Why does a president need to tell us how much he reads?

[ginnyinWI]

What normal person actually brags about how many books he's read this year, once they are past the age of, say, 14? And if you are the President of the United States, why the need to brag at all?

I don't get it. Anybody can read a book. It's understanding what you've read that can be difficult. Just reeling off a list of books you've "read" proves nothing.

Why does he have to do this, and then say he's the "Book President"? Why stand there on a street in New Orleans and tell Brian Williams what books you've read this year? Does he not see how foolish he looks? Does he think that comparing himself to George Washington will make him look GOOD? He thinks that just being the president makes him a great man! He thinks he got there by his own merits, I guess. But in his social circle, it's not what you accomplish, just who you are related to or cronies with that really counts.

But now, it would appear, somebody feels a tad insecure about his intelligence, and thinks that this is the way to become smart.


Oh and one more question: I thought being the President was a pretty demanding job. Kind of an eat-it-and-sleep-it kind of 24/7 job. How does a president get so much time to read, anyway? After all we are "at war"! And we all know he's the War President--he's told us that, too.

We know he spends a lot of time on his bike, too. So I guess somebody else is doing the heavy lifting of the job of President (cough-cheney-cough), and this one is merely the cheerleader.

I knew I should have kept the mute on. Now I'm mad all over again. :rant:

[Skittles]

1. yes

when they show those pics of bush sitting in the Oval Office, wearing glasses, supposedly reading - who the f*** do they think they are kidding ???

[Journeyman]

24. If we could see the construction-paper bookworm up around the office...

it'd be more believable -- especially the brainless challenge with Rove to "read the most books" would have a point if he and Karl were building competing bookworms like the rest of us did in grammar school.

[truth2power]

40. They have that bookworm type of thing

at my public library for kids' summer reading. After they read so many books they get to pick a toy from a box.

It's only available to kids up to age 10 or something. Figures, the Chimp would be into this sort of thing! :rofl:

[Broken_Hero]

25. Not fooling me

or a good number of other folk, I imagine...:) :hi:

[Erika]

2. W shows no traits of a learned man

A PR thing.

[SofaKingLiberal]

3. "once they are past the age of, say, 14?" ...

They say that people stop maturing at whatever age they start using drugs.

[Subdivisions]

4. Anyone who begins their education here...

http://www.koko.org/world/signlanguage.html

is surely going to brag when he can finally read a book.

[NJCher]

5. because they're trying to make him look like less of a dummy

One of the big bookstore chaines--BN, Borders, not sure which--did a study that showed people judge others by what they read. Complex, difficult titles go a long way in convincing others of one's intelligence.

Bush's handlers have done this year after year. Nobody believes the moran even has the background to understand Camus.




Cher

[ginnyinWI]

9. if only some journalist would ask a specific question!

Journalists are well-read; many of them have been English majors. If only somebody would actually test him. But that would be in some parallel universe. Sigh.

[ginnyinWI]

12. Remember when Presidents were smart?

When did it become okay for them to be stupid? I guess Reagan. He was such a "nice guy" and so "folksy" that people couldn't resist. All he had to do was say, "Well,..." and smile and say some platitude or other.

And Poppy Bush was no bright bulb, either. At least until people compared him with his son.

Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, though were both considered very smart men. And Gore and Kerry, likewise would have been thought to be very smart presidents.

But apparently people don't look for intelligence in their presidents anymore. Don't ask me what they do want--because I see nothing in the one we've got at present.

[immoderate]

60. JFK inspired people.

I was in high school and everybody took fifty mile walks because JFK did it.

--IMM

[mediaman007]

65. a self-fulfilling prophesy...

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." — H. L. Mencken

-- Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

[ms liberty]

66. If he had to spell Camus, he'd answer: Cam-moo n/t

[opihimoimoi]

6. The Pretentious President avoids Realty by using Fantasy...

His list speaks a very LOW LEVEL. His job demands a verh high Knowledge Level to which he can apply toward decisions.

The List is supposed to reflect an effort toward ADVANCING THIS NATION, THIS PLANET...never mind the fake "Intellectual list"

He does it again...convinces us he don't a rats ass bout us.

[leftofthedial]

7. he must have run out of things to lie about

[shanti]

10. oh no - this is just damage control

there's ALWAYS something for him to lie about!

[amitten]

8. Because he doesn't. n/t

[TheWatcher]

11. What should disturb you even more are those who actually BELIEVE HIM

When he says these things.

[The_Casual_Observer]

13. I'll bet those were books on tape.

[Buns_of_Fire]

68. I'm betting they must've found "Classic Comics" versions. (n/t)

[TomInTib]

14. Hey...he said that he read 3 Shakespeares...whatever that means

...but I remember that Shakespeare and his language was kind of demanding...let us give credit where credit is due...

