I can’t help jumping on the bandwagon with this one. My blog is all about words and stories, after all, and no one can mangle words and abuse the English language quite like George W Bush. I won’t be sorry to see him go when he leaves office, but I will miss him just a little bit. Is there some completely harmless area of public life that we can keep him in so that he has no power or authority yet still has to speak publically as often as possible? I can think of no greater use for him. Answers on a postcard please.
Anyway, seeing as old Dubya is off into the ex-presidents retirement home (no doubt completely skipping the ex-presidents keynote speaker trail, sadly enough) I thought it was worth revisiting some of his greatest quotes, now commonly known as Bushisms.
Here’s just a few to start with:
“They misunderestimated me.” —Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000
“Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.” —LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000
“We both use Colgate toothpaste.” —after a reporter asked what he had in common with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Camp David, Md., Feb. 23, 2001
“I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn’t here.” —at the President’s Economic Forum in Waco, Texas, Aug. 13, 2002
“Do you have blacks, too?” —to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2001
“I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe — I believe what I believe is right.” —Rome, Italy, July 22, 2001
“I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn’t do my job.” —to a group of Amish he met with privately, July 9, 2004 – Yep, that one’s particularly scary. It goes well with this one:
“I’ve been in the Bible every day since I’ve been the president.”—Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2008
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
Ah, I could go on and on. Let’s just finish up with a few of my personal favourites:
“I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.” —Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000
“Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.” —Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004
“For a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times.” -Tokyo, 18 February, 2002
“I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.” —Greater Nashua, N.H., Jan. 27, 2000
“Reading is the basics for all learning.” –Reston, Virginia, 28 March, 2000
And perhaps my all time top Bushism:
“Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?” —Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000
Although perhaps the most accurate one is:
“I’m the master of low expectations.” —aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003
If you haven’t had enough by now, there’s an almost endless supply here.
Let’s finish up with a video. You can always trust Letterman to distill the essence of something.
Seeya Dubya!
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He’s the only president whose legacy is purely unintentional!