It’s fascinating to see conservatives tossing around quotes from pols they hold in contempt (most conspicuously Clinton) to try and prove…well, I’m not sure what.
But if quotes mean so much, then let’s have a few more, all of which underscore Bush’s commitment to a vision and his world-respected ability to express himself. Please be aware…there are no typos in any of the below. They’re “as is.”
I think our troops ought to be used to fight and win war. But in this case, it was a nation-building exercise. And same with Haiti. I wouldn’t have supported either. (GWB, 2000)
(W)e can’t be all things to all people in the world. I am worried about over-committing our military around the world. I want to be judicious in its use. I don’t think nation-building missions are worthwhile. (GWB, 2000)
But the use of the military needs to be in our vital interest. The mission needs to be clear and the exit strategy obvious. (GWB, 2000)
This country has no designs on Cuba’s soverty; we have no designs on the soverty of Cuba. (GWB, 2002)
The goals for this country are peace in the world. And the goals for this country are a compassionate American for every single citizen. (GWB, 2002)
Parents and educators will not be bystandards in education reform. (GWB, 2003)
These are folks that have hijacked a great religion and then take innocent life. And that’s a huge difference between America. (GWB 2002)
In my attitude, it doesn’t matter how high the hurdle is, we’ll cross it. (GWB 2003)
I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn’t here. (GWB 2002)
• 
Dude! He’s from Texas, what do you want?
Don’t do that. There are scores of smart Texans. Even if there are pronunciation gaps, most of them know that there’s not even any such words as “bystandards” or “soverty”.
Natalie Maines was right.
Y’see that’s a big difference on our side of the pond. We’re equally happy to take the piss out of politicians we support… (as well as the other side) if it’s funny.
I have no idea why that attitude is seen by some Americans as ‘unhealthy’, but I’m assured it is.
Yeah, don’t stereotype Southerners. After all, some of our greatest authors, thinkers and leaders have come from the South.
There’s always an exception to every rule.
Some politicians are not always good with words, but that does not necessarily mean they are idiots. Take Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, for example. He is a great mayor, in my opinion. He’s smart, savvy, committed to Chicago, an effective leader and a truly nice man. But he butchers the King’s English with the best of them — especially when he is angry, flustered or tries too hard to be clever and glib. He also happens to be one of the most respected Democrats in the country. Personally, I think it is intellectual snobbery to discount a person’s intellect, effectiveness, and ability to lead based on verbal (or even spelling)gaffes. In my lifetime, I have know a number of very eloquent people who were absolutely terrible managers, visionaries, leaders, or teachers, so I am now much more careful about not being too quick to judge anyone by such superficial criteria.
Russ Maheras
Who cares?
I mean, who really cares if Bush flubs stuff? What does it matter to me?
What I love is the conviction of the Left that the Democrats are somehow NOT as corrupt as the Republicans. They’re two sides of the same corrupt coin.
Once the left wakes up to this, maybe they won’t annoy me so much, but as it stands they look like fools pretending that any of their guys is in any way better than this guy.
The only difference is this guy won’t cow-tow to the UN, and didn’t wimp out when the šhìŧ hit the fan.
I don’t think very many Democrat politicians would have had the balls to actually go into Afghanistan. They would’ve waited on the UN, and they never would’ve had the sack to go after Saddam.
Still wouldn’t vote for him, or a Democrat, though.
I agree that spelling gaffes in and of themselves are generally not a good reason to criticize someone — a colleague of mine, for instance, was of Dutch ancestry, and while she’s one of the best teachers I’ve ever known her spelling is really terrible.
The occasional verbal gaffe is also very understandable, especially if you’re in public life and thus have every word you say recorded for posterity. Hëll, I make plenty of them in the classroom.
What I think is worthy of criticism is when the verbal gaffes (a) go unacknowledged (as in “whoops, that’s not what I meant” right after the fact as opposed to days later), and (b) come in such huge numbers as to be overwhelming.
I think Peter’s point above, though, isn’t really the verbal gaffes (though I’ll admit he tossed quite a few in). The differences in opinion between Candidate Bush and President Bush are huge — and that, I think, is something very worthy of comment.
(The Daily Show did a great job with that once, showing a “debate” between the two. Hilarious stuff.)
TWL
The reason for always quoting Clinton is because everything bad that happened in the last 10 years is his fault.
The most bizzare example of this was Ari Fleisher said that the increased violence in the mid-east (circa 2001) was Clinton’s fault because he tried too hard to bring peace.
