Bush’s communication skills were strong and clearly stronger than Obama’s. The myth that they were poor is part of the larger anti-conservative mythology that animates our intellectual establishments.
The counter arguments:
1. Bush did put a bulldog into the press position: Tony Snow. Snow was excellent.
2. Bush’s rhetorical frames survive him. We are fighting a war on terror— not a war on Islam. The war on Islam was not and is not viable.
3. The with us or against us phraseology was compelling.
4. Bush succeeded in persuading both Congress and dozens of allies in joining the US in the war on terror— including two wars.
5. Bush had two way communication which his critics pretend is a weakness. He did not force issues that conservatives disliked. He did not force Harriet Miers. He did not force Amnesty. Reagan the “great communicator” did force amnesty. Reagan caved on many conservative positions including debt management.
6. Bush delegated to competent individuals which made his administration more effective. The absurdity of Obama deciding his own kill list is supreme dangerous and foolish arrogance.
7. Bush negotiated close relations with India that are the cornerstone of a capacity to contain China.
8. Bush used self deprecating humor with devastating and consistent positive results.
9. Bush galvanized more than 300 million people to vote for the pro Bush candidate in places as diverse as Poland, Georgia, Ukraine, South Korea, Canada and France. Many of those conservative movements remain with us to this day. Harper is a profound force for conservatism.
10. Bush’s silence which you mock created space for the tea party and other conservative voices. Bush let republicans and conservatives make their own cases in 2012 and 2008. He did not criticize Obama but he also did not criticize conservative rivals. His architect Rove has been much more vocal and is considered a more trained communicator. Rove is a disaster and you know that. Seeing the obvious daylight between Rove’s secular delusions and the kinder gentler evangelical spirit of Bush is now abundantly clear. Bush’s silence is an important pre text to current conservative movements.
11. Bush won many political battles including multiple tax cuts through his communication skills.
12. The fact that academics and hollywood think Bush is a poor communicator is meaningless. Bush was not dependent on a teleprompter and remains one of the most gifted speakers at speaking from the heart. Idealizing Clinton requires a fundamental repudiation of Ethos that allows for lying as a legitimate rhetorical art.
13. As this thread is predicated, Bush has rebounded to 47 percent. He is adored in Africa— even in muslim majority countries. He is adored in many parts of the world where is message of freedom is respected.
14. The deeper refusal of conservatives to defend President Bush is the real problem and obvious at FR. I could easily thrash Reagan— whom I love— but I admire what I like about Reagan and recognize the value of Reagan’s 11th commandment. Keep in mind that the Boston bombers believe that Iraq and Afghanistan were unjust wars— much like many conservative Bush bashers. We provide the bipartisan cover for BDS. It is wrong and unethical.
you make a few valid points, but many more flawed statements as well, and have created a fantasy over all narrative. Snow was the best of Bush’ spokespersons, but he died. Bush did use self deprecating humor well, but it was his only rhetorical weapon of any effectiveness. Bush did have a couple moments, the bullhorn moment and the “with us or against us” moment - but then ran scared of “the cowboy” image and never was good again. Your point #10 about his silence being some kind of genius to set the stage for the tea party is totally absurd. Your point 13 misses the obvious about polling and ex Presidents, and your point 14 is also absurd, as it was Bush’ obligation as President to stand up for his constituents - and for you to blame the constituents who finally gave up after many years of emptiness from Bush is just astounding.
You have a man crush, and it’s very unappealing.