-PJ
George W.'s Smirk: A Chatterbox Investigation"........But since personality is also to some extent genetically based and, moreover, can be passed environmentally from one generation to the next--particularly when father and son share not only the same home but also a few institutional influences (e.g., Andover and Yale)--it is conceivable that the shared smirk signifies a shared ... arrogance."
[Joe Klein on the "Bush Smirk:"] ..."It would be easy to mistake such elaborate body language for arrogance, as more than a few observers have, whereas the true meaning of the tic may be the exact opposite. It may just signify relief--that he has successfully managed to jump another public hurdle without embarrassing himself. Or it may mean nothing at all."....
I agree with Political Junkie Too. The media recycles tired, old, denigrating catch phrases. If anyone types “Bush smirk” into a search engine, you’ll find that “smirk” has been used many times since at least 1999 in describing Republicans and/or conservatives and/or Christians.