Danny, 1st Earl of the Ozarks’ great post on this blog yesterday reminded me that a couple of years ago, while George W Bush was President of the United States, I bought a calendar with a countdown to the end of his reign. On each of the days there was a quote from the man himself, a lesson on how to mangle English, sometimes to such an extent that it is rendered completely meaningless. England has John Prescott, the USA has DubYa.
From time to time I’ll share a quote or two with you, especially when I can’t find anything interesting to post on, or when I’m too busy (or too lazy) to do any research. I hope you’ll enjoy them.
Washington D.C.: September 19, 2005: “If it were to rain a lot, there is concern from the Army Corps of Engineers that the levees might break. And so, therefore, we’re cautious about encouraging people to return at this moment in history.”
Aboard Air Force One: June 4, 2003. “I’m the master of low expectations.”
Washington D.C.: May 31, 2001: (Remarks to the University of Nebraska Women’s Volleyball Team. National Champions 2001) “It’s important for young men and women who look at the Nebraska champs to understand that the quality of life is more than just blocking shots.”
Des Moines, Iowa: August 21, 2000: “I don’t know whether I’m going to win or not. I think I am. I do know I’m ready for the job. And, if not, that’s just the way it goes.”
Washington D.C.: December 11, 2002: “There’s only one person who hugs the mothers and the widows, the wives and the kids, upon the death of their loved one. Others hug but, having committed the troops, I’ve got an additional responsibility to hug and that’s me and I know what it’s like.”
The meaning or intent behind the last one is lost on me.. and the second last one had me in stiches...oh a brilliant posting tris..
ReplyDeletemy favourite of all time has to be:
"The enemy is resourceful, so are we. The enemy can be tough, and ruthless in pursuit of their goals, and so are we. And the enemy is skilled at bringing greast misery to our people, as are we."....hahahahaha, the man was the most powerful [monkey?] on the planet as well....archhhh
Dean:
ReplyDeleteCould it be that he felt that, having sent the troops he deserved a hug, and he had to hug himself and ... no I'm starting to dribble here...
Thanks for sharing that one. He was certainly adept at bringing misery to the American people.. so many of them, but at least he made a few super rich pretty happy. We were lucky that it wasn't him that had to clear up the mess that he made.....
I'm glad you liked the post. I have another couple of hundred here to share when I get stuck for a post......
It wasn't the easiest thing in the world being an American during DubYa's administration. Some other countries, when they elect a complete fool, can sort of keep him under wraps until the next election. But an idiot president is hard to hide. I always had sort of a nagging feeling that I should issue an apology to the world. And when he traveled abroad, I always dreaded the news reports about how he had again embarrassed himself and the nation.
ReplyDeleteBut for all his faults and failings, he was one FUNNY man. The unintentional humor sort of softened the daily news out of the White House. Dean's favorite is also my own. But there were so many great ones. The President's constitutionally mandated State of the Union address to Congress is the premier political event of the year. DubYa's description:
in my State of the --- my State of the Union --- or state -- my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation --
Thank you Mr. President.
I really loved the fourth one you posted Tris....from the campaign trail in Iowa:
"I do know I’m ready for the job. And, if not, that’s just the way it goes."
What an engaging fatalism. And how unintentionally truthful for a political utterance. What presidential candidate cannot honestly say that?
At first it was actually inspiring to hear president Obama speak. He formed complete sentences and paragraphs. They made sense. They expressed coherent ideas. But the novelty has worn off now. He's just not FUNNY like Dubya was.
Awwww Danny...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if we could arrange for DubYa to be stand-in president while Mr Obama is off home to Hawaii for Christmas
tris
ReplyDeleteSome excellent quotes by Dubya ! I think he forgot to engage brain before speaking too many times.
Would it be possible to do one on Obama next ? He's had some good quotes aswell. Too many for one article but you could limit it to the best ones.
A couple to get the ball rolling...
" I bowled a 129. It was like special olympics "
"On this memorial day, as our nation honors the unbroken line of fallen heroes, and I see many of them in the audience today..."
Good ones Anon.
ReplyDeleteI had heard the one on the Olympics but the other one is new to me...
We'll have to wait till he's got 365 and they bring out a calendar for him, then I'll buy it and quote from it too. But feel free to add to your above list at any time. No favourites here.
I'm sure we could include some corkers from Salmond, Brown, Cameron, Clegg, and I imagine that Tavish Scott could provide us with some REAL beauties... Even the articulate Ms Goldie might provide some. It must be hard to do a lot of public speaking without dropping the odd clanger, but we'd have to hand the rosette to DubYa.... He stands out a mile. ;¬)
Yep Tris.....Obama could have life tenure as president and never come close to DubYa in his accidental misuse of the language.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing about DubYa....he could be quite subtle about it. When reporters asked him about the reading material he was taking along on holiday, he said he was taking some "Shakespeares." YES.....with an "S". As if he were talking about the latest Tom ClancyS, John GrishamS.....maybe some classic HemingwayS....LOL.
Danny, If I remember rightly the man spent half his life on holiday. I guess even he could get through a couple of ShakespeareS, the amount of time he spent at Crawford.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, he was probably lying....