Why Bush’s War College Speech Fell Flat -- Know Your Audience, Speak to Them

Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 29 May, 2004 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[Political Junkie Too]

The first rule of public speaking is: Know your audience.

Could it be that this audience thought of the speaker as their Commander-In-Chief and adhered to military protocol and discipline?

-PJ

[aft_lizard]

What way has he lost? Did Bush touch you in that secret place that requires a anatomically correct doll to point it out? Seriously I cannot understand how many of the hardcore extreme right think it is better to run away from Bush over Iraq and immigration. Would you guys prefer Kerry as President? You may not, but you may receive him anyways.

[Congressman Billybob]

I know that more than generals go to the War College. However, I picked up on the fact that no one becomes a general officer without attending courses at the College. And to my experience, those are smart cookies. That's the top end of this audience.

John / Billybob

[southernnorthcarolina]

The premise (or at least a premise) of your well-stated argument is that the President's audience was the War College student body and faculty. I would submit that it was not. That was the location, sure, but the audience was first and foremost U.S. citizens at large, and secondarily that portion of Iraqi citizenry which is more or less sympathetic to our goals.

I didn't think the speech "fell flat" at all. Certainly the battlefield circumstances under which it was delivered were difficult. I'm reluctant to be so crass as to judge the efficacy of the speech by Wall Street's reaction, but FWIW, the market reaction seems positive.

[Miss Marple]

Perhaps "helpful" was not the right word. I guess I should have said "not correct."

The audience was more than the American people. The goal of the speech was to re-emphasize the plan which we are following and to reassure the American people of that fact, and to reassure the Iraqis.

It is, after all, one of a series of speeches. And I thought the end was quite good.

I also think that we cannot expect every speech to soar. Some need to be workmanlike and informative.

[Lance Romance]

I didn't think it fell flat either. I think the only reason he wasn't interrupted by applause is because it was a military college. They are very reserved.

Granted, he's not a great orator (Abu Ghirab for instance, but he does have a way of getting the point across in a somewhat subdued and understated manner. I hope you aren't in the Dick Morris camp demanding he learn to speak "women".

[bray]

I felt it was a brilliant speech that needed to be given. It was aimed at the troops both military and political. I needed to be reminded that there is a plan being run by adults. The Beltway was not where it was aimed and too much histoir in a publik edukation is wasted. Keep the Faith Brother!

Pray for W and Our Brave Troops

[goodnesswins]

"Patton was well-nigh incompetent at office politics. However, he was one of the greatest generals the nation has ever produced. A reminder of his military thinking and leadership would have been right for the War College audience, and useful for the nation as well. The President’s speech was the weaker for the absence of any quotes from any of America’s most capable military leaders."

I, too, thought the speech lacked something, but later realized it was like a story being told, with more chapters to come....it seemed almost too intellectual in some ways, (having read some freepers analysis it appears there were subtle messages everywhere that not everyone would pick up on). Yet, I too, wanted some specificity as to what in the past we have faced and how we have pulled together to meet it....LOL....so many critics.... and, what's sobering...so many more chapters to come....

[Congressman Billybob]

Thank you. That's a lot more information than I knew, or had sources to find that out.

John

[deport]

Posted here two days before publication.

---

Testing the waters I see....

[surely_you_jest]

Glad to help. I enjoy your posts.

[rockrr]

"If Bush loses, you lose. Next thread."


What he said....

[Miss Marple]

I appreciate your interest in having a large dose of history, but the speech was already long for American attention spans, and many references to history, while appreciated by the War College, would have gone over the heads of most Americans and certainly the Iraqis.

Remember, the speech was carried on cable which means CNN and Fox, both seen in Iraq. There were articles gauging the Iraqi reaction to the speech the next day.

It is easy to forget that presidential speeches are seen world-wide, but they are, and I think that needs to be taken into account.

[Torie]

I agree with you, that Bush was not there to please his audience. I don't think the audience was as "disappointed" as CBB suggests. I think the speech was OK, if rather repetitive of earlier speeches, except for his oversell of the significance of the June 30 transition. Would that the transition on that date be seminal. It will not be alas. That's my judgment.

[finnman69]

I thought the speech was wonkish. But I would like to hear more inpsirational speeches on a more frequent basis.

[oceanview]

He didn't MOAB Najaf and Fallujah. He hasn't sent Muslims in the US to internment camps. He would be leading by 20 points in the polls if he did these things. The country really doesn't have as many Democrats and left leaning independents as are observed in most polls that show Kerry leading the election, those people are really closet "uber-conservative" who would switch and vote for Bush if he did those things. The New York Times would endorse him if he only MOABed someone, anyone.

</sarcasm>

[Torie]

Let me probe you again, CB: what should have been in the history lesson that would have made the speech more effective?

[Revolting cat!]

Closely related (because they focus on the ignorance of history). Mark Helprin:

[1] No Way to Run a War (Only 18 responses here! Unbelievable!)
[2] War in the Absence of Strategic Clarity (Was it ever posted?)

[zinochka]

Thank you. Your letter is goof\d. I agree President Bush is not a great speaker, but he is a doer! We all have questions about Iraq and Terrorism but he ca'nt asnwer them all because of security. Thats o.k. with me. No one will stop supporting President Bush because he is a so-so speaker. As if we'd vote for Kerry, right??!!

[Skywalk]

Yeah, OK, be a jackass instead of contribute to the thread.

Dispute what he says or don't post. How does that sound?