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Atheist · Oct 14, 2006, 04:25 PM

Let's try to keep this on-topic. It's a legitimate question. Over the years we've had some amazingly eloquent presidents.. and others that seem to struggle when thinking on their feet. I always thought Reagan was an awesome speaker. For the most part, he was inspiring and generally came off truthful... I understand he wrote most of his speeches. Clinton is a great speaker as well. You can tell he's a very knowledgable man, and thinks on his feet quickly... although at times I feel he can be consdescending. Bush Sr. was average. I just never thought he had a strong presence. G.W. seems very uncomfortable when speaking. Unless he's reading from a script.. he seems at a complete loss for words... and has a hard time completing a thought.

Obviously there is a lot more to being a president than speaking in public. But how important is it for the president to be able to appear in front of a camera and inspire confidence?

DBursey · Oct 14, 2006, 04:54 PM

I thought Clinton was a brilliant off-the-cuff speaker and all around great orator.

In general I think the parliamentary system, with its daily televised tit-for-tat, produces better orators than the congressional.

In terms of whether its a necessity in a good president, I'd say it helps immensely to be able to adroitly articulate one's position.

Now do be a sport and pass the grey poupon, hmmm?

marden · Oct 14, 2006, 04:55 PM

Must a president be a skilled orator?

Duh!

Obviously not.

But for those who like being seduced it helps. Clinton is a seducer. Bush is a straight shooter.

Railroader · Oct 14, 2006, 06:30 PM

No.

medicineman · Oct 14, 2006, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by Atheist

Let's try to keep this on-topic. It's a legitimate question. Over the years we've had some amazingly eloquent presidents.. and others that seem to struggle when thinking on their feet. I always thought Reagan was an awesome speaker. For the most part, he was inspiring and generally came off truthful... I understand he wrote most of his speeches. Clinton is a great speaker as well. You can tell he's a very knowledgable man, and thinks on his feet quickly... although at times I feel he can be consdescending. Bush Sr. was average. I just never thought he had a strong presence. G.W. seems very uncomfortable when speaking. Unless he's reading from a script.. he seems at a complete loss for words... and has a hard time completing a thought.

Obviously there is a lot more to being a president than speaking in public. But how important is it for the president to be able to appear in front of a camera and inspire confidence?

Going through the presidents I've lived under:
Roosevelt - I was too young to have an opinion - pass
Truman - terrible
Eisenhower - terrible
Kennedy - fair (but good speech writers)
Johnson - terrible
Nixon - terrible
Ford - terrible
Carter - terrible
Reagan - great ( but not appreciated till well out of office)
Bush GH - fair
Clinton - great
Bush GW - terrible

The two great ones, for me, were Reagan and Clinton, and they were the antithesis of one another. You can go through the list and determine how effective they were. Speaking abilty is a great trait, but I'm not sure how that translates into accomplishment.

Moderator · Oct 14, 2006, 07:15 PM

No. But calling Bush, of all people, a straight shooter is insincere and dishonest.

Comedian doing a bush impersonation: funny

YouTube - Caliendo Does Bush

The Godfather · Oct 14, 2006, 07:38 PM

Not a must, but a plus. Just look at the "president" of Venezuela, a skilled orator he may be, but he never has to answer to any critical interviews. He may as well utter pre-written speeches only.

marden · Oct 14, 2006, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by Moderator

No. But calling Bush, of all people, a straight shooter is insincere and dishonest.

Comedian doing a bush impersonation: funny

YouTube - Caliendo Does Bush

Bush is a straight shooter but because every POTUS has to lie, omit, fudge, hide or spin as part of the job only those who are practiced at it do it well. Bush can't tell us everything he knows or else it would jeopardize national security. So what you see as insincerity (if that's how you'd categorize it) is actually a sign of his going against his basic straight shooting nature in order to better serve your interests.

When he becomes GOOD at it that's when you may start to like him and when we will know it's time for him to go.

