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    The Art of Simulated Atonement: A Case Study of George W. Bush

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    Issue Date
    2007-11-20
    Author
    Shepard, Ryan Michael
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    140 pages
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.A.
    Discipline
    Communication Studies
    Rights
    This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
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    Abstract
    This study sought to explain how President George W. Bush used a unique form of apologia during his first six years in office to minimize accountability for his role in three major political scandals. After selecting appropriate texts for analysis and conducting research to establish the historical context of his remarks, I identified patterns in Bush's use of image repair tactics, made generalizations about his overall strategy, and determined the impact that his unique rhetoric had on his success, and eventual failure, as President. Though Bush's use of simulated atonement allowed him to evade accountability for the Abu Ghraib and WMD scandals, his strategy failed to stem the public backlash following Hurricane Katrina. Several factors explained why simulated atonement might work for certain rhetors, and a few limitations of the strategy were explored. Several implications for rhetorical theory and understanding of the Bush administration emerge from the findings.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/4063
    Collections
    • Theses [3711]
    • Communication Studies Dissertations and Theses [127]

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    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
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    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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