Why did Americans elect such a linguistically challenged President as George Bush? Does he reflect America?

Question

I am a Briton teaching English at a university in China. I have been working on correcting students' errors and recently found a website on Bushisms or Bush-speak, which have collected all Bush's manglings of the English language.
I am amazed that the President of the United States, who is the privileged scion of a rich old American "dynasty" and the product of one of the best schools and universities should have such an appalling command of the English language and display such a poverty of thought.
It has been said that Americans like, and elect, Presidents just like themselves. Does this then mean that Americans, in general, are as linguistically challenged as Bush, or even worse, since he represents what might be laughingly called the elite?

Answer 1

Remember only half of those who chose to cast their ballots voted for Bush. The other half thought he was an idiot, espeically in 2004 when we knew what Bush was about.

It's not that Americans are linguistically challenged when we vote for someone like Bush ( but remember, only half voted for him); it's that we need to choose between two candidates and in 2000, Gore actually won the popular vote and the election had to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2004, the Democrats put up a weak candidate (Kerry) who wanted to discuss the Vietnam War and his involvement, when people were worried about Iraq. The other factor that allowed Bush to win in 2004 was that politicial strategist Karl Rove and his tactics still resonated with enough people. But by 2006, it did not.

Bush is also the product of an education system that allows money to scream louder than educational achievement or intelligence.

As a Briton, please don't judge Americans by our presidential candidates. Due to the punishing length of the campaigns, the necessity of raising tens of millions of dollars, and the lack of privacy a candidate loses once they declare their candidacy, many of the best and brightest decline to run for the highest political office.

Answer 2

first evaluate the learning point of maximum individuals - maximum of what they found out has long been lost. If we elected a linguist for president no person might recognize what he's talking approximately. the guideline of thumb whilst giving a speech to the ordinary public is to maintain it at a twelfth grade academic point. yet another excuse i've got self assurance he talked that became became to have a link with the electorate - no person needs an elitist president ho seems down on each and every person.

Answer 3

I think it's because as much as people despised Bush, some of the things Kerry did people didn't trust. I'm thinking people figured they already knew what Bush was about, and Kerry wasn't very trustworthy, himself. Now, I think the country is regreting it. Personally, I hate Bush, but I also hated Kerry. I felt the 2004 was literally the worst election selection in American history.

Answer 4

Lol, I don't see why linguistics has anything to do with the validity of a politician. I personally don't support him but, the people of the United States thought that he was right on a few issues.

Answer 5

Obviously, you're going for answers filled with rancor. I for one voted for Bush both times and would be more than happy to sit down and take an IQ test with you to see if you elitist Europeans are as smart as you think. I think not. By the way, Bush has only two years left in office, why ask this question now? If you spent nearly the amount of time studying American politics as you apparently do American cognitive processes, you would know that he cannot be voted into office again. So, don't worry about it. By the way, why are you in China? Did the rest of the UK kick you out?

Answer 6

If george w. bush represents america GOD HELP US ALL people here in our country, are losing their homes because of high intrest rates, have no job to speak of and all this man does is talk and dose't even do a good job of doing that, not to mention hiding out in the air force reserves while other people sent their son off to war to die. When I was young I inlisted in the army and done what was expected of me we had no money to buy our way out like some people and I woulden't even if I could have, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!! some day if it is not to late already american people will see this and again we will have good god fearing men or women in that office insted of smart a---- pecocks like bush! coinlight65 good day! GOD BLESS OUR YOUNG SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN !!!

Answer 7

The truth is way too distasteful for most americans.....any president is just a figurehead for the government in the US.....don't make the mistake of viewing america as a political machine....big business calls the shots and consequently the country has become a business.....probably always was.
View america as a corporation and the rest will fall into place.
Britain is not far behind.....Does he reflect America?....Yes, in most cases.

Answer 8

weal for one thing i didn't vote for him and well he only has a year to go and by the way why do British or even Europeans think Americans are always idiots? hum mm. any way one rotten apple doesn't generalise the whole bunch, so DON'T GENERALISE THAT ALL AMERICANS ARE LIKE BUSH OK thank you

Answer 9

You may or may not realize in your tiny little academic world that the American language while predominantly English is also made up of hundreds of ethnics backgrounds that make up our population. The President reflects America. This President is an honest man, and to me, that speak volumes.

Answer 10

Where you go and speak with the average American, whatever the language, then you quickly understand.