MacRove

As You (me, him, her) Likes It...

King Queer (he ain't gay, he's just a little odd is all, and check out the shoes - they don't seem to go all the way to the ground...)

and let us toss in - just for fun - Dick Cheney starring in "The Merchant of Menace"...Shylock has nothing on "The Scowl..."

Ms.tomintib

Tomintib never read any Shakespeare, this is Ms.Tomintib posting...

[hootinholler]

33. I swear right after that he said

I have an epileptic reading list. It could have been eclectic, but *I* heard epileptic, anyone else?

-Hoot

[ms liberty]

63. HE said it was an ek-ul-ek-tik (ecelectic)...

It was hilarious! What's an ecelectic, Georgie?

[hootinholler]

76. That's my problem...

Trying to match what comes out of his mouth with actual words.

:rofl:

-Hoot

[Lisa]

86. and "Ham" instead of "Hamlet" -- all about that pig roast! (n/t)

[LibDemAlways]

15. I laughed out loud when the idiot

told Williams he had read "three Shakespeares" as though that was some big deal. What a totally fabricated bunch of bullshit. Of course, Williams just let it drop. Would have been hysterical to listen to the chimp bungle his way through a follow up. "Oh, which plays did you read? Which did you enjoy most? Why?" "Uh, well Brian, the names escape me right now, but they were hard reading, really tough...hard work..I'm a reader, you know...."

[ginnyinWI]

18. and nobody ever says, "three Shakespeares".

But the most uneducated of the population will be impressed, anyway. If he knew a better way to say it, he would, but he doesn't. It's a dead giveaway. Can you just see Rove or whoever told him what to say, just cringing?

That's what makes him look like such a buffoon. A pretentious, arrogant stuffed shirt who thinks he's impressing us all. :rofl:

[LibDemAlways]

20. He couldn't name three of Shakespeare's plays if his

life depended on it, and I'd bet big money he's never read a single one. Nor has he read Camus. Hell, he's admitted he doesn't even read a newspaper. The last time he picked up a book was probably "My Pet Goat" the morning of 9/11, and the kids had to read that one to him.

[ms liberty]

64. Brian should have said "oh? plays or sonnets?"

THAT would have thrown the Decider for a loop! I can hear him now...

"Uh, errr, well Brian, I, uh, err..."

[LibDemAlways]

75. He'd probably just sputter "Some of both" and

change the subject. LOL

[lonestarnot]

83. heh heh heh.

[yurbud]

16. Next there will be stories about how he chews his own food and wipes his

own ass, which are probably also lies.

I get the impression that he is pampered and sheltered the way the emperors of China were.

[ClassWarrior]

17. They do this so Leno and Letterman will make jokes...

...and inadvertantly help keep alive that useful little distraction (true or not) that "Bush** is an idiot" - while meanwhile they're bankrupting our nation.

NGU.

[ginnyinWI]

21. If he's acting, he's good at it.

He might be--never underestimate Rove. All I know for sure is that it's demoralizing to see this image being broadcast around the world of our supposed leader.

[ClassWarrior]

22. Doesn't matter if he's acting or not. The meme...

..."Bush** is an idiot" is highly useful for them. It lowers the public's expectations of his administration, it lets them put the blame for all the failures on Bush** instead of on their flawed conservative philosophy, etc.

:hi: fellow Sconnie!

NGU.

[aaronbees]

26. I think that's very true

And it simultaneously proposes the notion that them crazy Hollywood libruls don't like dem good old common folk, etc. Just another spin perception to control BuschCo's downhome, poor-me image. It's all bull.

[Blackhatjack]

19. Answer: To Keep Up the Deception, Of Course!! n/t

[keopeli]

23. The WH is giving this material to the Daily Show

My question is, do they write this for him deliberately so it will be included in the daily show, or are they blissfully unaware of the backlash being served - choosing to cater only to fox news viewers (who are declining in numbers lately)?

[NMMNG]

27. He needs to make sure we all know how smart he is

What he's counting on is us not knowing that the classic books he reads are these.

[Kiouni]

28. I would like to know

what he read? can you direct me to this list?

[ginnyinWI]

48. Cspan book TV has it here:

http://www.booktv.org/misc/081706_bush.asp

It'd be nice if he actually read his list. Some of it he should have read 40 years ago in college. I guess it took him this long to have any respect for anyone's opinion but his own and his cronies'.

[bowens43]

29. He just learned how and he's proud?

[Philosoraptor]

30. like I believe he read even one adult book, ever.

yeah right, and he's from texas too.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

31. It's because it's an active topic of discussion on TV, the fact that the

guy is a dumbass (Scarborough, Maher etc.).

