The Presidential Wheel Turns

[Dusty]

Why'd it take 5 years to figure this out?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...ctions_opinion

Barack Obama was elected president in 2008 because he was not George W. Bush. In fact, he was elected because he was the farthest thing possible from Mr. Bush. On some level he knew this, which is why every time he got in trouble he'd say Bush's name. It's all his fault, you have no idea the mess I inherited. As long as Mr. Bush's memory was hovering like Boo Radley in the shadows, Mr. Obama would be OK.

In an excerpt from a longer interview, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is asked by Peter Robinson of the Hoover Institution whether he plans to run for president in 2016. "Uncommon Knowledge" is produced by the Hoover Institution for WSJ Live.


This week something changed. George W. Bush is back, for the unveiling of his presidential library. His numbers are dramatically up. You know why? Because he's the farthest thing from Barack Obama.

Obama fatigue has opened the way to Bush affection.

In all his recent interviews Mr. Bush has been modest, humorous, proud but unassuming, and essentially philosophical: History will decide. No finger-pointing or scoring points. If he feels rancor or resentment he didn't show it. He didn't attempt to manipulate. His sheer normality seemed like a relief, an echo of an older age.

And all this felt like an antidote to Obama—to the imperious I, to the inability to execute, to the endless interviews and the imperturbable drone, to the sense that he is trying to teach us, like an Ivy League instructor taken aback by the backwardness of his students. And there's the unconscious superiority. One thing Mr. Bush didn't think he was was superior. He thought he was luckily born, quick but not deep, and he famously trusted his gut but also his heart. He always seemed moved and grateful to be in the White House. Someone who met with Mr. Obama during his first year in office, an old hand who'd worked with many presidents, came away worried and confounded. Mr. Obama, he said, was the only one who didn't seem awed by his surroundings, or by the presidency itself.

Mr. Bush could be prickly and irritable and near the end showed arrogance, but he wasn't vain or conceited, and he still isn't. When people said recently that they were surprised he could paint, he laughed: "Some people are surprised I can even read."

Snip

[Trapper John]

Nice piece, thanks for the post.

In all his recent interviews Mr. Bush has been modest, humorous, proud but unassuming, and essentially philosophical: History will decide. No finger-pointing or scoring points. If he feels rancor or resentment he didn't show it. He didn't attempt to manipulate.

That is the character of the man IMO. George W. Bush after all was a Leader with compassion, humility, and consistency of word and deed. We sorely need that now.

[Sigaba]

And all this felt like an antidote to [the current POTUS]—to the imperious I, to the inability to execute, to the endless interviews and the imperturbable drone, to the sense that he is trying to teach us, like an Ivy League instructor taken aback by the backwardness of his students.

Ms. Noonan knows this how?

My point is that this remark is another rub at the Ivory Tower in general and the Ivies in particular that helps to tilt educated Americans towards the left. She could just as well made her point by saying "inexperienced" or "detached" or "unprepared" or "poorly trained" or "aloof." These, and other adjectives would have been more resonant.

My $0.02.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Ms. Noonan knows this how?

My point is that this remark is another rub at the Ivory Tower in general and the Ivies in particular that helps to tilt educated Americans towards the left. She could just as well made her point by saying "inexperienced" or "detached" or "unprepared" or "poorly trained" or "aloof." These, and other adjectives would have been more resonant.

My $0.02.

email her, Professor. Maybe she'll redact and modify the piece.

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by Dusty

email her, Professor. Maybe she'll redact and modify the piece.

What are you trying to accomplish with such attempts at pith?

What do members of the American political right want to accomplish? Do they merely want to increase the din in the echo chamber by preaching to the choir and fill cyberspace with thoughtful replies ("+1", "x1000," "This." "Period.")?

Or do they want to position themselves so that people who do not agree with positions and POVs are more inclined to listen?

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

What are you trying to accomplish with such attempts at pith?

What do members of the American political right want to accomplish? Do they merely want to increase the din in the echo chamber by preaching to the choir and fill cyberspace with thoughtful replies ("+1", "x1000," "This." "Period.")?

Or do they want to position themselves so that people who do not agree with positions and POVs are more inclined to listen?

lol That was no mere attempt.

Go back and read some of Noonan's crap immediately leading up to the election. She's almost as bad as a bonafide lib MSM'er.

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by Sigaba

Or do they want to position themselves so that people who do not agree with positions and POVs are more inclined to listen?

Let me know sir when the current administration quits trying to inflict their definition of "common sense." I have a gut instinct, and have been accused of compassion. I also have a low tolerance for inexperienced, detached, unprepared, poorly trained, and aloof executive government.

[pcfixer]

Originally Posted by Badger52

Let me know sir when the current administration quits trying to inflict their definition of "common sense." I have a gut instinct, and have been accused of compassion. I also have a low tolerance for inexperienced, detached, unprepared, poorly trained, and aloof executive government.

Your assessment is very good. I would also make some contribution to the facts.

"We are currently living under a government that accepts no moral code of ethics, no personal responsibility and passes blame on everyone else. Our country is being led by a dogmatic and narcissistic personality."