Shrub is NOT charming, so stop saying that!!!

[senseandsensibility]

Consider this post an open invitation to all DU members, trolls, freepers, whatever. GIVE ME ONE EXAMPLE OF ANYTHING CHARMING this dimwit has EVER done. Just one example. I dare you. I will also accept even one example of a truly funny joke or off the cuff witty remark. "Adorable" speech mangling does not count. I add that because my aunt-in-law finds all of *'s mispronunciations "cute". In her sane life, she is a no-nonsense stickler for good grammar and an excellent writer herself. However, like so many others, she drank the kool-aid.

I am putting this out as a dare because I want this spin that has been stuffed down our throats by the mediawhores justified, or I want it to stop. My God, in the past couple of weeks alone, I have heard Paul Begala, Michael Moore, and Molly Ivans call Shrub "charming." So this dare goes out to them, too. No one is immune. Put up or shut up! To repeat, I want one example of a charming act by this chimp, or one example of something truly witty he's ever said. Ha! I think I've set myself up for one of the lowest response threads in the history of DU!!!:silly:

[guajira]

1. He's as Charming as a Rattlesnake!

Paul Begala drives me nuts when he calls B* "OUR president".

Chris Matthews often talks about how "likeable" the pResident is. :puke:

[madinmaryland]

14. When Paul Begala refers

to * as "our" (p)resident, he does it dripping with sarcasm!

[gatlingforme]

19. I sappose he would be likable if he stopped lying and cheating

the people in this US of A. Also, Matthews is a moron. He gets stuck on the dumbest shit to talk about.

[sandnsea]

2. Ted Bundy was "charming"

What is it about "charming" sociopaths that these people don't get?

(No, I don't think he's charming, just saying..)

[MODemocrat]

50. Hitler was charming, according to many articles I've read

Most liars are charming because they live in a false world. They can say or do anything they want and get away with it, and it doesn't have to be truthful, because they're known as "charming."
It's more like being :crazy:

[bryant69]

3. I think he's charming

I mean I don't know what this challenge is for; do you want me to present an example where he did something I thought was charming? But our perceptions of it may differ. Charm is inherently a subjective virtue.

That doesn't change that he's a dangerously incompetent president.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[senseandsensibility]

7. Yes

I want an example.

[bryant69]

8. The misunderestimate line was pretty good.

[senseandsensibility]

9. Read the post

Mispronunciations don't count.

[bryant69]

13. Ah.

May I ask a counter question. Well how about the line about his wife where he says that marrying her was the best decision he ever made, but he's not sure marrying him was the best decision she ever made.

More to the point, why does it matter? You think he's not charming; other people disagree. Whether he's charming or not, his policies are disasterous for America and those move us back to the area of objective discourse.

[MercutioATC]

4. To be honest, he appeals to the "everyman".

Policies (which most people don't take into consideration, anyway) aside, he comes across as a down-to-earth person. He's not perfect (as evidenced by his speech) and he presents himself as a "regular guy", not a politician.

[gatorboy]

27. You, know, I don't want a 'regular guy' as president.

I want the smart guy! Why do they try to make being smart a bad thing? If you are on trial for murder, do you hire the 'regular guy' or the 'smart guy' to defend you?

[MercutioATC]

31. Hey, I agree. I see the "everyman" every day.

It scares the hell out of me that we have one running the free world...

[neoteric lefty]

57. exactly...

(from and old joke)

just think of how completely stupid the average American is. Now, realize that half of the country is more stupid than that. Scary stuff.

[mermaid]

33. They DO Want A "Regular Guy" Though

They feel threatened by the smart guy. THEY don't want someone that makes THEM feel inadequate! Don't you understand?

why else do you think they hate us so badly...and why else do you think they have made "liberal" a dirty-word, and they call us "egalitarian" and "pointy-headed academics..."

Hasn't anyone ELSE noticed the culture of underachievement that seems espoused by the other side...as if it was a badge of honor.

They value conformity over individuality. they see the intellectual as a threat to conformity.

[Zookeeper]

55. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth...

but still a complete f**k-up.

