George Bush

[EMDEE]

I must confess to being a complete novice regarding American politics, but I find it intriguing as to how George Bush has come to be President. I am probably being naive.

He has been much criticised on this forum as well as other places, he has been ridiculed, almost become a figure of fun, yet he is holding the most powerful political position in the world.

His utterances have coined a new word- “Bushism” and he is unable to pronounce the word “nuclear”, although he has had plenty of practice. I read recently that he has the second lowest IQ of any of the presidents of the US. How this can be scientifically proven I don’t know, but you can’t believe everything on the internet.

There are quite a number of forum members who are in the US, and what I would like to know from them is how someone who commands so little respect and who is obviously lacking in charisma can manage to be elected as president of the only true superpower in the world at the moment?

This is a genuine question; I am not trying to take the piss.

[big tony]

money!!!

[Sweltered]

I must confess to being a complete novice regarding American politics, but I find it intriguing as to how George Bush has come to be President. I am probably being naive.

He has been much criticised on this forum as well as other places, he has been ridiculed, almost become a figure of fun, yet he is holding the most powerful political position in the world.

His utterances have coined a new word- “Bushism” and he is unable to pronounce the word “nuclear”, although he has had plenty of practice. I read recently that he has the second lowest IQ of any of the presidents of the US. How this can be scientifically proven I don’t know, but you can’t believe everything on the internet.

There are quite a number of forum members who are in the US, and what I would like to know from them is how someone who commands so little respect and who is obviously lacking in charisma can manage to be elected as president of the only true superpower in the world at the moment?

This is a genuine question; I am not trying to take the piss.

You have to remember that the vast majority of people round the world cannot vote in the US. Plus of course less than half of those in this country ie those who ridicule him, didn't vote for him. His grades at University were actually comparable to his most recent opponent John Kerry.

Of course he had the financial backing, but you also have to remember he comes from a long line of politicians also. His grandfather was a Senator. He and his father and grandfather were also a members of the most influential club at Yale, it is a bit like the Masons where everyone helps each other, and most of these peopl are very influential in business and politics.

Bush is not stupid, he may be wrong a great deal of the time, but he's not stupid. It's impossible to form an accurate opinion on politicians over here because the media is so biased one way or another, there is no objective reporting. Both sides are as bad as each other. Clinton for instance, copied hundreds of fbi files as insurance, well that's the story anyway. No-one will accept any idea from the other side regardless of merit, it's pitiful really, they all behave like 5 year olds.

[bill]

As my mother used to say,"to get on in this world it's not what you know it's who you know"

Simple but true in most cases.

[Annie]

He and his father and grandfather were also a members of the most influential club at Yale, it is a bit like the Masons where everyone helps each other, and most of these peopl are very influential in business and politics.

Skull and Crossbones Club. Very elitist!!

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Emdee..

George was governor of Texas for two terms. That is not a position in which a person is so prominently viewed. Governor is a position elected by popular vote in Texas. Ann Richards was the clearly favored, but to everyone's surprise Bush won (sound familiar?).

He wasn't a horrible governor. Even as governor he never came across as very bright, but Texas didn't fall apart. When it came to the presidential elections his first time, he was up against Gore. Its like both parties scraped the bottom of the barrel. I couldn't believe that this was the best either party could do; America was given a choice of two bad candidates, one of those "damned if you do, damned if you don't" things. His father was president, he was better known. Maybe people thought he would be more answerable. Who knows.

As for the second time, I think voters worried that it was so bad, what would happen if on top of that someone else took over in the middle of it. That and the fact many still believed the lies, and because sometimes people want to believe what they believe so badly that they will ignore any facts that might make them have to re-evaluate what they think. A lot of people really want George Bush to be the good man they think he is.

Btw, I have since changed my mind about Gore "being the bottom of the barrel." I'm not sure what kind of president he really would have been or what he would have done in a world arena, but I do have a lot of respect for him because of the environmental campaign that he has been on virtually all his life.

[Old Willham]

I always like the story that the great American stand-up Bill Hicks used to tell about new US presidents. He said that after each President is sworn in he is taken to a dark smoke filled room where the worlds 7 biggest industrialists are seated. He is told to sit down and then they show him a film of the Kennedy assassination "from an angle no one has ever seen before" and then the main industrialist puffs on his cigar and says "any questions ?".

This is funny because it is so close to the mark. Most American Presidents are elected due to huge financial backing from Companies who see it as a way to ensure they can continue to make obscene amounts of money without the risk of Government intervention. The less intelligent, easily corruptable and more malleable the candidate the better, just look at Bush, Reagan, Bush, Ford, Carter, Nixon, Kennedy etc etc etc.....not exactly Mensa candidates.

[Annie]

Bobbie En Tejas

George was governor of Texas for two terms. That is not a position in which a person is so prominently viewed. Governor is a position elected by popular vote in Texas. Ann Richards was the clearly favored, but to everyone's surprise Bush won (sound familiar?).

Thank God he is out this time. Who will be next I wonder?

[Old Willham]

The next Gov'nr of Texas will be the wonderful Kinky Friedman.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

From your lips to god's ear. Unfortunately, he is only at 11% the day before election.

[Annie]

We will see what happens in the 11th hour. Maybe Kinky will pull it out of his erse, and WIN!!!

Keep your fingers crossed!

[jfine]

"how George Bush has come to be President."

Because last time the alternative was John Kerry. Most people will not admit it, but media coverage has A LOT to do with it.

Kerry was not, well, as photogenic. Not that Bush is, but that's the choice.

When all the fat asses here in USA are watching TV every single night, they look at the mannerisms, etc., Most could care less about the issues they stand for, nor do they even know. And by the way, most of the debate last time was a "No, I didn't say that", "You said that..." etc., So what kind of decision can the average american make based on media coverage and accusatory debates?

Jesse Ventura, Arnold, etc., did not win because they had no silver screen presence, puhleease.

[Sweltered]

"how George Bush has come to be President."

Because last time the alternative was John Kerry. Most people will not admit it, but media coverage has A LOT to do with it.

Kerry was not, well, as photogenic. Not that Bush is, but that's the choice.

When all the fat asses here in USA are watching TV every single night, they look at the mannerisms, etc., Most could care less about the issues they stand for, nor do they even know. And by the way, most of the debate last time was a "No, I didn't say that", "You said that..." etc., So what kind of decision can the average american make based on media coverage and accusatory debates?

Jesse Ventura, Arnold, etc., did not win because they had no silver screen presence, puhleease.

You don't think that the same applies to UK politics?

Giles Brandreth, Sebastian Coe, Glenda Jackson....

There are porn stars in the Italian parliament.

You really think the blinking screens in the trailer parks have the debates on !!! Dancing with the Stars!!!!!!!!!

The US is not unique, it just originated here. Oh and there is the odd porker in the UK too you know, catching up fast!!!!!!

[jfine]

Sounds like you don't know I live in Portland Oregon and have most of my life, so I see the fat asses firsthand, wouldn't know about UK politics but can only imagine.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Exactly who are the fat asses?