Is that Oprah? Johnny? Dubya?

National Review ^ | March 8, 2005 | Jay Nordlinger, NR Managing Editor

[HighlyOpinionated]

Friends, I attended a presidential event last Wednesday, and I’d like to tell you a little about it. This was at Anne Arundel Community College, in Arnold, Md. (about eight miles outside Annapolis). Why was I there? I was going to interview Bob Ehrlich, the governor of Maryland. His day began with this presidential event at the college.

This was one of Bush’s “real people” presentations, in which he acts as a kind of talk-show host, with ordinary citizens around him — but ordinary citizens who are especially inspiring, and can make certain presidential points. Wednesday’s event was focused on education and jobs. Bush had with him two exemplary students (the real people), the president of the community college, a local hospital administrator, and the governor.

Bush was 100 percent himself: folksy, engaging, quick, informed, confident, brusque, sympathetic, sort of wise-ass. I had never heard him so Texan (in speech). He might have been on the ranch, talkin’ to his hands. If you like the president, you loved this performance. If you don’t like him — you would have ground your teeth to a fine dust. It is said that George W. is a polarizing figure. I concede that.

[HighlyOpinionated]

As I said, if you love, or even like, President Bush, you loved this hour at Anne Arundel Community College. And if you hate or dislike, you had no shot. Bush is not a perfect, unstumbling public performer like Clinton, but he is just as effective in his own way (a rougher way). Everyone knows that Clinton is a natural; but Bush is a natural too, only a natural sometimes obscured by an abundance of humanness. Clinton and John Edwards are “perfect” — but you have the feeling they are robots who practice in front of a mirror. Bush is . . .

Dubya, who else?

[LauraleeBraswell]

You're right, Bush may mispeak but all the better. I think many people are tired of having a fast double talking politician.

[MEG33]

Good read..Thank you for posting it.(I LUV W)

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**Bush may mispeak but all the better. I think many people are tired of having a fast double talking politician. **

I'm in total agreement, Laura. Enduring 8 years of Bubba's slick talking/ways made me appreciate truth and straight-forward dialogue all the more. By God's grace do we have Bush in the Presidency.