[Disturbed]

32. Speaking of reading.

Does anyone think that he read the report about Osama preparing to attack the US?

[ginnyinWI]

49. of course not!

He has "people" for that sort of thing! (while he cleared brush)

[zbdent]

34. I would feel much better if he had read a total of 60 books

prior to his presidency, instead of concentrating on fixing the war of choice HE STARTED ...

[undeterred]

35. When is he going to read THE CONSTITUTION?

After we impeach the SOB?

[maine_raptor]

36. Reminds me of Truman's great line about Nixon

"If he ever read the Constitution, he didn't understand it."

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. His doctor told him to cut back on all the food-ops

so he needs another way to tell the world that he has nothing better to do except sit around and read novels all day long.

[H2O Man]

38. Great point!

It's a pleasure to read such an "on target" post. When I saw the guy boasting about how many books he's read, it was a giggle. People my age will remember President Kennedy, who began reading an extraordinary amount when he was a child, suffering from physical ailments. Quite the opposite from Bush: the world suffers from George's mental ailments.

[wisteria]

39. Good questions! I have wondered about the books too. Very strange.

especially for a President. It comes across like someone who has a chess set, but doesn't know how to play, or someone that buys a bottle of wine because it is expensive, but really doesn't know if it good or not. I think Bush feels inadequate when it comes to scholarly pursuits, after all he was not a good student, and really only excelled at having a good time.

[kentuck]

41. Trying to counter the ignorant, dumbass, illiterate label...

which is taking hold even in his own Party...

[truth2power]

42. This is all such schlock! And please tell me

he didn't say he was the "book president." :banghead:

[ginnyinWI]

50. he did!

It was an interview with Brian Lamb last year, I think. (After the last election at any rate.) He was again bragging about his reading and said "I'm the Book President". It's probably still in their site's archives.

[ComerPerro]

43. To prove to you that he is smarter than you are

[Blackhatjack]

44. If He Had, Obviously Bush Did Not Learn Anything He Could Use...

...I cannot tell any difference between Bush before and after he "supposedly read " the 60 books on this list the White House is putting out.

[Ino]

45. It's his answer to the "Is Bush an Idiot" question

I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are ... probably read the news themselves.
-- Dubya's interview with Brit Hume on Fox News Channel, Washington, D.C., Sep. 21, 2003

I'm a decisive person.... I'll read. I won't read treatises. I'll read summaries.
-- Explaining his notion of "Cliff's Notes" leadership to the National Journal, date unknown

I loved history, and pursued a diversified course of study. I like to think of it as the academic road less traveled. For example, I took a class that studied Japanese Haiku. Haiku, for the uninitiated, is a 15th century form of poetry, each poem having 17 syllables. Haiku is fully understood only by the Zen masters. As I recall, one of my academic advisers was worried about my selection of such a specialized course. He said I should focus on English. I still hear that quite often.
-- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, May 21, 2001

[Javaman]

46. Me thinks he* dost protest to much. nt

[InkAddict]

53. Too much? n/t

[Marr]

47. Because Team Bush has absolutely no regard for the truth. It's beyond

simple lying. They just don't care about facts. They will assert whatever is convenient at the moment, because there really is no objective reality for this crowd.

Like O'Brien in 1984, asserting that he could float off the floor if he chose to- not because he had some special power- but because he could believe that he had done so, and make someone else believe it.

"Power is power over human beings. Over the body, but, above all, over the mind. Power over matter - external reality, as you would call it - is not important. Already our control over matter is absolute. We control matter because we control the mind. Reality is inside the skull."

[nadinbrzezinski]

51. Ok so he raeds

isn't the latte drinking educated pretentious liberal readying camus and shakespeare? Has bush become a latte deinking, east coast. effeminate .... LIBERAL ELITE? Yep, I can see how this one cuold very well back fire with a base they have trained to equiate difficult readying with liberal elite.

For the record since Reagan they release the books raed by presidents during the summer as part of their schedule... oh never mind the contradictions at times.

[DemReadingDU]

52. He probably reads the Cliff Notes

Seriously, how would George find time to read all these books - he's always riding his bike, and he goes to bed at 10. Or maybe he does the books on tape thing, listening while jetting off to his next political speech.

[saltpoint]

54. Nice stuff there, ginny. And some good points all around.

:toast: :hi: :dem:

[Exultant Democracy]

55. Not to mention that the book are at a 10th grade level

I remember writing a book report on "The Stranger" when I was a sophomore.

[Canuckistanian]

56. You'd think he'd avoid the Washington comparisons

He has as much to do with Washington as a garden slug does to modern literature.

