[Athelas]

For several years I have watched GWB as he served as Governor of our state. Perhaps his most endearing quality is his simple straight-forward communication style. When GWB speaks you don't have to wonder what the definition of "is" is. I watched the 2000 campaign a bit amused as the media would parse his statements and go: "what did he mean by that?". There's an easy way to know what Bush means when he says something; he means exactly what he said.

I see the whole thing with the "16 words" as symptomatic of the media's (and Dem's) failure even at this stage to understand this simple truth about GWB: He means what he says. You don't have to pull 16 words out of a speech, parse it, redefine it, then apply it from your perspective for an "Aha!" moment.

If you want to understand what Bush means, sit and listen to him just like he was sitting in a lawn chair talking to you directly. That's probably the thing I love the most about Bush and why I would never vote for one of his opponents. I trust him to tell me the truth. No amount of spin by the Dems and their media water-carriers could ever change the deep understanding I have of his qualities in this area.

[arasina]

There's an easy way to know what Bush means when he says something; he means exactly what he said.

Qusay and Uday knew he meant what he said just as they knew Clinton didn't.