You just hate him and you hate him for the wrong reasons and you are too unaware to realize it.

turtle777 · Oct 14, 2006, 07:59 PM

Well, the question should have been "Does it help if a president is a skilled orator ?".

Obviously, there have been predients that weren't.

-t

marden · Oct 14, 2006, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

Well, the question should have been "Does it help if a president is a skilled orator ?".

Obviously, there have been predients that weren't.

-t

What's a predient?

DBursey · Oct 14, 2006, 08:56 PM

Who was it who said that mockery of internet spelling is the last refuge of the utterly slapped-down?

marden · Oct 14, 2006, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by DBursey

Who was it who said that mockery of internet spelling is the last refuge of the utterly slapped-down?

Uh, only you. But we will overlook your bombasticness.

Doofy · Oct 14, 2006, 09:00 PM

I'd rather a leader care about his people and make good choices rather than be a skilled orator.

Used car salesmen are skilled orators. Case closed.

marden · Oct 14, 2006, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

I'd rather a leader care about his people and make good choices rather than be a skilled orator.

Used car salesmen are skilled orators. Case closed.

Don't forget our favorite "B" movie actor turned politician.

- - e r i k - - · Oct 15, 2006, 04:33 AM

Intelligent people are skilled orators. Case re-opened.

subego · Oct 15, 2006, 04:37 AM

I think you have this reversed. I know tons of intelligent people who aren't skilled orators.

mitchell_pgh · Oct 15, 2006, 07:28 AM

IMHO, It really does help... I think they need some skill to get to that level, but it won't win an election...

Kerry was a much better public speaker IMHO, but he still lost the election.

mitchell_pgh · Oct 15, 2006, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - -

Intelligent people are skilled orators. Case re-opened.

I wouldn't agree... being smart and being a skilled orator are two very different skill sets.

ebuddy · Oct 15, 2006, 09:28 AM

Political success is often contingent upon the ability to garner support for your position however, effective leadership in general does not require being a gifted orator in all venues. For example, Bush is an extremely gifted speaker in one-on-ones and in "town hall" type environments, but when he gets behind a podium in larger environments I cringe. He takes on an extremely defensive tone that just rubs me the wrong way. Often times I wished he had a little more gravitas.

Reagan (a former actor) and Clinton had an air of romance about them that begged public attention and this proved very effective for them. Others are men's, men and aren't as interested in wooing support as much as attempting to demand it. I prefer the romantic because I think it speaks to a broader audience and represents more effectively in an International arena.

After all, politics is politics and you can take it or leave it. It's a little more palatable when delivered to you on a silver platter than from a can.

turtle777 · Oct 15, 2006, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by marden

What's a predient?

A typo, you retard !

Are you following me around to check for my spelling ? Pathetic.

-t

Chuckit · Oct 15, 2006, 12:09 PM

Given the fact that 90 percent of his job is giving speeches, I would say yes.

Railroader · Oct 15, 2006, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Given the fact that 90 percent of his job is giving speeches, I would say yes.

You have no clue as to what a president does do you?

Millennium · Oct 15, 2006, 02:43 PM

Must a President be a skilled orator? Not necessarily. However, any leader needs to be articulate enough that his (her?) plans can be understood and carried out. For a leader with as much power and responsibility as the President, this is particularly important.

Bush doesn't seem to pass this test well. His Cabinet is able to mitigate much of the damage -probably after a lot of extra clarification and deliberation- by carrying the plans out. But whether or not one supports or opposes his plans, actual understanding of them is fairly rare, because the man keeps tripping over his own tongue. This is not a good quality in a leader.

OreoCookie · Oct 15, 2006, 03:45 PM

The most striking feature of the way Bush talks is the relative lack of subclauses. So independently of what he says, that doesn't make him sound very smart and the fact that he keeps on tripping over his tongue, doesn't help either.

And this differs from other `bad speakers': Angela Merkel is not a very good speaker either. She sounds boring but not unintelligent.

Obviously, eloquence does help a politician, but is not really necessary.