It’s the same thing with responding to the Iraq death toll of U.S. soldiers by saying “18 soldiers died in Somilia under Clinton”, as if to say that 18 deaths in a humanitarian effort (18 soldiers in 8 years in office) compares to 500+ in a war driven by lies (500+ in 3 years in office).
so remember:
* Efforts for peace = violence
* 18=500+
* 1)Clinton = bad, 2)Bush = see 1
A politician, whose job it is to give speeches, and communicate with the public, misspells potato, once, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. A politician who, in almost every public appearance mispronounces and forgets names of people, peoples, and places, and he admits he hate to read, I don’t think it’s a quick judgement that is being made.
Putting aside his inability to put together a sentence without a script, anyone want to defend the first three quotes? No verbal flubs there.
I don’t think very many Democrat politicians would have had the balls to actually go into Afghanistan. They would’ve waited on the UN, and they never would’ve had the sack to go after Saddam.
That’s “Democratic”, not “Democrat”.
The US had support for the Afghanistan war – from our allies, and from almost all of Congress. The difference is that Democrats probably wouldn’t have withdrawn US attention from Afghanistan and attacked Iraq. It took no “sack” to attack Iraq – it was pure bloody mindedness, based on the PNAC’s vision for an American stronghold in the Middle East.
Todd wrote: A politician, whose job it is to give speeches, and communicate with the public, misspells potato, once, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge.
Yeah, well I just remember how Dan Quayle, who seemed like a pretty decent guy, was literally crucified by the press and political opponents because of his gaffe. It didn’t help that he made the gaffe correcting a third grader, I believe it was, but you get my point.
One of the reasons politicians are often not the cream-of-the-crop leaders from the business or academic world is primarily because of the incredibly vicious, and often unfair/unreasonable, attacks they have to endure. I mean, not only would these folks have to take a considerable pay cut to serve, they’d have to subject themselves to a daily barrage of, “You’re a moron/idiot/pinhead/scumbag/(pick an insult)”
Russ Maheras
Quayle wasn’t as bad as Bush, but don’t try to write off the “potatoe” flub as an isolated incident. There were books of his verbal gaffes, just as there are for Bush.
And don’t try to pin it on liberal authors. With the likes of Ann Coulter running around, if there were a liberal politician with these problems, there would be volumes of books about it.
Putting aside his inability to put together a sentence without a script, anyone want to defend the first three quotes? No verbal flubs there
No, there aren’t any “verbal flubs,” and it doesn’t seem like that’s why PAD put them up. Read what he’s saying in them.
“I don’t think nation-building missions are worthwhile.”
That sentence, if true, decimates any claim that the Bush administration had pure motives to enter Iraq.
“But the use of the military needs to be in our vital interest. The mission needs to be clear and the exit strategy obvious.”
Yeah, he should’ve written that one backwards and pasted it to his forehead, so he could’ve remembered the concept while doing Dirty Harry impersonations in the mirror.
I just think that, when it comes to the ability to express thoughts in a coherent fashion, the President of the United States should be held to a higher standard than the Mayor of Chicago. The Mayor of Chicago speaks for Chicago. The President speaks for America.
The main representative of the US to the world should be able to put our national best foot forward, not our worst foot in our mouth.
PAD
Yeah, well I just remember how Dan Quayle, who seemed like a pretty decent guy, was literally crucified by the press and political opponents because of his gaffe. It didn’t help that he made the gaffe correcting a third grader, I believe it was, but you get my point.
Seems to me the point is that, once upon a time,being viewed as a non-threatening, unintellectual lightweight was viewed as a bad thing. Now…not so much.
PAD
Happy Monkey wrote: Quayle wasn’t as bad as Bush, but don’t try to write off the “potatoe” flub as an isolated incident. There were books of his verbal gaffes, just as there are for Bush.
Below are just a handful quotes by the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, father of the current Chicago mayor, and the only mayor I’d ever known growing up as a kid. There are probably several books out there full of his goofy quotes, but he was much beloved by me and most other Chicagoans. Perhaps he is why I’m more open to verbal gaffes by politicians than some people:
Even the Lord had skeptical members of His party.
Richard J. Daley
The police are not here to create disorder, they’re here to preserve disorder.
Richard J. Daley
I resent insinuendoes.
