Bush's Style Over Substance: A Warning from 1999

Living in Texas and paying a little more attention than the average American to politics, I've been trying to remember anything (just one thing even!) that George Bush accompliched while he was Governor. I found this, published in 1999, from the Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics at Saint John's University and the College of Saint Benedict in Collegeville and St. Joseph, Minnesota while searching. The country would have been wise to understand the potential ramifications of a President who is egomaniacal, impulsive, shallow, passes the buck, takes credit for others' accomplishments, and is unable to grasp complex concepts.

Executive Summary: Personality Profile of Texas Governor George W. Bush
INTRODUCTION
The object of the study was to assess the personality of Texas governor George W. Bush and to predict his political performance and leadership effectiveness on the basis of personality traits.

KEY FINDINGS

Gov. George W. Bush’s personality-based leadership strengths include:

• the important political skills of charisma and interpersonality, which will enable him to connect with people and retain a following;
• self-confidence in the face of adversity;
• an outgoing, gregarious personality that appeals to voters who favor style over substance in an era of prosperity and peace; and
• an adventurous streak conducive to the cut and thrust of political life.

Gov. George W. Bush’s personality-based leadership limitations include:

• the propensity for a superficial grasp of complex issues;
• a potential for acting impulsively, without fully appreciating the implications of his decisions or the long-term consequences of his policy initiatives;
• a risk of failing to keep himself adequately informed; and
• placing personal connections, friendship, and loyalty over competence in his staffing decisions and appointments.

METHODOLOGY
The Millon Inventory of Diagnostic Criteria (MIDC) was used to construct the personality profile, based on empirical analysis of biographic materials. The 170 MIDC criteria permit classification of political figures along 12 personality dimensions, or 34 categories. Personality patterns are used to predict presidential performance and leadership style.
Source: Unit for the Study of Personality in Politics Saint John's University and the College of Saint Benedict in Collegeville and St. Joseph, Minnesota

Technorati Tags: politics Bush Sphere: Related Content