Like I said in my post, he is not a good public speaker, and although he has worked on it and improved, it just isn't in him. But I've met a lot of very smart, capable people who are not good speakers.
In fact, some of the best speakers in the country right now come out of Hollywood and are dumber than a box of rocks.
That said, he is a brilliant communicator in the old fashioned sense. I have never met him in person either, but I watch him in crowds or answering questions. You instinctively come away understanding the man. It's not always words that communicate, it's the eye contact, the body language, a wink or a nod, a smile in the right direction or an empathic touch. He is brilliant in that regard. He makes honest, emotional connections with people very quickly. He is profoundly human, and it matters not if you are powerful or weak, he can make that connection with you.
That is the kind of communication that actually accomplishes things. The rest is the kind of communications that ends up in the "blah, blah, blah" pile.
The press knows this. That is why they so quickly cut away when he is in town hall meetings, but linger during press conferences and speeches. They are hostile partially because he does not want to communicate the way they think he should—from a distance with nice flowery words. You know, the way they do.
Most importantly, in the end it is not whether or not one sounds stupid that is important, it is whether or not one acts stupid. Because as Forrest says, "stupid is as stupid does."
I was within about 30' of him in 2001. I felt and observed those things that you speak of. He made eye contact with me, seemed to give me a look of comfort and understanding. He gave a solemn and respectful nod. I knew that he could see the tears in my eyes and that he really cared.
This experience was outside the Capital building during a national memorial for fallen Law enforcement officers. I had lost one of my guys in the line of duty. A meth freak used a shotgun to blow his brain out.
Our country certainly has it's problems but, in so many ways, we have been blessed to have President Bush at the helm.