern dialogue through a commitment to free elections and democracy really the same shallow ideologue that the editorial boards of major U.S. newspapers, CNN, NBC and CBS told us he was?
My impression -- both from a couple of personal conversations with Bush and hearing him speak -- was that this is an essentially decent man with more charisma than any rock star will ever have.
While the media can do some creative editing and taking out of context, the cartoon-like George Bush of modern hate culture can't simply be made up. So how can this be the same man? Easy.
Speaking style is one thing. A passionate and articulate speaker, Bush lacks the natural eloquence and polish of a Bill Clinton.
Having now spent time with both former presidents, Clinton has an almost supernaturally smooth, flawless ad-libbed delivery and the ability -- on the fly and without a note -- to weave in often abstruse concepts alongside the banal and make it all sound like poetry.
Bush is an engaging speaker but more lineal and direct. And occasionally he stumbles. In 90 minutes Bush tripped twice -- once referring to the "universality of freedom" as the "university of freedom." Another stumble had him invert idealistic and ideologue.
Clinton doesn't do this. He can make a take-out menu sound like the Magna Carta. The problem is when Clinton's done and you reflect on his words, it's still a menu.
Bush's speech was much more memorable for the audience. But the hate-bloggers and YouTube gang can clip three seconds of the Bush stumbles and the story repeats itself.
Bush also has a directness of speech -- unlike the circuitous Clinton delivery -- that comes to a point, often abruptly. When you hear the premise, argument and reasoning, the blunt point is very effective. But the point, taken alone, can make the speaker -- particularly when he is George Bush -- sound simple.
And, seeming not to care that it'll end up in the hands of his enemies, Bush pokes fun at himself with the cleverness, edge and abandon of good standup comedy. As he unloads hilarious quips about how hated or dumb he is, Bush plays into the hands of detractors by actually repeating many of the same things they've said about him.
As people filed out after Bush's speech there were as many "wows" and glowing adjectives as at a Michael Buble concert -- and that's a lot.
Most telling was the early 20s woman who looked shocked, visibly open-mouthed, as she confessed how confused she was by what she had expected and how impressed she was by the experience.
For those who either admired president Bush throughout his term or thought there was something more substantive underneath the hatchet jobs of Hollywood and the Beltway, vindication is a good word. Things aren't always as they seem. You were right all along about George W. Bush.
So, why didn’t he do that while President? I have no ideas..
Bush would be welcome in my house. I wouldn’t let the Obamaloon in to use the loo. The sleaze would steal all my stuff and give it to ACORN.
“So, why didn’t he do that while President? “
He did. The msm did its best to paint a different picture and convince the public otherwise. Seems it worked on you.
Great article. Thanks for posting.
Well, did you personally experience him or did you only get what was feed to you day in and day out? Truth has a covering over it, it has been and is continuing to be twisted and contorted.
His biggest stumbling block was in his delivery. He said the right things, he just didn't say them very well.
Bush hasn't changed.
Maybe this will open eyes to how the media and the left (redundant, I know) constructs the narrative.
I know that is much to hope for....
I thought aout that too. My conclusion is that he had more important things to think about. He actually cared enough about the rest of us & our country to spend his time keeping us safe for eight years.
Compare that with the slick talker Clinton & the 24/7 jack@ss we have in office now & he stands head & shoulders above them.
I respect him more, despite his human flaws, as a man of great decency & honor.
Time & Eternity will have the true measure of the man even if Time, Newsweek, CNN and the faculty of Harvard and Yale never do. In fact, the MTV audience may sooner grasp the truth than will the “sages at those worthy and eminent institutions.”
Thank you, President Bush, for being an honorable Man!
On the contrary, this article points out that he says things VERY well.
But those who are weak believed it when the MSM chopped up his delivery.
Bush speaks the way he does, directly and with the ocassional stumbles, because he is basically an honest man. It’s not a coincidence that Clinton’s style has also earned him the nickname “slick willy.”
Yes...including many, many conservatives.
Easy, David Letterman and the rest of them played the nation for chumps.
Great Article!
For those of you who are surprised by this turn of attitude, you saw what the media and liberals wanted you to see.
Take a note of this and then ask yourselves what are you being fed now?
The media have been covering up, not reporting, excusing Obama’s past life, present actions and more.
Why not take the blinders off and really pay attention?
