Jeffery Feldman at
The Frameshop is Open writes a nice piece about Bush's inability to convey emotion; particularly the pain inflicted by Katrina.
The reason is quite simple. Unlike Clinton, Bush has never felt real pain. Clinton came from a broken home, abusive relatives, and poverty. He has known pain. Bush on the other hand, has had a silver spoon in his mouth since birth. He ran a few businesses to the ground but made lots of money in the process. Uncomfortable, but not painful.
Bush has learned how to show "resolve," "toughness," or "anger". But those are easy. We all learn and practice stubborn, strong, and angry early in life.
Remember back to your school days. A boy showing weakness on the playground was permission to bully. And things were likely worse at Phillips Academy, Bush's rich prep school. There, he was away from home roomed up with lots of other emotionally starved kids. He's also spent a fair amount of time with drinking buddies. Whether at bars, parties, pool tables, or poker games, there are plenty of opportunities to practice stubborn, strong, and angry. They are not places to practice the softer emotions.
We also know that Bush has the "Anger" thing down. His own staff tells us when he gets pissed at them.
While the Busheviks have sold the myth that their man is an affable "nice guy," the reality is that he is often vile and profane. His explosive temper is increasingly displayed. At a recent strategy session, discussing polls showing most Americans are now against the war and don't believe Bush, he reportedly bellowed to his staff, "I'm the president and I'll do whatever I goddamned please. They don't know shit."
When aides suggested Bush meet with Sheehan, whose son died in Iraq, Bush screamed, "I'm not meeting with that goddamned bitch. She can go to hell as far as I'm concerned," Capitol Hill Blue reports.
When it really comes down to it, Bush, has not really experienced true tragedy and has never had to show pain. Even after September 11th the predominate emotion he had to display was "toughness" (against the terrorists). We should not be surprised at his inability to "feel the pain" of the Katrina victims. He can't show what he's never felt.
This inability to show true emotion is a liability. When he had to pretend to be tough and resolved he faked it well enough and it worked. But things are different now.
Sadly, Bush will lean to his strength so he can be perceived as presidential again. We'll see a "tough" Bush blaming FEMA, Louisiana officials, New Orleans officials, or democrats. Let's hope people don't buy it this time.
ARB
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Bush, to me, has never been convincing on the podium. Even when he's being tough, I see a bad actor just reading his lines.