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 websites 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

Without a doubt, the quality of education offered in American schools has plummeted in the last 25 years. Parents from all walks of life, presented with failing grades by their undereducated children, reacted by forcing schools to lower their standards. The result has been new generations of young people who, as adults, lack even fundamental knowledge of science, mathmatics, and linguistics. It does not bode well for the future of science and technology, let alone education, in America.

The causes are manifold. Parents, both working long hours, who are less and less involved in their children's lives. High standards of living causing entertainment to be more valued than work. Lack of role models. The Internet. Reality television. Computer games. Hollywood. Consumerism. Your evaluation is as good as mine.

Bush is not the product of such an average American household. He's from a driven, ambitious, wealthy family, and an older generation, which valued knowledge, and whose collective work ethic still drives our economy.

Still, you have a point. He is more representative of the younger generations coming into adulthood now, than he is of his own. The political machine that put him into power was more responsible for his success than he was. Once there, in the limelight, his shortcomings became glaringly obvious. Was his re-election a result of his appeal to the younger crowd? I doubt it. They do not turn out in large numbers to vote. Their poor education also fails to teach them about the importance of good government, and civic responsibility.

I'm afraid Bush was elected, and re-elected, for reasons that have far more to do with American's fears and biases, than for his intellect or capabilites. We, and too much of the rest of the world, will suffer the result for some time to come.

Answer 2

Are all of the British hippies like John Lennon? Do all British act like their Queen? Are all of the British like Prince Harry or Prince William? Do they dress in distasteful Hitler outfits as Prince Harry did? I know that the British admire these people although they weren't elected to office; the British do support these people much more than the Americans appear to support Mr. Bush.

I know the British don't all act like these people as it is wrong to make such assumptions, and although I am not an American, I am interested in its politics and such enough to offer my opinion. I don't think that one can judge a group of people based on their leader. For example, not all Russians were like Mr. Stalin, but yet, people associate all Russians with him. Even here in Canada, far removed from Mr. Stalin in both time (I was born long after he reigned) and location (I live on a completely different continent now), people still associate all Russians with Mr. Stalin; they think that we are tough and unforgiving. It's simply not true, and I don't appreciate being placed in such a group based on my leader or country's history; I am sure an American wouldn't appreciate someone assuming they're linguistically challenged just because their president is.

I think it was that Mr. Bush was barely elected both times, and now much of his support has disappeared. Think of the people who didn't vote for him or don't support him now.

In my opinion, Mr. Bush's education at such an elite school was made possible by a large sum of money... In many places, it seems that a bit of money can yield great things. As a university professor, I am sure that you are aware of all of the benefits bribes have yielded throughout history; if not, pick up some good politics or history books at your library. In fact, I am reading "Schindler's List" (about the Holocaust) at the moment, and the amount of bribery which takes place is astounding.

Nonetheless, it's not really appropriate for one to associate a group of people based on the actions or stupidity of their leader.

Answer 3

Surely you know that Americans did not elect George Bush into office. There were many Neoconservative covert groups and systems in place to have him usurp the election from first Al Gore and then John Kerry.

People were onto the scam in time for the current election. In all three elections, the Democrats won by a landslide, but there was ballot tossing, registrations being banished and rigged machines, not to mention the exit poll breakdown, It was all very amazing to watch.

George was a fratboy and a cut up before he was corralled and then groomed to learn about the way government works and then placed in the governorship for a state that was previously democrat. To steal that state, many republicans ran on democratic tickets. New districts were drawn so that bushie boy would win. He also commandeered a ranch from someone by boosting taxes. It's now called the Crawford Ranch.

Because Bush had taken so many drugs and drank so much alcohol, he has trouble putting simple concepts together. Watch Jon Stewart-- it's pretty evident. The damage is there.

Your students need to know that he was not elected and has no humanity. He doesn't care about human deaths or destruction-- at all.

Do your students a favor and get them tapes of Bill Clinton, Al Gore or any number of leaders who were driven out by political games. There are even decent Real Republicans that can put a thought together. There are tapes available.

