President George W. Bush Is Living In A Bubble
Robert Paul Reyes
December 13, 2005
President George W. Bush said the other day that he does not live "in a bubble," and that he is well aware of what is going on outside the White House.
"I feel like I'm getting really good advice from very capable people, and that people from all walks of life have informed me and informed those who advise me. And I feel very comfortable that I'm very aware of what's going on," Bush said in an interview with NBC Nightly News.
By the very nature of his job, President Bush is insulated from the struggles and inconveniences that normal Americans face every day.
The President doesn't pump his own gas, buy groceries or have to wait long hours in a waiting room for inadequate and expensive health care.
Dubya is very wrong when he states that "people from all walks of life have informed me" -- Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are not exactly the kind of folks you would meet guzzling beers at your local pub.
President George W. Bush does live "in a bubble"; he is clueless when it comes to knowing what ordinary Americans are thinking.
I realize Bush can't go to a bowling alley or a movie theatre and mingle with the masses, but there are things he can do to break free from his bubble.
Bush should spend an hour every week in the White House switchboard, taking calls from individuals who are truly from all walks of life. Let the President hear directly from the public, without spinmeisters explaining to him what the people are saying.
Or maybe the President can answer a couple of hundred emails every week; people tend to be direct and blunt when communicating via email. After reading a few letters, Bush would realize that most Americans don't give a fig about Plamegate. They are worried about their pensions and the high cost of heating oil.
At this critical juncture in American history we can't afford to have a president who is living in a bubble. I hope Bush finds a way to connect with the common people.
"I feel like I'm getting really good advice from very capable people, and that people from all walks of life have informed me and informed those who advise me. And I feel very comfortable that I'm very aware of what's going on," Bush said in an interview with NBC Nightly News.
By the very nature of his job, President Bush is insulated from the struggles and inconveniences that normal Americans face every day.
The President doesn't pump his own gas, buy groceries or have to wait long hours in a waiting room for inadequate and expensive health care.
Dubya is very wrong when he states that "people from all walks of life have informed me" -- Karl Rove, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are not exactly the kind of folks you would meet guzzling beers at your local pub.
President George W. Bush does live "in a bubble"; he is clueless when it comes to knowing what ordinary Americans are thinking.
I realize Bush can't go to a bowling alley or a movie theatre and mingle with the masses, but there are things he can do to break free from his bubble.
Bush should spend an hour every week in the White House switchboard, taking calls from individuals who are truly from all walks of life. Let the President hear directly from the public, without spinmeisters explaining to him what the people are saying.
Or maybe the President can answer a couple of hundred emails every week; people tend to be direct and blunt when communicating via email. After reading a few letters, Bush would realize that most Americans don't give a fig about Plamegate. They are worried about their pensions and the high cost of heating oil.
At this critical juncture in American history we can't afford to have a president who is living in a bubble. I hope Bush finds a way to connect with the common people.
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