Where does he get off comparing himself to ANY influential American (or otherwise) historical figure?

The term "intellectual lightweight" was practically coined just for his type.

[babylonsister]

57. He has to reassure all of us how insightful he is!

That doesn't excuse his lack of 'busyness'. Hmmmm.

:rofl: :spray:

Very good point; he's lame.

[Patchuli]

58. He's the 'Biking President'

What a worthless waste of skin...

[Blackthorn]

59. It's merely stage managed propaganda.

It's not for us, they are not trying to "fool" us into thinking he's smart. It's for his yokel base. They have a counter point to any arguments regarding his intelligence.

[freedomburn]

61. Please! The man was bested by a pretzel!

He is a world-class embarrassment and he will continue to embarrass us on the world stage for the next two years (ugh!) or until we impeach the bastard.

[Blackthorn]

77. No shit

Doesn't change anything I've said though.

[Tin Man]

62. "voracious reader" - began shortly after Scarborough's "Is Bush an Idiot"

The "voracious reader" meme currently spewing from the Whitehouse - began shortly after Scarborough Country ran their "Is Bush an Idiot" segment.

Coincidence? I don't think so - it appears the Whitehouse feels threatened now that the public at large (and even popular rightwing TV talk shows) acknowledge that Bush is a dunce.

[zulchzulu]

67. Liars always brag about things they never do...

I bet he knows karate too...

[sweetheart]

69. cuz all the people who critisize it sound like assholes

Reading books is a good thing, no matter how you cut it or who does the reading.
We encourage learning as a way of life, the very root of our civil society, and i'm
all for the chuckle headded idiot reading whatever he pleases.

But for those who frown upon his intelligence, or whatever issue they have with the
chump himself, come off a bit arrogant, snotty about how ignorant he is, and in the
process of exhibiting that 'snot', help his electoral image as a regular guy tryin'
ta get smart... and the center is lost.

Nobody in particular sounds like an asshole, but this is a meme, a narrative that's
being introduced, that the president is a learner, and for all his horror, fault
him for war crimes the prick, but not as a learner.

[The Backlash Cometh]

70. First of all, what presidents have read or are reading has always

been a thing of public curiousity. But never have I seen a president who submitted a reading list to the press. Usually the subject has come up as a casual icebreaker through an interview and the president has done a good job of explaining why he picked that book and what he learned from it. Bush, when asked what he learned from Camu, couldn't even come up with a coherent thought except that it was a couple of books ago.

I think you should start asking yourself why so many right-leaning Americans felt this guy was most like them. It says alot about our gate-community mental conservatives.

[spanone]

71. Bush* doesn't read, but he does lie about it.

[FormerDittoHead]

72. Here's your answer...

This whole little blitz is to set up for his payoff, I mean, book deal.

Once he leaves office, how the hell is he going to be paid $5 million dollars for "his story" if no one believes there is no way he could have written it?

I'm sure that the prospective payoff agents, I mean, publishers, have had a chance to sit down with him for some Q&A and realized that there was no way they could (ghost) write a properly written book for him without people catching on REAL quick.

[spinbaby]

73. It impresses the freepers

They don't read, they don't own books (except the Bible), and this kind of "intallekshul" posturing impresses the hell out of 'em.

[Tracer]

74. Last night on "Hardball" ...

... (which I can only take in very small doses)....


Norah O'Donnell brought up the subject of Smirk's "reading list" to her guests, Evan Thomas of Newsweek and ??? (can't think of his name).

They were all laughing at the very thought of * even cracking a page.

I thought it was pretty unusual for talking heads to openly mock the pResident.

[Hubert Flottz]

78. I think he just ran out of other things to lie about.

[SammyWinstonJack]

79. Because he doesn't read, including his PDBs that include warning

about Osama Bin Forgotten planning to attack us with planes. He is so full of himself, all the while knowing that the majority of us think he is a dumbass! He hates that, guaranteed! :evilgrin:

[Cleita]

80. Because he just can't help lying. n/t

[porkrind]

81. So *that's* what he does on his month-long vacations

besides drinking and falling off his bike.
:evilgrin:

[savemefromdumbya]

82. Our President reads the Hungry Caterpiller

while our soldiers are getting shot to pieces.

[ktlyon]

84. technically if he read a word in a book he read a book

he never said he read every word or that he understood any of them
It would take all summer for George to get through one Shakespeare book alone.

The reason it is relevant is that George has been reported to not be much of a reader.

[Hubert Flottz]

85. So he's either sitting on the crapper reading, or on vacation?

No wonder the country has gone to Hell!

How much of what he colored do you think he retained?

[Catherine Vincent]

87. He's not a president. He's an illegitimate president.