Sorry, folks. It’s not a bad thing.
His SOTU speech is more accessible to more people than all earlier ones. It means he’s a better communicator, if that’s your measurement, not a worse one.
I know F-K pretty, pretty good, to quote Curb’s Larry David. The higher a speech reads, the denser it is. Not a measure of IQ, but ease of access.
Oh, forgot to add, I’m standing by in Nomex. Flame-proof. This F-K is not a topic for debate. Just letter lie.
Your time has expired. Please vacant the area in an orderly manner. Do not run. Be sure to check the wind direction.
I’m also familiar with Flesch - Kinkaid formula. I believe the writer was referring to Obama “blaming” himself for not communicating properly, though he could be understood by an eighth grader. Does Obama think we are dumber than eighth graders? And, we do understand, as boring as Obama’s speeches have become. I reckon when he speaks down to us, he also turns us off, and we turn him off.
Another aspect used with the Flesch - Kinkaid formula, is to know your audience. Bush’s speeches were appropriate for sophomores, because that is the average listening audience conception. An eight grader might be lost, but anyone interested in knowing what’s going on, will understand the speech, and not become disinterested out of boredom.
Most, if not all of us, speak according to people among us. We use baby talk with babies, and graduate upwards with the ages, common sense, and IQs of our peers. For instance, my grandkids would not have an idea what I am saying. However, most, if not all of you will, providing I am posting to your level, and am not boring you to death! If I screwed up, then I apologize in advance!
Especially when the target audience is the average journalist.