"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message

.....You're talking about accents, and I'm talking about grammar.

No, you're missing my point, Doug. You're attributing grammatical or
structural mis-speaks to rank ignorance, but I disagree. I say they
predominantly arise from insecurity and self-consciousness in [mostly]
ex-temp public speaking.

Insecurity? Just the sort of guy I want in charge of an arsenal of nuclear
weapons.


His recent press conference is a case in point. I saw a room full of
professional wordsmiths and stand-up reporters doing their utmost to
embarrass and humiliate the President of the US.

Exactly how were they trying to do that to him?


When reading a prepared text GW does much better -- still not
"right-at-home", but I don't think it's a major issue.

I guess I look at it from the standpoint of an employer, so to me, it IS a
major issue.

As I've said
elsewhere, we recently had eight years of one of the finest ex-temp
speakers
ever to inhabit the WH, thus proving conclusively that the ability to
speak
off the cuff does not necessarily bring with it a man of character and
integrity.

I'm not connecting speaking ability with integrity. I'm connecting it (and
now, your "insecurity" suggestion) with competence. If Nookular Boy
considers a press conference to be a challenge, how will he behave when a
general tears into his office to say a half dozen missiles have been
launched toward the U.S. from someplace on the other side of the world?
Remember - missiles from Russia to here, or vice versa, make the trip in
about 20 minutes. Scary thought, with a president who, based on your
diagnosis, didn't even feel secure speaking to a group of elementary school
kids.