Richard J. Daley
Look at our Lords disciples. One denied Him; one doubted Him; one betrayed Him. If our Lord couldn’t have perfection, how are you going to have it in city government?
Richard J. Daley
No poll can equal the day-to-day visits of the men and women of the Democratic Party.
Richard J. Daley
Power is dangerous unless you have humility.
Richard J. Daley
Television and radio do a wonderful job in focusing attention on the problems of our society.
Richard J. Daley
Don’t worry if they’re Democrats or Republicans. Give them service and they’ll become Democrats
Richard J. Daley
PAD wrote: The main representative of the US to the world should be able to put our national best foot forward, not our worst foot in our mouth.
See the second paragraph from my 11:18 ET quote above — it equally applies to all liberal, conservative and independent candidates, unfortunately. To quote Walt Kelly, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
Russ Maheras
Some politicians are not always good with words, but that does not necessarily mean they are idiots.
As PAD said, this is our representative to the world.
There are alot of politicians that can talk out their ášš all day, but are idiots, and vise versa.
Unfortunately, Bush isn’t very bright nor a good speaker.
Clinton, on the other hand, was intelligent and eloquent, and it showed.
Michileen Martin – Yes, that was my point. I was asking if anyone wanted to defend them, since they couldn’t be written off as flubs.
Russ Maheras – Umm… The second and third ones are flubs. The rest are either true or opinion.
“The main representative of the US to the world should be able to put our national best foot forward, not our worst foot in our mouth.”
That depends on what your definition of “best foot” is. Is it merely how well you present yourself, or is it where do you choose to stand, or is it how well you do your job? If it is all about how well you speak and actions speak louder then words so don’t those actions count?
Once Bush makes a policy change that change stays. He sticks to his guns. And that’s what we need in the Middle East to remake the region.
He’s making alot of the right people very nervous in the world today. People like Khadaffi who has sold out his terrorist connections and is making nice. He’s isolated Syria and shut off a possible Saudi/Iranian understanding. The Palestinians are beginning to understand that we are not playing footsies anymore. And N. Korea is being handled exactly as it should be handled right now. That is Bush putting his best foot forward.
Speaking as someone from the Chicago area, using Daley quotes to try and deflect from and defend Bush is probably not a good idea.
Daley wishes he was a corrupt a politian as Bush is turning out to be.
He sticks to his guns? This is the same man who told us up and down that there were WMDs in Iraq and rather than simply saying, oops we were wrong, he’s pointing fingers and everyone else… Balls? the man’s a wuss.
Ra!
He does stick to his guns. His guns say “It’s not my fault”.
Nit to Pick:
Yeah, well I just remember how Dan Quayle, who seemed like a pretty decent guy, was literally [emphasis mine] crucified by the press and political opponents because of his gaffe. It didn’t help that he made the gaffe correcting a third grader, I believe it was, but you get my point.
Dan Quayle was not physically laid out by the press and his political opponents and actually nailed to a cross. If he had been, then he would have been literally crucified. What you mean to say is that he was figuratively crucified. Literally implies pure fact without any embellishment or exaggeration.
Sorry, if this seems trite, but the mistaken use of “literally” for “figuratively” is quickly becoming one of my top pet peeves.
As someone who had Quayle for a Representative and a Senator, I can say without a doubt that he was a lightweight.
I can remember when the GOP tried to show just how good of a Senator he was by showing how much important legislation he had generated, and the only thing they could find was a bill that was co-sponsored with Ted Kennedy.
Sorry, if this seems trite, but the mistaken use of “literally” for “figuratively” is quickly becoming one of my top pet peeves.
I stand corrected. At least I didn’t write “potatoe” 😉
Russ Maheras
“He sticks to his guns? This is the same man who told us up and down that there were WMDs in Iraq and rather than simply saying, oops we were wrong, he’s pointing fingers and everyone else… Balls? the man’s a wuss.”
If that was true then when the UN wouldn’t okay the war he would have tucked tail. Instead he’s shown that the UN needs the US more then the US needs the UN.
The main representative of the US to the world should be able to put our national best foot forward, not our worst foot in our mouth.
Yes, lets elect some more forked-tongued, sleazy lawyers into the white house. Hopefuly the next set can eloquently describe what “is” is.
The main representative of the US to the world should be able to put our national best foot forward, not our worst foot in our mouth.
Yes, lets elect some more forked-tongued, sleazy lawyers into the white house. Hopefuly the next set can eloquently describe what “is” is.
