from Yahoo: Informality a reflection of Bush's style

[unpossibles]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060822/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_etiquette


WASHINGTON - Stepping outside the boundaries of strict political and diplomatic protocol gets no more attention than when the president of the United States does it. And President Bush has been doing a lot of it recently.
...
While four-letter expletives or a shoulder massage of a co-worker of the opposite sex could raise eyebrows in many office settings, Bush for the most part gets a pass from etiquette experts.

"Part of it is he comes from Texas, and they don't stand on a lot of formality in that state," said Letitia Baldrige, who was President Kennedy's social secretary. "I think you get the Eastern kind of aristocrats, like the old days, they're always going to be more formal, they're always going to have a jacket on."

All presidents take an individual approach to protocol, Baldrige said, noting that presidents Jimmy Carter and Lyndon Johnson also were informal at times.




wtf? I am so sick of the lie that he comes from Texas. And that statement is all about bashing the Kerry/Kennedy "Eastern Aristocrats" - is this a propaganda piece or is this person a moron apologist?

[bigbrother05]

1. Moron apologist

Thinking back to a recent trip * made. He was shown in shirtsleeves at the photo op, but someone on the plane (press flack?) mentioned that he had taken off his coat and tie before getting out. Don't know about everyone else, but I prefer to ride wearing something comfortable, then dress for my appointments/meetings.

He might be a layabout by nature, but he loves to act like he's the one and only does the "friendly" stuff to show who's really in charge. Notice how testy he gets if he's not addressed as "Mr. President"? Can you imagine what would happen if Putin yelled "Yo Dubya"? Or Helen Thomas called him "Curly"?

edit to add: Have always felt he put on the folksy act when he went back east to school as a way to compensate/disarm those around him. He reminds me of someone trying to put over a bad Johnny Carson impression. Would allow him to be cutting and agressive, then pass it off with "can't you take a joke?" Think he is a true sociopath.

[Surya Gayatri]

6. Johnny Carson had more class

in his little fingernail than W has in his whole ungainly carcass! SG

[bigbrother05]

10. Wasn't making a comparison

Just trying to point out how disingenuous * really is. All his supposed "charm and wit" is just a phony act he has been working on for years. That's why he so often slips up and shows his true colors. Guys like Clinton and Carter make mistakes, but how often have they displayed a "dark side"?

[Surya Gayatri]

12. Of course, I realized you weren't

comparing the two. But, just having to imagine the buffoon-in-chief in the same classy league as Johnny caused me distress! No harm done. SG
:hi:

edit: typo

[badgerpup]

2. Newsflash! 'Rude' or 'disrespectful' not synonymous with 'informal'!

F'rinstance...and this is all too easy...
Clinton's style was not what you would classify as 'formal'.
But he was and still is courteous.
You can be informal and still be a gentleman...or a lady as the case may be.

Bar is no lady. Apple don't fall far from the tree, do it...

[patricia92243]

3. I've never been to Texas. Are they really as portrayed in this article?

I always thought Bush is the one that everyone insists that everyone wear a coat and tie to meetings. Where did that come from? Doesn't sound very informal to me.

I'm not sure but what they are mixing the terms informal to cover up bad manners - they are NOT the same.

[Surya Gayatri]

5. Spot on, patricia...

informality should never be confused with plain old bad manners and crude behavior. The pResident ain't got no class! SG

edit: double negative!

[Surya Gayatri]

4. Ms. Baldrige must be pushing 80

if she was Kennedy's social secretary. Think she might be a bit out of touch? Maybe we should cut her a little slack--she wouldn't intentionally dis her old Eastern-bred boss, would she? SG

[bumblebee1]

13. Actually,

Ms Baldridge was a friend of Jackie Kennedy. They met while both ladied were in college. Ms Baldridge wrote a book titles "A Lady, Always." She wrote about her experiences of working in our embassies in both Paris and Rome. Her family was very Republican. Due to her friendship with Jackie Kennedy, Letitia's family backed JFK in the 1960 election. Her brother Malcolm was Labor Secretary under Reagan. He was killed in a rodeo accident.

[Surya Gayatri]

14. Thanks for the info... n/t

[Vickers]

7. "I think you get the Eastern kind of aristocrats"

:wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf:

Listen up, librul media: George was born to millionaire parents in the great state of Connecticut (sorry Connecticut).

His grandfather was a Senator.

His dad was a President.

He went to prep school at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. This is not mentioned at his official whitehouse.gov biography. :eyes:

He went to college at Yale and Harvard.

HE IS NOT A TEXAN.

HE IS A FAKE TEXAN.

Why doesn't JEB! speak with a Texas accent?

Why don't his PARENTS?

[unpossibles]

9. I've wondered if the Texas accent was used to cover for his

inability to speak English....

And I may be mistaken, but I seem to remember some problem coming up with Bush The Elder about him using his Texas residence as a tax thing during his Presidency.

[bigbrother05]

11. GHWB & Bar had a Houston hotel "official" address

[karynnj]

8. Also, the difference between Bush and Kennedy/Kerry

is not having a jacket on. In 2004, Senator Kerry often dressed informally but he always spoke respectfully and intelligently. The Bush shoulder massage was a problem as it was clearly not wanted by the recipient - which changes the "could raise eyebrows" to "would be considered wrong".