Following his presidential address to the nation, one local journalist, who 
is sometimes critical of the regime, elaborated–in answer to my question 
about Assad’s apparent enduring popularity during this tragic period for 
people of Syria:

 “It’s true. And it’s partly due to the fact that he is modest, even humble–
and well-educated in contrast to some regional monarchs who are 
essentially illiterate and uninterested in the world outside their fiefdoms 
palaces.” She continued, “Before the crisis it was not unusual to spot him, 
without a security convoy, driving himself around downtown, his car full of 
kids- doing errands or taking them out to eat-sometimes collecting them from 
school. You saw his almost boyish charm yesterday as he entered the hall and 
made his way down the aisle to the podium as he greeted members of the 
audience. As he departed he did not appear in a hurry as he shook hands. 
Bashar Assad obviously enjoys being among people and is not at all a sullen 
remote type personality as some critics wrongly portray him.”