Holy crap! Was this the same GWB that told us we must invade Iraq immediately to avoid a nuclear attack on US cities?
Was this the same GWB that told us that the Iraq war was on-course, for two years while Americans soldiers were being cut down, and then after losing the 2006 midterms suddenly discovered it was not on-course and required the NEW democrat congress to fund the surge (not Bush's deficit according to Bush-bots.)
Was this the same GWB that told us he and Paulson need a blank check for TARP1 to avoid a great depression? And who used the money to bailout GM?
Was this the same GWB that left office with two wars ongoing (one winding down), a massive government, a depression and growing national debt ?
Was this the GWB who opened the borders for a Mexican invasion?
Look! I’ve met and talked with Bush, and he is not like the guy the news media portrayed to be!
The audience met the REAL George W. Bush, and he was like that as President as well!
I am so sorry the Leftists did their best to trash him throughout the eight years and the people fell for it, hook, line, and sinker!
It worked on a whole bunch of Freepers. This is a decent man who knew it was his job to protect the people of the US--unlike the narcissistic, Muzzie-lovin, Marxist-lovin evil man we have in the WH that can't speak a sentence without a teleprompter.
He did but that wasn't the picture 'created by' the msm and then distributed to the masses... and to his discredit, he never fought back against that caricature.
When he was Governor, Texans knew him as honest, charming and compassionate with an excellent sense of humor. The national media had a bullseye on him as soon as the election was certified in his favor.
HORRIBLE ADVISORS like Mark McKinnon, etc.
Simple..... Obama in a year has made many appreciate Bush..., and yes this is after the 8 year thrashing he took from the MSM.
Agreed. Bush had the wrong speechwriters. A good speechwriter would have played to the sincerity and straight-forwardness of the man and crafted the speeches accordingly.
I also read that Bush always refused to practice his speeches.
One thing that can never be disputed...Bush doesn't hate America like BO and MO!
Bad speaker.....BIG SPENDER!!!!!
He did, but the media didn't show that, they manipulated and edited, to paint the picture of Bush that they wanted you to see.
“So, why didn’t he do that while President? I have no ideas..”
He did daily, you were simply brainwashed into going with the crowd...
If GWB had embraced true conservatism instead of pushing big govt liberalism (aka compassionate conservatism) 80% of the time, he would have been a top 10 president and would not have fallen to such low approval ratings.
Frankly, all evidence is there that Saddam did have weapons of mass destruction and we knew he did as he used them.
Stop believing the lies of the MSM and Democrats.
Bush deserves the credit for changing courses in Iraq which proved to be the right decision. God, I wish he were back to continue this war on radical Islam rather than the Muzzie lover we have right now.
Paulsen scared the daylights out of Bush and there were a whole bunch of lawmakers who also met with Paulsen and were also scared. Did they do the right thing? I'm not sure. It may actually have been the right decision.
Those two wars were not the fault of Bush. Remember the radical Muzzies attacked us on 9/11 and are still trying to kill us. He's to be thanked for what he did.
The economic collapse can be laid directly at the feet of a bunch of Democrats and the truth is that Bush tried to warn congress--more than once.
Now, why is it that you hate Bush?
Bump
“So, why didn’t he do that while President? I have no ideas..”
Letterman and the MSM convinced you otherwise. Some of us recognized the man for who he really was.
I miss him.
...why the sudden interest in Canada,GW was in Montreal last week...
Some time after 9-11, CBS,(surprisinly) showed a documentary of Bush and what he did after the attack when he first flew to NY.
I had voted for Bush, but was beginning to think he was a light weight.....
Our President had the guts and the fortitude to go into the shelters where people were, hug little kids, and tell them the rescuers would find their loved one, whether they were a mom a sister a father a brother who was missing. Of course he knew those people weren’t going to be found, but it eased the kids pain somewhat, it looked to me. He was amazing, and I am watching this documentary with tears in my eyes........
He met with some of the firemen, the police men and the port authority for hours. He never lost his composure. Everyone was crying but GW. I think he gave them all strength.........
He gets off the helicopter at the White House, at midnight, and you could see how exhausted and drained he was.......he has been at Ground Zero all day..............
GW did alot of things wrong, but by God he got the most important one right. He protected us, and I will forever grateful to him for that.......
That finger?
Wigglin' like two MFers. LOL!!!