Yeah, I think that makes a lot of people feel better about their lives.

[indigobusiness]

60. Born with a silver foot in his mouth

like his dad, according to Ma Richards.

[lanparty]

62. I second that ...

When I go to a doctor's office, I don't want some "regular joe". I want somebody's who is fucking brilliant. When I go to a mechanic, I want someone who knows a little more about the car than I do. When I watch a sporting event, I want to watch someone who is stronger, faster and more athletic than I am.

I'm no dummy, but I know damn well there are people who are WAY SMARTER and MORE ACCOMPLISHED. And there are people who are just way better "in their area" than me even though I may wield a higher IQ. Deep down, we're all idiots at SOMETHING!!!!

Well, irregardless of Bush's lack of intelligence, he's obviously no savant for governing. He never saw a PDB that didn't bore the shit out of him. He HATES reading. He needs everything spoon fed to him by his fuck-buddy Condi.

Bush's sole redeeming quality seems to be a natural ability to lie copiously like a used car salesman, pimp, or player. I would say he has the instincts of PT Barnum, except every outfit he ever headed FAILED!!!!

When it comes to the highest office in the land, I want someone who if fucking brilliant. I want someone with a 200 IQ who can speedread Lord of the Rings in an hour. I want someone who has a photographic memory and can handle himself with dignity and respect around foreign leaders. I want someone who has accomplished above and beyond normal human beings. That's what LEADERS do, they excel and people follow them naturally out of recognition.

Perhaps Karl Roves next business will be a line of plastic surgery outfits that have "average guy" surgeons. Their hands will shake and they will barely be able to remember what they are doing. Or perhaps a pre-paid legal service using fuck-up lawyers who had to make bribes in order to pass the bar. I'm sure his skill can be extended to other trades.

[DoctorWeird]

44. Bull

I hate this crap about how he shows that "anyone can be president" hope for those who aren't incredibly intelligent, whatever. If you want to be a professional piano player but you can't even get the hang of scales, you can't be a professional piano player. Same should be true of presidents. You can't be president if you're not smart.

[lanparty]

63. We all have our natural gifts ...

... and we must play the hand god deals us. One would hope that someone with an 4 different suits in his hand isn't angling for a flush. But shit, George's daddy bribed the dealer and fixed all of Georgies cards, so than EVERYBODY can be president ... RIGHT??????

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

65. Down to earth?

He reminds me of a few people I've worked with. Those that are always making lame ass excuses for why they didn't get the job done right

[luaneryder]

5. He can walk upright.

[mrboba1]

11. like this?

or ?

[senseandsensibility]

12. Hey!

The one on the right looks pretty charming!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

16. HOW DARE YOU!

You have no right to degrade that simian in such a malicious manner! Remove the Bush picture immediately!

[lanparty]

64. BARELY!!!! (NM)

[CaTeacher]

6. Don't you want to BBQ with him?

I heard that again this morning :puke:

[terrya]

10. Hell, no. He'd stick me with one of his stupid nicknames he gives people.

[mermaid]

35. Didn't You Know He Gives Those Nicknames

as a way to belittle and cut down people? It isn't charming, nice, or benign...these are the tactics of a bully.

He gives nicknames as a way to seem friendly, when his real motivation is to hide the fact that the nicknamed one actually scares the shit outta him.

Because he knows damn well that the one he is nicknaming is far superior to him, and he feels threatened by them. So he has to do something to cut the other guy down. why else do you thinkso many of his nicknames can be seen as being condescending?? BECAUSE THEY ARE!!

[senseandsensibility]

36. He gives these

nicknames to reporters because he is threatened by them. Although they prop him up at every turn and do his bidding, he resents their ability with language. If anyone doubts this. remember when he "called out" a reporter for asking a question in fluent French of the French President. He is jealous and petty.

[mermaid]

40. That's What I Said

He gives the nicknames because he feels threatened by those he chooses to give nicknames to. Like Adam Clymer of the New York Times, dubbed "major-league asshole" by our sitting Resident.

