The Bush Dyslexicon: Observations on a National Disorder

Rating:
Summary: More than I thought
Review: The most devastating aspect of this book, which none of the reviewers has touched on, is how Miller critiques what it is Bush is trying to tell us, bad syntax or not. Again and again, Bush told the American people and the press that he deserved to be president bacause he had worked hardest at campaigning; not that he had a message or ideas that were relevant for the historic moment that we're in. In fact, nothing Bush says has anything to do with critical thinking. He says his greatest philosophical influence was Jesus and then can only cobble together some sort of Sunday-service style interpretation of Jesus. Miller cites countless instances where Bush basically repeats "I'm putting forward a message," without following up with a message or anything insightful. And the critique of Cokie Roberts and Sam Donaldson was devastating.

Rating:
Summary: An Insight Into Anti-intellectualism
Review: Professor Miller's - The Bush Dyslexicon - is an excellent insight into the wave of anti-intellectualism which has overtaken this society. His analytical approach to the inarticulateness of George Bush sheds light on the shortcomings of the media and those who have assigned themselves the responsibility of leading intellectual discussions. The fact that these groups ignore the inadequacies of this President is highlighted in this excellent book.

Rating:
Summary: Clinton 2
Review: Just like the era of Clinton, where Conservative authors used the Clinton scandal machine to get rich off stating the obvious (that Clinton was a scoundrel and likely, a crook), so has Mr. Miller decided to join the growing din of Leftists who see dollar signs in bashing Bush for being variously "ignorant," someone with "drastic intellectual limitations," and dyslexic (the premise of his book). Yet, somehow, through it all, Mr. Miller seems to think that Bush is a crafty, take-no-prisoners politician who is unsuited for the office of president and should not be underestimated.

It is an interesting dichotomy. Unfortunately, Mr. Miller has claimed that the then 19 year old Mary Matalin, now a high-level Bush strategist, was a livid Nixon supporter (despite working in a steel mill until she finished her college degree in 1978 - 4 years after Nixon's resignation) and has made claims that Karl Rove was a Nixon dirty trickster (I guess that got him his College Republicans presidency at 23 in 1973). Not even Salon has gone so far as to touch this one.

Anyway, let Mr. Miller join the likes of Joe Conason. He wants us to believe that this shrewd, cunning man is too stupid to be president.

Somehow, it all comes across as sour grapes. Save your [price], you've read all this already.

Rating:
Summary: Lost But Not Forgotten
Review: "The Bush Dyslexicon" took me by surprise for several reasons. First, the author dissects the biased interplay between televised journalists, (providing excerpts from actual transcripts), and the politically influenced media that awakens or reminds us that journalists, no matter how educated or "credible", are all too often swayed by those who dole out the paychecks. Second, much light is shed on Bush's record - which the media shockingly evaded throughout the campaign - and points out the discrepancies between the "likeable" persona Bush attempts to portray with the wholly callous and elitist nature of his actions. Miller demonstrates how Bush's most awkward and often-humorous gaffes occur when he's striving to appear "compassionate", and provides numerous examples. I couldn't help laughing aloud, but as Miller points out, "it's not really funny." I personally thought Bush's time in office would provide for endless amusement after watching him on the all-mighty TV just once, but a closer look at his record cut that short. Finally, what surprised me the most was Miller's objectivity. This is certainly not a word that a die-hard conservative would have used, but overall objectivity is irrefutable. The author is a professor of media studies, not a "lefty" necessarily or blind to his own party's flaws. His own political affiliation is not the heart of the issue here...rather, it is Bush's political record, glaring ignorance and ill-equipped faculties to be president - and the media's astonishing readiness to assist him in this feat - that merits close attention. Mark Crispin Miller is an exceptional writer - witty, smart and insightful - who I highly, highly recommend to anyone willing to brave the truth.

