From U.S. News & World Report’s “Washington Whispers” pages:

Will somebody give President Bush’s speechwriter, Mike Gerson, a raise? What, you haven’t noticed that his boss, once belittled as ‘Dumya’ for all his embarrassing verbal flubs, is now winning kudos for his speeches, even from Clinton speechwriters? Fact is, those who study these things say Bush’s speeches are better and more image-filled than those of the original plain speaker, Harry S. Truman, and all but 13 other presidents. Says Purdue University Assistant Prof. Cynthia Emrich: Bush is at Bill Clinton’s level when it comes to inspiring listeners. Emrich led a team of scholars who found that presidents who used rich imagery in speeches are seen as charismatic, even great. For Whispers, Emrich’s team studied Bush’s State of the Union address, finding that even his cowboy talk is ‘very appealing.’ Explains Emrich: ‘One of the hallmarks of charisma is the ability to the exalted figure but yet to really sort of engage in the language of everyday people.'[…]

Hmm. Time to stop misunderestimating Mr. Bush, is it…?

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