Shrub's New Speech-Reading Technique

A friend who watches CNN while she works out at the gym (no choice of channels) wrote me this. It was while bush was giving his speech on the troops a couple days ago:

I noticed that the text was bound, book-style. I could see that by the way he turned the pages. Then I noticed how quickly he turned the pages, and I began to realize that the speech must have been formatted with only a few sentences on each page (so the little boy wouldn't lose his place and/or get confused).

So I started counting the sentences on each page. Would you believe 4? He finished both sides in 8-9 sentences consistently. I bet the font was very large (remember your 2nd grade books?) and there was a lot of space between sentences. (The easier to follow by pointing, my dear.)

Poor shrub. What's really funny is when he puts on his reading glasses to read 72-pt font and five-word sentences. So innaleckshul, you know.


Cher

I can't stand to watch him long enough to notice, I guess.

Good post. That is very interesting. Can't wait to see the speech at the convention.

If Dicks hand was tucked under his neck to.

that's f'kin funny

Is this to create a bibical illusion

they've had it hard-cover bound. Gold leaf too?

and during applause, he baits the applause. I bet there's people to signal for the applause. He is the WORST public speaker EVER! Everything the man touches turns to veneer!

bush rally's and the crowd was PRACTISING their chants,"Four more years" and the coach/cheerleader said "Faster"

I've use it several times to get me through much-hated public talks. But then, I'm no orator, and don't like standing up in front of people.

But it is, however, a legit way to give a good talk when you are not experienced at doing so. It's taught by a number of speech coaches too, as a way to overcome nerves.

But really, the only way you're supposed to give a speech is with keywords on index cards--unless, of course, you can speak off the cuff, like Clinton.

And to be fair, most presidents do read their speeches. A presidential speech has far-ranging consequences. But I don't think we've ever had a president so dumb he had to have his speech in 72-point type, four sentences to a page.


Cher

Different speakers use different techniques. Some very excellent speakers use cards, some prefer 8X10 paper - it all depends upon their individual preference.

A number of speakers I know use HUGE type - so they don't have to squint or wear glasses - and then have the print end about halfway down the page, thus there may only be three or four sentences per page. This way, they don't have to push their chins down too far trying to read to the bottom of the page - this allows them to keep their heads up.

I agree that Bush is a fool, but I don't think the way his speeches are printed out for him is really much indication of anything one way or another.

I would rather he read 400 point font out of a book than try and speak off the cuff. When he does that, it's so painfully embarrassing that I can't even stand to watch it. Now, if someone could just get him to correctly pronounce those 400 point font words.........

Gotta say I love your first post. :hi:

If you do graduate work in speech communication, you will learn that the notecard method is preferred. It is preferred by audiences because people dislike being read to.

Exceptions are made for a few types of speeches--presidential speeches are one. Another is for a speech that has legal consequences, such as a speech by a CEO of a company whose company is being sued for a product defect.


Cher

Sorry if this is common knowledge, but - I swear, the last time i saw him on CNN "reading" a speech at the press conference of an international meeting a few weeks ago, there was another voice in the background, and he was just repeating every sentence.

My only explanation was that his earplug was too loud or the microphone too good..

I saw a clip of the Shrub at an evangelical church. Do you know that he believes that voice in his ear is God's? He does. I guess the VP found is was easier to get his attention that way.