Bush tripped twice — once referring to the “universality of freedom” as the “university of freedom.”
The University of Freedom. I like that. Maybe we should have one of those.
I had voted for Bush, but was beginning to think he was a light weight.....
Our President had the guts and the fortitude to go into the shelters where people were, hug little kids, and tell them the rescuers would find their loved one, whether they were a mom a sister a father a brother who was missing. Of course he knew those people weren't going to be found, but it eased the kids pain somewhat, it looked to me. He was amazing, and I am watching this documentary with tears in my eyes........
He met with some of the firemen, the police men and the port authority for hours. He never lost his composure. Everyone was crying but GW. I think he gave them all strength.........
He gets off the helicopter at the White House, at midnight, and you could see how exhausted and drained he was.......he has been at Ground Zero all day..............
GW did alot of things wrong, but by God he got the most important one right. He protected us, and I will forever be grateful to him for that.......
“...why the sudden interest in Canada,GW was in Montreal last week...”
Don’t know what you mean by “sudden”. Canada has definitely made a turn to the Right, so it’s a good time to go.
I just found out last night that he will be coming to Mobile to speak at Mobile College....I’m already sucking up to a friend of mine who will be “buying” a table at the banquet hoping I get a seat!!!! I love this man and yes, I sure as hell do miss him....
Waaa!!! It's all the media's fault!! Waaaaaa!!
The press attacked Reagan relentlessly and he left office as one of the most popular presidents and won re-election with one of the most lopsided electoral landslides in history
You all are getting into the same game as the liberals; "if only Bush spoke better." Liberals also believe if they just speak the "right" way, you will buy their horrible policies. Listen to the new term, "Competitive Option" being used to try and sell Government run healthcare You nailed it, Sickoflibs. We ended up in 2008 with the two worst candidates to run for the WH in 2008 and elected the soon to be the worst president in history because of the performance of President Bush and the GOP under him.
Open borders with an attempt at amnesty, two nation building wars, a new Medicare drug entitlement, debt, ect. ect.
I'm not saying that Bush was representative of all that's evil. He is representative with what's wrong with the GOP
I don't think too many conservatives here or anywhere else for that matter were all that upset about his lack of notable verbal and oratory skills.
What we WERE upset about was his almost total lack of any vigor whatsoever in defending himself, his programs and his political party against the slanders and calumies of the Left in general and the Democrats and liberal media in particular.
This lack was damaging in the extreme to all the three entities noted above......no matter how it's glossed over now.
If, indeed, he is rising to greater vocal, critical and analytical heights today when he speaks before private audiences it's still little comfort to those of us who vividly remember all the vicious onslaughts by the Left during the Bush years with no one, including the President, on both defense and offense except for conservative radio and TV talk show personalities and pundits.
GOP party leaders were just as mute and culpable.
Leni
Wow. When did conservatives start giving A's for effort and intentions over actual results?
I am guessing that if W’s teleprompter broke, he could still stay on message.
He did. But you weren’t watching closeup. You bought the picture that Michael Moore and MSNBC and Letterman painted for you.
The Bush that this writer heard is the same Bush that Texans elected and elected again and who went to Washington and did a good job under extreme hardship.
The bigger question is why so many FReepers were duped into demonizing this good man. The vitriol is still over-the-top.
Maybe it took an 0 presidency to begin to bring the picture into focus.
God bless you, George W. Bush, and thank you for your service.
I couldnt wait till Bush was out of office. I dont miss him a bit. He was poison. At least with Obama we know who are opponent is. With your hero GWB he claimed to represent conservatism and capitalism while destroying the names of both. He even got republican trust levels for national defense down to 20s. Liberal lies?? He got almost everyone to dislike and distrust him.
Then where are they?
The economic collapse can be laid directly at the feet of a bunch of Democrats and the truth is that Bush tried to warn congress--more than once.
...which does not excuse Bush for signing the fascist bailout bill and opening the doors to more fascism and Socialism by successor administrations.
Now, why is it that you hate Bush?
Now, why is is that you shill for RINOs?
Is it because you don't know any better?
And...if you loved Bush, you'll love Romney!
W was forced to compromise his domestic agenda in order to continue congressional funding for the war on terror. I don’t even know how many votes were taken to de-fund the Iraq war. Amnesty was his major flaw.
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