[lanparty]

67. It's a tactic of someone who can't remember names ...

I do the same things sometimes. But I usually try to make them "nice" names. I can't remember EVER christening someone "turd blossom".

[lanparty]

66. He'd rub my bald head ...

... and think to himself how "endearing" that makes him.

If he touched MY head, I'd put him into an armbar and take the beating from the Secret Service.

BTW, I'd LOVE to have him for barbeque. Has no one else ever seen "Fried Green Tomatoes". I'd invite all the Freepers in my neighborhood and go Vegan ;-)

[belle]

73. Sure! Get the coals and light the--Oh, they mean ALONGSIDE him.

Never mind.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. He IS charming though

Think "Warren" from the movie "There's Something About Mary".

[Ronnie]

42. "Something About Mary"

Didn't Warren play checkers? I read somewhere that Dennis Miller said that "people" like W because he plays checkers. Kerry, on the other hand, plays chess.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

17. People are keeping lists of how often he uses the same lame "jokes"

He uses "Like me, he married above himself" over and over and over. It is so condescending. He could not be more charmless. Narcissists are known to lack a sense of humor.

http://www.catch.com/comments/32182_0_17_0_M/

[senseandsensibility]

18. I haven't heard a good

example of charming yet.:eyes:

[SemperEadem]

20. He reminds me of a sinister videogame character

In the documentary OUTFOXED, there is a segment talking about the inapropriateness of a Fox political reporter whose wife is an active campaigner for Bush--and the conflict of interest issues raised on that. They show this reporter and Bush's conversation before the official start of the interview. The repartee between the two made my skin crawl when Bush asked how his wife is doing--and that she's such "a good soul.. oh, she's got such a good soul..." He sounded like Satan salavating on a soul to gnaw to death... then he broke out with his hideous, snivelling laugh which made me fly the bird at the screen.

This man is evil incarnate.

[Mandate My Ass]

21. Only two facets of his personality are evident...

at least to me. He is openly disdainful or petulant to those who challenge him or otherwise do not fawn all over him or he doesn't get his way without complaint or compromise.

His jokes are snide and nasty, his nicknames condescending.

THe other obvious trait is his sense of entitlement, like when he waits for the applause during his speeches or in F9/11 where after shooting skeet he turned to the onlookers and demands "Isn't anyone going to say nice shot?"

Clinton has charm. It's warm and welcoming. Bush* makes my skin crawl.

[senseandsensibility]

22. Very perceptive!

:-) You have given concrete examples of how he is NOT charming. And they're GREAT examples!:toast: Still waiting for the examples of the charming behavior from anyone who disagrees.

[Mandate My Ass]

23. LOL

Oh I could go on for hours about his total lack of even basic manners and decorum, but I'll wait here with you for examples of his supposed "charm."

**crickets chirping** :toast:

[Lisa]

24. Exactly!

Clinton is the type of person who thinks, "what can I say/do that will set you at ease and make you feel you are valued?"

Bush, meanwhile, is thinking, "What can you do for me?" He will be pleasant or helpful as long as it suits him, but if he's decided that "there's nothing in this for me" -- forget it! People who were his classmates at high school and college note this about him.

Remember the old saying that "having a good sense of humor is NOT the same thing as expecting everyone else to laugh at your jokes?" People kowtow to Bush because he is rich and powerful, NOT because he's a really delightful person.

Bush's "charm offensives" are touted ... but think about it! People who are REALLY charming don't turn it on and off like a garden hose. They should call it a "insincere kissing-up offensive". I know that the press have made much of him inviting the Kennedy family over to watch the JFK movie, or presenting Democrats with birthday cakes. How can somebody be truly charming if he says mean spiteful things behind people's backs as he's doing this?

Re: which politican I would like to have a beer with? In the first place, I don't like mean-spirited teasing when I'm trying to relax, so it sure wouldn't be Bush. In the second place -- I'm more concerned about caring and competence in my elected officials -- never mind how good they are at glad-handing!

