ann richards started calling Geo. Bush "Dubya" as an insult & to make fun of him but he didn't let it insult him & even refered to himself as Dubya a few times. He took the sting out, so to speak, but it definately was meant as an insult. That is why I would never call him Dubya. I call him PRESIDENT BUSH. ha! take that ma richards!
I didn't know the term originated with Richards. I picked it up from the Prez himself and the daily dose of Dubya threads. How cool of him to turn an intented insult into a moniker. It just shows what a terrific personality he has--gets it from his mama. I'm glad to say that Richards doesn't own the term, and those of us who are fond of him do refer to him as Dubya and wave the three-fingered salute to Dems. Of course, in a formal setting, I would use the formal title out of respect for the office and man. But in an informal setting, I will continue to call him "Dubya" because I am fond of him and he himself is fond of nicknames. Plenty of nicknames have originated as slams--Stinky, Slim, Gippper, for example--but evolved into affectionate terms. The "Dubya" nickname also helps to distinguish him from his father. I call my father "Dad," my mother "Mom," amd my grandfather "Gramps." These are displays of affection and terms of endearment.
Richards can bite my asterisk. I'm sure she hates it that her intended insult was turned around on her.