[Grovenet] And so it continues, at least until 01-20-2008 ! ! ! ! !

Thu Nov 29 15:28:58 PST 2007

I hadn't heard about Hillary's changing accent, but it would be something a
person who wanted to communicate with those around her and make them feel
comfortable might do. 

It's something I've done.

I was raised in southern California. As a writer, I am extremely conscious
of language and speech patterns. (You can't write a good speech without
knowing how the speaker uses words.) One time I flew to the southeast on a
business trip that took me out over 100 miles into the country side to a
small town to meet with a client. It was a long, warm drive alone returning
to catch my flight back the next afternoon, and I let my gas pedal foot get
a bit heavy. As I came up over a rise along the empty two-lane highway,
there was a sheriff looking for all the world like Jackie Gleason in "Smokey
and the Bandit" standing on the shoulder of the road by his cruiser with his
radar gun. Immediately he signaled me to pull over behind him. I did so and
he began the expected "Y'know how fast you're goin' boy? We folks like to
keep things easy here..." as I dug out the rental contract and my California
driver's license. 

To my dismay I fell right into his pattern without trying to, explaining
that I had been enjoying the countryside instead of watching my speedometer.
As we spoke I could hear the southern drawl in my speech intensifying with
each exchange and figured he'd bust me and take me to jail for being a
smart-a$$. After studying my car rental papers and my California license, he
looked up and said, "How longsit been since yo' been home, boy?" 

Caught in a verbal cul-de-sac I said it had been a long time. It had, in
truth, but home for me was southern California, not Georgia, er...
"Jaw-Jaw". 

He folded up the papers and handed them back to me. "These rental cars have
lousy speedometers. Y'all take it easy  now, and don't stay away so long!" 

He turned and got into his cruiser, and waived as I pulled by. I saw him do
a U-turn in the rear view mirror and heaved a big sigh of relief. 

Ron D'Eau Claire 

-----Original Message-----
From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
Behalf Of Carol Morgan
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 7:53 AM
To: Forest Grove local interests list
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] And so it continues, at least until 01-20-2008 ! ! !
! !

In terms of morphing one's self linguistically (I am a linguist and not a
nutritionist no matter how my posts have seemed lately), what Hillary did in
her first campaign with Bill was fascinating. 

She was raised in Ohio, I think, don't hold me to that but somewhere in the
Upper Midlands.  When she and Bill ran for Gov.  and in 1992 she affected a
southern accent.  One might think it would be natural to have one by years
of living there but it isn't.  She was about 25 minimum when she moved
there, past the age to naturally acquire a dialect perfectly, and didn't
exactly plunge in up to her ears in the culture.  I think you all probably
know people who have lived in the US from Europe or the UK for 50 years and
keep their accent. 

And so it turns out that as soon as they loaded up the whatever and headed
for D.C., she lost the southern accent.  She sounds like an Ohioan to this
day.  May come in handy for her.  I don't know if she planned it all that
way, but it wouldn't be too out of character. 

------ Original Message ------ 
Received: 06:48 PM PST, 11/28/2007 
From: David Morelli <jo.david at verizon.net> 
To: Forest Grove local interests list <grovenet at rdrop.com> 
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] And so it continues, at least until 01-20-2008 ! ! !
! ! 

David 

Go back to his early political campaigns in Texas. He had to recast 
his persona from a Harvard graduate to a Texas "good old boy" to win 
his first election. His language skills may be the result of a 
conscious decision to avoid the appearance of intelligence, to better 
market himself to Texas voters. It may have served him in his 
Presidential campaigns as well. The voters were asked to "vote for 
one of their own" rather than going with the "ivory tower thinkers". 

In Texas he to the opportunity to build his cadre of supporters. 
Those people showed up in the Administration along with with Cheney's 
buddies. Yes, he had the benefit of family connections, and he did 
turn that assest into a Presidential job. Of all the members of rich 
and politically connected families, he got there. 

He has demonstrated a marked ability to market himself to the 
religious right as a fit leader for their causes. He has shown the 
ability to sense the size and direction of the religious generated 
political winds and use them to lift him to higher levels than he 
could achieve upon his own effort. 

On Nov 28, 2007, at 10:57 AM, Bob Browning wrote: 

> Name one?!?! 
> 
> bob "who you gonna call??" browning 
> 
> David Morelli wrote: 
>> Bob, <snip> Bush may be an incompetent speaker, but he still has 
>> some skills in other areas. David On Nov 27, 2007, at 8:36 AM, 
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