Bush sounded better in 1994. Why?

[El Supremo]

Looks like this was covered before, but here is a link to the James Fallow (author of 'Bush's Lost Year') audio from Fresh Air today:

http://freshair.npr.org/day_fa.jhtml?todayDate=current

There is a clip of the debate with Gov. Ann Richards near the beginning. He didn't stumble on words. He didn't have a big West Texas twang. His sentences were well constructed. He didn't put a strong emphasis on individual words. And he made sense!

Why is he using his fake accent more now that he is pResident? It seems that it would only help him in Texas not the rest of the US.

Fallow thinks it is because he is not as comfortable now in being President. Others say that he now has the beginnings of dementia.

Listen to the clip and tell us what you think.

[WI_DEM]

1. because Rove told him that is how real folk talk

I don't know it is a good question.

[izzie]

11. I read that also.

--

[bahrbearian]

2. Dementia ..

[Kierkegaard]

3. I think it's just because he is a disingenuous bag-sucker

who doesn't know WHO he is, because he's never had to be anyone before. His whole life has been a free ride. Well, the ride ends abruptly on November 2....

[napi21]

4. This has been on cpan several times. You're right, He did much

better back then than he does now. I heard the host on cspan ask Fallow why there was such a difference. His comment was that he felt very comfortable with the people in Tx. What you're seeing now is the pressure of talking to the whole country and knowing that he dowsn't hae the support of a big majority!

[Zero Gravitas]

5. Drain Bamage

from too much COCAINE

[dogtag]

6. Ozzie Osburne. He didn't get that way overnight either.

The effects of drugs and drink catch up sooner or later. Shrub's time has come, IMO.

[El Supremo]

8. Or Gary Busey

Maybe * fell off his bike onto his head without wearing a helmet.

[Lex]

7. My theory is he's heavily drinking again & that has triggered seizures

& the seizures have caused some permanent lessening of his speech & cognitive abilities (not that he was very gifted to begin with in this area).

[Leilani]

9. Always thought he has an insecurity complex

He realizes he is not up to the job...

Confident people don t swagger, or smirk, or bully, the way Bush does.

That is also why Cheney has had such influence; Bush lets him make many decisions. On 9/11, Cheney gave the shoot-down orders, then let Bush know.

Shrub has constantly tried to live up to his father & failed. And I think he knows if his name was George Smith, he wouldn t be President.

[amazona]

10. because wernicke korsakoff syndrome is progressive NT

.

[teach1st]

12. James Fallows makes an interesting point...

...that Bush does better when he's comfortable. Bush was comfortable with the Texas issues when campaigning for Governor. Implied is that Bush may not be as comfortable with the broader and more complex issues surrounding his presidency.

Bush may not be comfortable in a debating situation. He's comfortable, Fallows points out, when surrounded by his supporters on the campaign trail.

I personally feel that Kerry has an advantage in that he has truth and facts on his side. What does Bush have? Spin and lies.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

16. "...the campaign trail..."

Ive noticed Bush does come across alot more fluid and personable during his stump speeches....alot different than in a press Q/A situation.....

[Ruffhowse]

13. He's on heavy meds to deal with his alcoholism cravings.

Anti-depressants and mood stabilizers. Notice the increased weight and heavy sweating he has now that accompany those drugs as side effects.

[Disturbed]

14. Brain damage and now avoids physical.

I noticed on TV that after the UN appearance he was sweating heavily. No one else was. Definetly brain damage. The Dems should demand loudly that he take a physical and that his health status be reported honestly!

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

15. that was the James Fallows interview..yeah, I heard that. Wierd.

Bush was actually pretty articulate in that clip..tho he did have that southern accent....

I think Bush is maybe overwhelmed by the job and is burned out.

Yet, he did seem pretty "off" during the GOP primary debates, too. So its not a new thing.

Maybe some sort of stroke while in office in Texas?

[Dr Fate]

17. Cocaine strokes caused his fixed smirk & mumbling, stumbling speech.

n/t