Answer 4

For the most part, I think George W. Bush reflects a very small part of America in terms of his elocution; that would be uneducated, poverty strickened "good ole boy's" from the south and Appalachian mountain regions of the United States. However, to me, he sounds like a cast member from the syndicated sitcom "The Beverely Hillbillies".

If you think about it, there are striking simularities between the George W.Bush and Jethro Bodine. Both of their families made money from oil, Both went to the finest schools that money can buy (Jethro in his late teens enrolled in grade school, Bush Jr., a Yale.University Business School graduate with a "C minus" G.P.A); Last but not least, Jethro and George W. share the same dialect. I can understand this circumstance for Jethro. He lived in the "sticks" most of his life. As for Bush Jr., I can't explain it! LOL.

I can provide you with my theory as to why he speak like a Clampett: He grew up a spoiled southern rich kid who didn't take his studies seriously. Daddy paid his way, or donated to every institution/organization he was afilliated with. Not only that, he's a product of his families legacy. So, why in the hell does he need "book Learnin"? It's much better being served umbrella drinks near by the "cement pond".

cement pond=swimming pool

I'm a U.S. Navy veteran and I have graduated from college with honors. I need a job. Where do sign up for the presidency? If he can do it....

Answer 5

I am one hundered perent American and i ask people the same thing. Bush got the least votes in the election but, somehow became President. The democracy in this country is an disillusion. I am very competent in my speech. Not all Americans are incompetent Bush does not represent the country because there are a whole lot of poor and homeless people here.

Answer 6

Okay, no I am not a big fan of Bush, but at the same time, I don't hate him. What you're asking is that if someone doesn't pass the physical attraction test, they don't deserve to be voted for anything. That's stereotypical and very wrong. I wouldn't care if Bush had the worst accent, clothes, and/or hair...I would focus on his policies. That's all I need.

Answer 7

I am a Texan. While I am not particularly a fan of Bush, like many Texans, he chooses to be "plain spoken" as many of us are. Do not make the mistake of assuming this indicates inferior intellect or poverty of thought. On the contrary, we use, subtle, colorful and symbolic references and melodic infections in our dialog. Indeed we are very adept in the art of conversing and writing. Know that we can listen to you talk and understand virtually every word and concept you present. On the other hand, we can have an entire conversation and leave you totally in the dark. Your posting reminds me of one of my favorite jokes....
There was a country boy named Sam who went to Austin to register for classes at UT. He was friendly and spoke to everyone he passed. After a while, he decide to register so he approached this very prim looking gent with a bow tie and asked "where the administration was at." The gent looked annoyed and responded, ' this is an institute of higher learning and we never end a sentence with a preposition here." Well, old Sam thought about this a moment and decided to oblige the gentleman and re-worded his question. He then asked the gent..."Okay, where ist the administration building, asshole?" We love this joke here in Texas. Y'all have fun over yonder in China...I'm fixin to eat some of this delicious Thanksgivin' food!

Answer 8

I think Bush was selected to run for president cause he reflected the average American, "someone you could sit down and have a beer with" even though he is a tee totaler, thing is he is not a bit close to the average American having been brought up in a life of wealth and privilege

Answer 9

Hey - gingertod's Q&A...!!!
It amuses me that every time a Brit attacks G.W. Bush an awful lot of Americans (LIKE YOU) feel obligated to deliver a patriotic counter blast against Tony Bliar - (BLIAR...!) Because what almost anyone with political savvy knows is that, to most Brits, Bliar and Bush are the real embodiment of the "Evil Empire"...! And that almost any Brit who takes the trouble to sound off against G.W.Bush is practically guaranteed to hate Tony Bliar even more...!!!
The USA never had Britain as an ally - JUST TONY BLIAR...!!!

Answer 10

Now why in the world would I care if Bush uses proper English and doesn't have speaking flare?! He's getting the message across just fine despite his 'appalling command of the English language' to the enemy which hasn't attacked us since 9/11 and that is all that counts!!! Better to be mangling of the English language and be safe than a great speaker and be attacked!