Rating:
Summary: Bravissimo!
Review: Having met the author at a recent appearance in Oak Park, IL, and having enjoyed the presentation and discussion afterward, I was expecting to not only enjoy "The Bush Dyslexicon," but to also be enlightened by it. Well, to paraphrase the illustrious putschist himself, I found that expectations rose above that which was expected. Along with Hatfield's "Fortunate Son" and Ivins & DuBose's "Shrub," this book struck me as a fitting capstone to a "trilogy" of sorts: Hatfield's best material was about W's youth (lasting well into his 30's, of course), "Shrub" was best at exploring his financial and political ascent in Texas on the coattails of H.W. and Prescott, and Miller's examined how his "election" to the presidency happened. All that begs the question, however, of whether we got what we deserve. The author makes note in several places of the cynicism of the GOP (and the media) in assuming that the citizenry are complacent morons; the clear implication being that he thinks they are not. I have to disagree. Television has replaced religion as the opiate of the masses, and most seem perfectly willing to be lulled into the forgetful, soporific state that TV induces - just keep it short and entertaining. The masses are so accustomed to instant gratification - TV's specialty - that educating themselves on real issues, a project requiring time, effort, and (perish the thought!) critical thinking, is out of the question. Democracy is not a gift from a benevolent government, something our founders knew quite well. It must always be held on to, even unto death, by the people; that is difficult when they've got a bag of Cheetos in one hand, and a remote control in the other. My hope is that the oligarchs who stole the presidency will mismanage the nation in a fashion so blatantly criminal that even the rightists in the media can't ignore it. Perhaps, as the author suggests, it will take the administration making an enemy of one of the media conglomerates for them to attack W with the same vigor exhibited in the Clinton Follies.

Rating:
Summary: Bushspeak
Review: The extraordinarily unsettling events surrounding the denouement of the 2000 Presidential contest, combined with the shallow analysis and discussion provided by the mass media concerning what transpired in Florida, have left many citizens deeply troubled about the state of democracy in this country. Mark Crispin Miller, a professor of media ecology at NYU, and a self-professed "public-intellectual," attempts to fill a void created by a confluence of unhealthy factors including: sophistic politicians, a mass media that panders to the lowest common denominator, and ruthless corporate interests that dominate both as they extend their hegemony. Miller's "The Bush Dyslexicon" is a thought provoking, though occasionally flawed, attempt to wrestle with the forces that are smothering our democracy. Television is one such force. By focusing on style over substance, on appearance over argument, on sound-bites over rationale discourse, Television has helped debase the level of public discourse a participatory form of government requires. George W. Bush, Miller argues, is in many ways a reflection or embodiment of this crass media. That is, Bush is callow, artfully incoherent in his sales pitches, and relies heavily on his audiences' amnesia to succeed. He is in may respect, the perfect match for TV's dumbed down format. Much more so than the earnest, informed, and capable Al Gore whose tendency to engage his audience intellectually - discuss policy issues seriously - was all wrong for a medium whose overriding aim is to entertain, amuse, and above all sell products to consumers - not edify citizens. Along these lines Miller provides thoughtful, often trenchant insights. In several devastating segments he utilizes transcripts of candidate Bush, as well as those of popular pundits, to show how utterly superficial both they and the medium have become. Reading their words apart from distraction of the imagery of the screen, reveals just how vacuous they can be. Miller also makes a very strong case regarding the inherently undemocratic methods Bush and his forces used to suppress the will of the majority in the 2000 election. By claiming Al Gore would do or say anything to "steal" the election the Bush forces convinced themselves that any means whatsoever was justified in securing the election. Thousand of traditionally democratic voters were purged - illegally - from the rolls of registered voters, election laws were ignored and or changed after election day in order to include absentee ballots which likely favored Bush (Bush won the public relations battle to include non-postmarked absentee ballots - a change and violation of Florida law). And while absentee ballots were systematically handled unequally Bush forces were arguing that manual recounts violated the equal protection clause. Finally the Supreme Court intervened in a way that contradicted the expressed philosophy of both the courts' majority, and the "states rights" candidate himself. Even conservative commentators have been unable to defend the legal rationale the court attempted to cobble together. (And if the Supreme Court had ruled against him Bush still had the Florida State legislature ready to provide the necessary slate of electors to subvert the will of the voters). In short, Bush knew the exit polling results in Florida were right - more people in the critical state of Florida had chosen Al Gore to be their President - just as Al Gore had triumphed in the national popular vote. To see why none of this matters to George Bush I suggest you read Miller's book. I don't agree with everything in it, and I sometimes feel his rhetoric against the right is too reminiscent of those he'd criticize - Rush Limbaugh, George Will, William Novak, etc. But in all Miller helps make a good case that George W. Bush is a shrewd, "misunderestimated" demagogue. A figure whose actions bespeak contempt for genuine democracy, and one who has already succeeded in carrying out the first legal coup in U.S. history.

