Where I'm from (Eastern NC) it means "He can't help it, he was born that way" or possibly "Well, he tries his best, but he's dumb as a stump."

I dunno. I ascribe some degree of conscious villainy to his actions, myself.

You know, people talk about "Minnesota nice" but "Bless his heart" was always my example of "Texas nice." I always read that phrase as the height of condescension, code for "He's a dang tard."

I go back and forth on Bush's relative level of villainy. These days, I think history is gonna find Bush fairly Reagan-esque, a front-man surrounded by a pandemonium of profoundly evil geniuses.

Southerners are all about the politeness... to your face. But once you're gone, look out. We let loose. The attacks might even be couched in somewhat polite terms but they're unmistakably attacks.

As a midwesterner transplanted to WV, in my experience if you preface or append a comment with "Bless his/her/its heart", you can say just about anything. Usually it is appended when something unfortunate has happened to someone; but if it prefaces the statement, something bad and unpleasant and insulting is coming. My husband and I joke about this at home, especially when we're putting on our Yooper accents for fun.

And in the bookstore where I just began to work (The One True Bookstore (independent) of Charleston, WV), I just saw a book in the humor section entitled "Bless your Heart, you Tramp".

On an unrelated note, it warmed my heart to see "The Magician and the Fool" on the new fiction shelf at the Public Library today.

>>if you preface or append a comment with "Bless his/her/its heart", you can say just about anything

Double-super interesting. I think you're right, and certainly that tracks with Pelosi's comments at the link above. (I've also read "Bless your heart" as "fuck you" with a big, church-sweet smile.)

And I totally concur with your unrelated note! Thanks for letting me know. I'm tempted to say, "Bless your heart!' But, see above.

I've also read "Bless your heart" as "fuck you" with a big, church-sweet smile . I've definitely heard it used that way, and I agree that it's the Southern version of "Minnesota nice". It's a very versatile phrase. Not only can it mean "fuck you" or stand-in for overt condescension, but some people do genuinely mean it in a nice way, or to express sympathy.
Dying young of cancer? Bless his heart. You made me a pie? Well, bless your heart! (but never forget, Bless her heart, she never knew who the father was ...)

You're welcome. I appreciate your restraint, given the circumstances.

The One True Bookstore needs some help updating their sci-fi/fantasy/spec fiction section, so I'm angling to get into a position to order some more interesting and contemporary authors besides Asimov, Heinlein and Herbert, oh my!

Just wait until I get my Employee Picks shelf.

Hmmmm...box of candy? Roses? Whattaya need there, BLG? ')

I'll tell you what. When I have managed to get The Magician and the Fool in the bookstore and sold, you can send me chocolate. Dark.

You know, I'm a high-end grocery guy, BLG. I got a line on the best chocolate around, if that provides any incentive. :)

That provides a lovely incentive! Don't think I won't collect. The Wedge is AWESOME.

The true incentive, though, is to see awesome books on shelves in Charleston, WV, and to see them go home with people.

I'm getting a package together in case you sell 10 books by the end of the year. ;)

You got it right. "Bless his heart" is a very Southern way of calling someone an imbecile. At least, that's the way it's used here in Mississippi.

Thanks, Matt. Texas is it's own thing, but I've definitely heard it used this way there.

Nice blog, by the way! :)