[lanparty]

68. Which President would the LADIES most likely want to have dinner with ????

My guess is that it would be Clinton HANDS DOWN. Amongst Republicans, TWICE as many women would choose Clinton. This is largely because most of the Lesbians are Democrats ;-)

[allalone]

25. not charming

not cute, not nice. never has been any of these things. His frown is permanent. He makes mean looking faces all the time. His nicknames for people in addition to being a childish thing to do, are always degrading. He thinks he's god's gift to life literally. Well, he isn't

[Arugula Latte]

26. President Crankypants

Cranky, cranky, cranky. He is a big cranky crybaby. Has to have his own way all the time, and he has gotten it since he was a tot. He knows he's never earned a damn thing honestly in his life, including the presidency, and that makes him cranky. He's inferior, he knows it deep down, and he tries mightily to compensate (thus the strut with the elbows at the side -- pathetic and sickening). I find him utterly devoid of charm.

[proud patriot]

28. I think he is Whiney

x(

[dee33]

34. You're right! He IS whiny!

[Zookeeper]

58. Hi dee33!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[berry]

29. You're right--NOT charming.

And I do wish Dems like Begala would stop conceding anything to the PR image that GOPs like to pretend is the real *Bush (but isn't).

But I would argue that "charming" is not all that positive an attribute anyway. In "Pride and Prejudice", Wickam was charming, and Darcy wasn't. And we know what Jane Austen had to teach us about Wickam's "charm". Too bad more people don't read Austen. (I guess I was inspired to make this comment by your DU name, even if it is a different JA novel.)

Also, apropos of nothing and not really important, I do think we maybe shouldn't call *Bush "Shrub". Diminutives carry at least a little affection in even negative connotations, and I begrudge *Bush even that little. I know I'm being nit-picky.

[senseandsensibility]

30. Good post

and I love your example about Pride and Prejudice. However, if * ever showed any charm, but was different when the cameras were turned off, that would be one thing. I would find it irritating, but I could understand it. My point is that I have never seen any charm from this person, even when the cameras are rolling.

[berry]

37. I agree--*Bush can't even manage the PRETENSE of charm.

One has to wonder why, then, the RNC/Rove et al. keep pushing the idea that he is "charming"? Maybe it was the best they could manage? Maybe they considered "competant" but gave it up as impossible? Still, it's amazing that the mere repetition of the claim seems to have worked on so many people. It was never about *Bush himself, though, just what image his handlers thought would work politically.

One thought I've had is that that was what everyone said about Reagan. (I personally never got that either.) "Charm" covered for a multitude of shortcomings for Reagan, and maybe it got to be a formula the GOP trusted to keep working for them, even with a totally charmless candidate.

So, anyway, the question is HOW the image came to be accepted by so many when it is so patently false. One wonders if they could have sold the public on ANY image? *Bush as compassionate? Yup. Some people seem to have bought that. *Bush as intelligent? Well, even the handlers must have realized that wouldn't fly. (And anyway, they were too busy winning the anti-intellectual vote.)

You were wrong about this being the shortest thread ever, but I notice that no one has come up with an example. I'm sure you're not surprised.

[senseandsensibility]

38. Thanks for your great

analysis. And no, I'm not surprised. I knew there were no examples out there. However, if you read the whole thread, you'll see that even some DUers have bought the hype that he's charming. The fact that they can't think of an example doesn't seem to phase them. Boggles the mind, doesn't it?

[belle]

74. Me neither. Many sociopaths *are* charming. He ain't one of 'em.

I mean, Reagan was charming. Clinton is charming. He's so not.

Maybe it's a special thing he reserves for his fellow gazillionaires, and the rest of us are supposed to just take it on faith. Or, you know, it could just be that he really is just a big dumb asshole, and the people spinning him as "charming" are the same ones who tried to sell us Bush as "down to earth," unlike those liberal elitists like John Edwards and Bill Clinton.

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. Charming?

Arrogant comes to mind. Also condescending, insecure and totally clueless. Charming? Nope!

[BattyDem]

39. Charming? Silly me ...

I thought they were saying "smarmy" - I really should get my hearing checked. ;-)

[DaveSZ]

41. I've always thought he was a dumb ass

Even when he was governor of Texas the man could barely pronounce the King's English.

