Frasier for President!

From Ask Figaro:

 This guy says almost the exact same thing that’s in your book, and I think it’s called decorum.
Avi

Dear Avi,

The blog you refer to quotes a friend asking why the Democrats keep nominating Frasier Crane. Why doesn’t the party of “the people” run people who talk like, well, people?

You’re right in thinking this is all about decorum—not the teacup-and-lace variety, but the rhetorical kind. It’s from the Latin word for “fitness.” Decorum is all about fitting in. Through your words, gestures, and appearance, you make the audience believe you’re one of them.

George W. Bush, a millionaire Yale graduate who vacations at the family compound in Maine, sounds much more like a good ol’ American than midwesterners like Hillary and Barack. The Dems’ main problem: they’re not decorous enough.

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Comments

[Susannah]

Do you really think all presidential candidates should talk like Bush?

[Figaro]

Not exactly. Much as we'd like to see Hillary attempt it, talking like Bush isn't what decorum is all about. It simply means appearing as the ideal version of your audience. Which does mean speaking in the vernacular now and then. John McCain speaks in full, grammatical sentences, but he comes across as a real Americans. Most of the Democratic candidates sound as if they diagram every sentence before they utter it. (Republicans merely focus-group it.)

Still, before Bush acquired a reputation as a screw-up, his Bushisms helped more than hurt him:

http://www.figarospeech.com/talk-like-bush/

[Stellar]

I your Daily email you spell grammar "GRAMMER."

[Barbara]

Speaking of Bush's ability to sound like a regular guy, does anyone know a link to a rumored clip on YouTube where Bush says NUCLEAR like a real-regular guy? Apparently he could pronounce it just fine during his governorship.

[Figaro]

No, we spelled GRAMMER grammer. That's the actor's last name.

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[Paula]

Whenever Hillary tries to act decorously, she sounds foolish. Remember when she tried to "talk black"?

[Figaro]

Yes, the poor dear. Nobody said decorum was easy. But the Dems can start by avoiding sounding like us language snobs.

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[Figaro]

Barbara, Bush did indeed speak in complete, grammatical sentences when he was governor. A lot of his Bushisms have to do with "catapulting the propaganda," as he puts it: repeating key words over and over.

Here's the video you refer to: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NvVilAlCBYc

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[Rick]

The problem is, Kelsey Grammer is a Republican and Bush supporter. ;)

[Figaro]

But Frasier isn't.

Please tell me Frasier isn't.

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[Linda]

Hard to tell. He's in a helping profession (Democratic) yet he's an elitist snob (Republican). He sits around drinking in coffee houses (Democratic) yet he wears nice clothes (Republican). He lives in Seattle (Democratic) yet he's a closeted homosexual (Republican). Any more stereotypes I can visit? I don't recall any episodes that mentioned his political affiliation, although there probably were some.

[Figaro]

Surely the turtleneck tips the balance to the left.