This isn't really a deeply philosophical debate, but it's something I've wondered about for a long time, and have discussed with friends. It is conceded that Bush isn't too bright, articulate, etc., usually even by his defenders, but something many of his critics seem to agree on is this idea that he projects an image of a guy you'd like to have a beer with. And I don't get this at all. When I see him he seems alternately confused or condescending, overly amused by his own, at best, marginally humerous references, and generally not the kind of person I could envision enjoying time with. He doesn't seem particularly offensive either, but I don't get the beer with Bush appeal. I managed and tended bars for years, and Bush strikes me as a guy who would either be a non-event, or annoying, depending on the subject at hand. Among the problems are that he clearly sees things in stark black and white, and with someone like that there is no room for a dicsussion about anything. If they are intelligent or a communicator, you could listen to their position on something as it is explained to you and be informed or entertained, but there will be no point in engaging in the conversation, as their mind is entirely made up. But beyond that his simple mannerisms, and the way he makes a farily facile statement and pauses as though it were profound, or makes a grade school level joke or pun and simpers as though he had just made a stinging observation would be grating, I find. The friends I have discussed this with are as mystified as I am by this phenomenon, and none could relate to it. And, to pre-ept a certain poster's Poupon reference, these friends come from different walks of life, and are not all 'elitist academics'. So this is primarily directed at those who fall into the group who do see this element in him, guys like Batman in particular, but aren't necessarily an automatic supporter of his. For the record, I thought the same things about Bush when I supported him politically, and this has nothing to do with posturing. It's probably increased over time, with more exposure to him, but it wasn't initiated because of the war or what have you.
Well maybe not a beer. But give him a line of coke and watch him GO!!!!! mc mark's sad attempt at humor...
i dunno. i do see bush as a sort of guy who'd be receptive to ideas (since he hasn't got many of his own), who you could laugh together with at a rude or crude or terribly politically incorrect remark, who you won't feel embarrassed to make a mental miscue in front of, who, after you got drunk with him, you won't feel like he'd look down upon you, with whom you won't be intimidated to discuss america's place in the world, american jobs going to china, or who's going to win the world series. in other words, an affable, back-slapping chum. not a sleazy, too-smart-for-his-own-good scumbag like clinton. not a gravitas-laden billionaire statesman like bush sr. bush and a beer? i definitely see it. as for seeing things in black and white. i think this holds true to quite a number of americans. for a country that languished too long under the moral ambivalence of the clinton administration, a bit of a straight-shooter is precisely what we need. don't get me wrong. i would vote for kerry in a heartbeat if not for the democrat's position on china and taiwan. i simply cannot stand the republicans' bizarre neglect on environmental issues like global warming. but to me my own people getting slaughtered in the next decade is a more pressing matter than the world going underwater in 100 years.
I think he'd be a bore. You couldn't talk philosophy or history or books or even politics with him because he simply can't converse on those topics. My suspicion is his idea of a conversation is him talking and you listening. I also think if you really had a chance to talk to him, his condescension would quickly come to the fore. It's clear to me that he thinks of himself as an elitist, though whether that's by virtue of the Bush name, his position, or his relationship with his god I don't know.
Well, there was that internet tape that showed him downing a beverage at a wedding years after the supposed moment of truth on his 40 th bc in front of the mirror. He was genuinely funny while giving the toast to the bride and groom. He seemed pretty funny. I'm sure we all have enjoyed a beer with someone who we thought was pretty morally despicable, but was amusing. After all he was the fraternity president at Yale and a couple of decades of being a wild party guy.
Giving Bush a beer would waste perfectly good beer- beer that I could drink to make me momentarilly forget that Bush is president.
And he brags about not reading the newspapers, which I really, really find hard to believe. To think that this guy was elected President! He really does sound like a bore. As has been mentioned, perhaps he was fun to be around when he was loaded... maybe then he had a personality, however wacked out it may have been.
yknow, im sure he has a good humor for things, you'd expect that a C student is someone who doesn't spend his time with his nose in a book. although he does see things in black and white, i also see that he would easily be open to ideas, especially things that he doesnt care too strongly about, im sure he has a few things to say about the rockets if he isnt one of the guys on the D&D already. hes certainly a friendly person who would not say anything bad or striking to your face, he's the kind who does it behind your back. he was air national guard and does not do press confrences, meaning that he doesnt like face to face confrontation.
I'd love to have a beer with George W. We would talk incessantly about baseball. I would match him round for round. It would be fun. Then, after he passed out, I would lift all of the trust-fund cash he had in his wallet.
He would treat yall like peons, the same way he treated that producer on the Letterman show as a handy wiping cloth.
Is this some sort of repressed fantasy? Since bamaslammer knows what you're talking about, maybe since you live just a couple of states over, you could work something out.
I would like to have a beer with Bush, but I'd much rather have one with Clinton. I'll bet he parties like a rock star. Me and him together? Forget it!
I wouldn't trust Clinton as far as I could throw him, which given what I've seen of his flabby thighs, wouldn't be very far at all, and he should have been booted, but there is no doubt that he would be fascinating to sit down with. Not only is he brilliant whereas Dubya.....er....isn't, but he's got a keen interest in areas I find interesting, like history, literature, etc. Additionally, several profiles I have seen of him, some by admirers, some by critics, all admit to his unusual and fascinating perspective on things, and I have seen him described as having the most journalistic take on events of any contemporary politician. Possibly why he could spin them so well.
