Posted on 02/05/2005 7:25:23 AM PST by johnny7
"But they're still capable of mounting stiff opposition to Bush's agenda, especially Social Security reform and judicial nominations."
Shouldn't it be "stiff OBSTRUCTIONISM?" Opposition is when you oppose someone and actually have ideas and solutions to the problems presented.
Obstructionism is when you just block votes and say, "No" for the helluvit, with no ideas or solutions to offer.
Am I misunderstanding something? Not trying to be knit-picky, but a spade is a spade.
I am one of Fred's biggest fans; however, I have been troubled by his crossed arms for some time. To me, it makes him appear to be on the defensive and uncomfortable, not relaxed and confident.
I am im a very public job where everything I do is seen and everyone is looking at me most of the time and I NEVER cross my arms. In fact, I try to look like Brit Hume does when he delivers the news on his show [and it is harder to do than it looks]. Fred is fine from the neck up, but he has to learn to keep his hands on the table or under it.
I think the crossed arms are a distraction from what he is saying.
I agree with you. Mort is indeed thoughtful, and often has good points to make. I think some of his views are also pretty dumb, but I'm sure he would think the same of mine.
Yes, Mort and Fred are good foils for each other's views, and the fact that they can disagree and obviously have respect for each other as people is a nice thing to see.
Mort's not whipped. Mort understands how he is beating them. Too bad his party doesn't listen to him.
My wife and I were talking about this very thing yesterday. President Bush seems to have things fall his way....just out of the blue. Buckhead exposing Rather, the Swiftboater coming out of nowhere,....these 2 things were not working for Bush insofaras they were on his payroll. Things just fell his way. He seems easier in his own skin. The main stream media are in derision. They have been made to see the light and finally realize they are not bulletproof. If they do not change they will be destroyed. The very dim bulb is slowly becoming more incancescent. More MSM bodies will still have to be left along the roadside but we are finally heading in the right. I hope President Bush will do the single most important thing he can for the country and that is name very strict originalists to the subpreme court. If he can get 3 or 4 liberal seats fitted with conservative butts our country may be saved yet.
Presidential adviser Karl Rove, who's schooled himself on Social Security and become an expert, was blunt. For decades, Republicans prayed for the day they'd control Congress. Having achieved that, Rove said, it's time to do something with it.
Learning to control one's instinctive body language in public speaking situations is an extremely hard thing to do. I have had to do it also, and I can verify what you're saying.
I agree with you, crossed arms are always read instinctively by the observer as defensiveness and/or rigidity. It should never be done in his situation. That, combined with his hesitant speech, tends to dilute the effectiveness of his arguments on the air. Some of his other mannerisms, like bobbing up and down slightly with his hands in his lap, also convey a sense of nervousness and uncertainty.
With regard to Brit, have you noticed that Brit Hume nearly always leans slightly forward and looks quite intently at the camera when delivering the news or speaking directly to his audience? Because of that, when Brit leans back in talking to a panelist, it has an immediate unconscious impact on the viewer, maybe more than his actual words.
The other major negative in a public figure's speaking style that I have noticed is Dick Cheney's tendency to lower his head and talk to his lap. In his debate with Edwards, that nearly drove me nuts. That unconscious habit dilutes the man's message, and his thoughts and views are both profound and important. George Bush, for all the criticism of his speaking, has done a phenomenal job of improving both his speaking style and his public presence.
You said: "With regard to Brit, have you noticed that Brit Hume nearly always leans slightly forward and looks quite intently at the camera when delivering the news or speaking directly to his audience?"
Yes, this is what I am talking about. This is what I try to imitate when it is my turn to speak and make a strong point. You have to be careful, though, because you can come across too strong and undercut yourself.
Who are you... Howie Carr?
What a class act our President is - pure class in the face of hatred. Awesome!
I don't think it's cold - as much as it's CALCULATED to rub salt in the wounds. LOL! And .. he does it so well.
And .. we to continually remind our repubs in congress - that we expect them to DO SOMETHING with this new power - something meaningfull and lasting.
"she has been revealed as a lying, promiscuous, ungrateful simpleton"
Sheeeeesh! I didn't know this thread was about Hillary .. LOL!!
Bush, by not caring one whit about his "Legacy" will have one almost as great as Reagan's.
NOPE!! Frist is armed and ready to change the rules if the dems try to filibuster anything.
Frist could force them to actually filibuster - or he could change the rules - and he's already warned them he's prepared to do that. I suspect they will try to force his hand - just so they can whine to the media on how unfair the repubs are and how power hungry they are .. etc.
I know .. isn't it a scream!
Frist has vowed a change of the rules of filibuster only in regard to judicial appointments. I've not heard him say that filibusters will be opposed for other legislative business.
I do believe, however, that I've read someplace that the rules don't permit filibusters of budgets.
But .. Bush does not underestimate them .. that's why he's ahead of them. And .. they still have not figured that out. Kerry made the fatal mistake of believing Bush was a dunce - and he made that statement when he found out he was losing and losing badly .. "I can't believe I'm losing to that idiot". To characterize your opponent as an idiot - is a fatal miscalculation.
Your analysis is exactly correct!
They are obstructing - not opposing.
I don't think they ever will figure it out. That's why they're losing, and losing big.
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