RUSH: Someone who saw Bush's eulogy said make sure to have a box of Kleenex handy.

All press conferences ebb and flow. There are good questions, good answers. There are questions that are asked that after the event you think of 6 different ways you wish you had answered it better.

Having worked in communications and having to do public speaking... I know how hard and nerve-racking that situation is. To have to listen to people like you gripe is annoying as hell. You want every word to be pitch perfect and spoken with the voice of an angel.

The President is not glib. I've known that the first time I heard him speak. He has a fractured syntax and can butcher a sentence. I've also known that since I have first heard him speak. I've also known that sometimes his thoughts don't flow as easily as say...Bill Clinton...but I would rather have an honest man speaking than a glib one.

The President is what he is. Press conferences are hardest on him. They have always been. But, he gets his point made because he firmly believes in what he is doing. His integrity comes through loud and clear. Sometimes he gets handled way to much. I remember some of Ronald Reagan press conferences, when he was handled too much - yes, even Ronald Reagan would have difficulties speaking.

I guess the end result of this rant is to say... I get tired of the petty nickpicking that goes on on Free Republic. "I don't like his tie." "He didn't say it the way I would have said it." "Did you hear how he says the word nuclear." My word!

You, HitmanNY, couldn't do it any better... because if you could, you would be President. So, those who do, do...and those who don't come onto public forums and bitch, moan, and complain about the one with the strength, courage, and integrity to stand before a hostile press corps and the nation and answer questions. George W. Bush has nothing to apologize for in the way he handles himself. Not to me and certainly not to you.

I am in wide agreement with you.

I like Dubya and am not a nitpicker in the least, and share your annoyance at those who take issue with his tie, etc.

He isn't glib but that's not all bad - he has a folksy appeal and is clearly sincere. I'd rather have an honest and sincere leader than a slick and dishonest/insincere one.

That being said, the stakes are very high. One reason the nation is divided close to 50-50 on his presidency is that he has the damndest time communicating his vision. That deficiency is made more important because, as I said, the media can't be counted on to fairly and accurately communicate it for him.

That's NOT nitpicking. In order for a leader to lead, he needs to communicate effectively. Bush manages to lead well enough despite his flaws, but he hasn't gotten better at speaking after over 3 years in office (and I think around a decade total in elected office in Texas and as president of the USA).

There really is no excuse that he hasn't improved in that time. I don't expect him to be a word class orator (and I don't mistake that for brains or anything, but clearly it is a skill a leader should want to develop).

If you can't distinguish between observations about his attire and observations in his ability to communicate well, then you have deeper problems than I can address here.

Part of his job is to lead. If he looks confused at his own press conference - and he did, clearly, perform underwhelmingly - it compromises his ability to lead. That's an entirely valid observation.

As for your thinking in your closing thought, you clearly have a problem in drawing conclusions. Is the fact that I am not president really evidence that I am not a better public speaker than Dubya? No way, not at all. If you really think that, you really do need help.

Of course. I didn't take the remarks personally at all. I did think they were out of place, though, but I figured there was something else going on.

No apology is necessary - I also defend Dubya when I can, very passionately. I was in nyc for a funeral recently and had it out with some doofus in a DNC windbreaker right on Bleecker & LaGuardia - he was lying in my first question to him and I called him out, calling him a liar. I know how frustrating it can be at times.

That being said, Dubya isn't perfect. Pointing that out isn't a bad thing - not necessarily anyway. I would wish the handlers would take 30 mins every morning and just do a mock press conference with him and be brutal. That's the best way he can improve.

We are both Freepers and I don't doubt we are on the same side! Peace!

Good luck on exams and with other stresses of life. I have been bummed all weak about the Reagan loss myself.

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