[mermaid]

47. Well, Except For When

He was mocking Karla Faye Tucker...he didn't have too much trouble with that...
What an asshole!

[annonymous]

43. Why is that idot described as charming?

He has trouble with English, is meanspirited especially with the nicknames, cannot tolerate anybody disagreeing with him especially protestors and surrounds himself with yesmen. I have difficulty seeing him as likeable. Incidently "charming" is often used to describe con men and serial killers.

[indigobusiness]

45. THERMAL IMAGING PROVES BUSH'S PANTS ON FIRE

[DoctorWeird]

46. Although my husband's coworker thinks he's cute

I wonder if some people even know what "charming" means. I know it's objective but still...That aircraft carrier thing was an example. Lincoln would be pissed if he saw Bush strutting around like a hen in heat on the ship that bears his name. Yet I remember people said that he was charming and handsome then. I thought he looked like a total moron. I can't see that anything there was "charming"

[mermaid]

48. Yeah...Strutting Around On The Deck

with a goddam codpiece inserted into his flight suit pants to make him look more "manly..."
God, what a serious asshole!!

[senseandsensibility]

49. You don't find that charming?

I don't seem to be getting a lot of examples of "charm", but I am getting some funny responses!:hi:

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

72. I agree

My dad was career Navy and was stationed on the aircraft carriers Constellation and Enterprise. I knew a lot of Navy filers growing up. One of them was shot down over Vietnam and his remains weren't recovered till 1999. I feel Bush's stunt on the Lincoln is an insult to this man and his family.

George W Bush you are no Navy flier.

[Zookeeper]

59. Wow! I wasn't aware that anyone thought...

that aircraft carrier photo-op was charming. I guess I need to get out more. (*Or not*)

[lanparty]

69. Lincoln would kick his ass !!!!!

It's the reach. Those thin wiry guys are always the toughest. At least thats what Tyler Durden says ;-)

[bo44]

51. * is charming in a fuck your wife, drink your booze, sell you a bible

and molest your kids sort of way.

[Democracy Died 2004]

52. he is charming

like a loved bafoon i suppose.

[senseandsensibility]

53. OK, people

One last chance to furnish a real example of * "charm". If I don't get this one this time, I will expect to never hear a reference to said "charm" again. Deal?

[Zookeeper]

54. Nope. Not charming.

As Papa Bush said, "Read my lips." Not charming, never found him charming, will never find him charming even if he winks at me and gives me a nickname. Reagan had a phony charm. I would say the same of Bushwah if he could make a joke that wasn't covertly hostile and could deliver it without fumbling or smirking.

[opihimoimoi]

56. Yup, Bush lacks charm.... never will have it, never had it. He must of

Bought Laura, no way he charmed her....or, she is a bot, the Stepford kine.

[lanparty]

61. Not necessarily a compliment

All con artists have something in common, they are all charmers. They know how to work people.

I don't think he's charming personally, but I've never met the man. Something tells me that he would come off as a chummy sort of fellow until the cameras were turned off. At that point he would turn on me, spit on me, or have me killed.

[Mr_Spock]

70. I have nothing to contribute to this thread but the title makes me chuckle

every time it pops to the top. Sounds like somebody I know saying that in a half bossy, half joking tone.

[Selwynn]

71. I don't see him as charming at all, and I wouldn't say I "hate" him

Look, I believe Bush is a horrible president. But honestly I don't feel I have a personal ax to grind with the guy. I don't wish him dead, I don't feel hatred. I just feel cold rational analysis - everything he stands for is wrong, nearly everything he has done has been harmful.

But, even though I feel like I could be "fair" to Bush, I cannot for the life of me figure out how people see him as "charming" - especially people from different political perspectives.

He seems like a big bully - not that I feel intimidated by him, but that's how he comes across. Everytime he talks it feels as though he is talking down to everyone, even when he's talking to supporters. He seems snide, arrogant, dismissive, and ignorant. I can't find the "charm" in there anywhere.