Rating:
Summary: The patenting of "a media invention."
Review: Not merely a book to pass among like-minded friends and snicker over, although you'll be doing that, Mark Miller 's analysis of the hypocrisy of W's life in, and out, of public life is a brilliantly written revelation regarding the actual sources of power in the US and how they floated that nasty little bit trust-fund effluvuim that is George W Bush to the top level of the American mind. By his own admission, "an invention of the media", W and his oligarchical puppetmasters have used the media more expertly than anyone in modern times. Miller, shows us, clearly and wittily; step by step, how they built the puppet theatre and who's pulling the strings. Most impressive is Miller's revelation of "who George W Bush really is." Pointing to the meaning of his words, beyond the clumsy syntax, Miller shows us a Geoge W Bush who, with every television appearance shows himself to be the very thing he appears to be: a selfish, ignorant, dirty trickster who doesn't like you very much. As much an extended essay on the brutal, truthful eye of the televisual space and how to watch it, The Bush Dyslexicon: Observations on a National Disorder is the perfect place to begin for anyone with an itch to fight the national Ministry Of Truth.

Rating:
Summary: Truly disturbing, accurate portrayal of Bush and the media
Review: I initially glanced at this book with amusement because it seemed to be a compilation of his infamous grammatical gaffes.

However, Miller paints a devastatingly bleak picture of George W. using the most damning material of all: Dubya's own words. Make no mistake: this book is not a pocket guide to Dubya's great bloopers, it is a shockingly disturbing portrait of a president who takes pride in the fact that he has little attention span and scorns at intellectualism. When you see his quotes in the context of answers to questions he's been asked, you realize that the often times he is merely trying to "get it over with"--offer a vague, no-answer "answer" to get through the debate/interview so he can get on to becoming president.

Miller takes it a step further by showing how the so-called "liberal media" did nothing but softball him on his way to the White House and make itself absolutely pliable to GOP spinmeisters. Not only is the media hardly liberal, it's become scarily compliant when it comes to being manipulated, and you have to wonder how "free" we really are if this is the case.

Miller also brilliantly suggests that, in the absence of the cold war, right wingers have been able--through propaganda, media and rhetoric vehicles like Fox News--to create Democrats as the new communists ("liberals"). We've got Americans demonizing their fellow citizens for not marching in lock-step to the far right agenda.

This is a wake-up call. Miller also outlines Dubya's other skeleton in the closet: his record in Texas. Again, nothing does in Dubya more than his own record in his own state... yet again, the "liberal media" happily gave this short shrift.

All the way up to, and through, the troubling election travesty in Florida, this is an unblinking, harsh look at what we've really got here in the U.S., both in a president and in our media. And that is not good news.

Highly recommended. But truly troubling. Although, there are many, many LOL moments.

Rating:
Summary: Vital Reading
Review: Mark Crispin Miller has compiled an excellent collection of revealing Bush quotations. What's more impressive than the compilation itsel is Miller's insightful and provocative analysis what Geoge W. Bush's jumbled words. This is not a collection innocent verbal blunders. Rather it is a detailed record of the our president's politics and ideology. Miller clearly illustrates that though Bush often trips on his words, he always knows what he is saying. Dyslexicon is vital reading for anyone interested in where the U.S. will be going in the next 3 1/2 years.

Rating:
Summary: We got just the president we deserve
Review: After reading 206 pages of this book, I finally gave it up. Yes, I know that President Bush mangles his syntax, is not especially brilliant and cares primarily for the wealthy. Besides which, he shows no curiosity about much of anything and practically brags about it. Anybody who didn't know these facts prior to the election could not have been paying attention. What I found most interesting in this book is Miller's assertion that the so-called liberal bias of the mass media is a myth. I can remember practically screaming at the television for the reporters to follow up on some of the obvious lies or avoidance techniques that Bush used. Gore was attacked by the media at every turn while Bush seemed to get a free ride. Gore almost won the election anyway. So what do we take away from this book? I suppose I need to finish the final 80 pages to see if Miller has some remedy. To my mind, Bush was inevitable because television anointed him as president. Despite the damage that will be done to the planet during Bush's term(s) of office, I fully believe that we got just the president we deserve.