Well, I’ve been enjoying watching the current White House resident attempt to describe what the “are” in “There are WMD in Iraq” actually is. 🙂
“If that was true then when the UN wouldn’t okay the war he would have tucked tail. Instead he’s shown that the UN needs the US more then the US needs the UN.”
Not exactly, he just shown the world that Americans have a stick up their áššëš and no patience. Timing is everything ol’ boy, and Bush doesn’t have any sense of it. Has to over extend itself and its gotten people killed. Whoopie! Let’s hail the conquering hero
Ra!
Hey Tichy? Did Clinton’s regrettable Lewinsky affair — and subsequent attempt to cover it up — get American soldiers killed?
Nope.
Did Bush’s lies (or “intelligence failures,” if you prefer) get American soldiers killed?
Yep, 500+ and counting.
When you can show me what Clinton did that was nearly as bad as Bush wasting American lives, I’ll agree to tolerate your bashing. Clinton made mistakes, yes — NAFTA, for example — but nowhere near the magnitude of the failings of the guy currently in office.
All presidents say dumb things and things they wish they could have back. Some of course just flat out lie, but I guess as long as it is done eloquently than who cares.
“We can’t be so fixated on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans …”
Bill Clinton (USA TODAY, 11 March 1993, page 2A)
“The other thing we have to do is to take seriously the role in this problem of . . . older men who prey on underage women. . . . There are consequences to decisions and . . . one way or the other, people always wind up being held accountable.”
–Bill Clinton, June 13, 1996, in a speech endorsing a national effort against teen pregnancy [USNews: 9/21/98]
“I ask that all Americans demonstrate in their personal and public lives… the high ethical standards that are essential to good character and to the continued success of our Nation.”
–President Bill Clinton, October 17, 1997. “National Character Counts Week.”
MISSION IN SOMALIA:
“The ultimate goal is to make sure that the United Nations can fulfill its
mission there and continue to work with the Somalis toward nation
building.”
June 16, 1993.
“The U.S. military mission is not now nor was it ever one of `nation
building.'”
October 13, 1993.
….oh I could have copied and pasted all day. A search for Google “Clinton lies” and you get “about 797,000 hits” in 0.36 seconds.
When you can show me what Clinton did that was nearly as bad as Bush wasting American lives, I’ll agree to tolerate your bashing.
Bush isn’t “wasting American lives” and if you liberals could see past your rabid desire to get Bush out of office than perhaps you would see like Joe Lieberman does that America will be a safer place with a regime change in Iraq.
If Bush did lie than he must have total control over the CIA, FBI, and multiple international intelligence angencies. Since they all made their case to Congress and people from Mrs. Clinton to Mr. Kerry voted for this war.
Vs….entering “Bush Lies” into google and you get 1,400,000 hits in 0.49 secs…..
Ok, I got one:
“I did not have sex with that woman.“
-Bill “Bubba” Clinton
Ya know, I don’t think there are many people in this country who think that getting rid of Saddam is a bad thing, but the point is, we went in there with no real plans of how to get out and now Americans are getting killed in a war that we shouldn’t be in and then these guys are coming home just to see Bush’s friends getting most of the contracts, seems like a waste to me.
oh yea…
“Ok, I got one:
“I did not have sex with that woman.”
-Bill “Bubba” Clinton “
–Who did this kill again?
Ra!
Peter, I think this entry of yours is mean spirited, biased, and lopsided.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go put food on my family….
Sorry I meant ‘faux’ guess I can’t be president now, huh?
Ra wrote: we went in there with no real plans of how to get out and now Americans are getting killed in a war that we shouldn’t be in
A war with no exit strategy? Oh, you mean like Vietnam? By the way, although I respected President John F. Kennedy, he got is into that mess, and President Johnson REALLY made it far worse.
The point about the “exit strategy” argument that many critics don’t understand, is that there probably WAS an exit strategy in the original plan. It’s just that when things actually unfolded, the plan probably went to hëll. It happens all the time in war, business or whatever. It’s how you react to the unanticipated that is the mark of good leadership. And in my opinion, it’s too early to make any judgement calls about Iraq’s future. I do know one thing: The world is a much safer place without Saddam and his crazy sons in power.
And if you really are concerned about the mortality rate of Americans, you need to look no farther than the streets of any major city in the United States. In Chicago, for example, there were more murders in 2003 than a year’s worth of combat AND noncombat U.S. military deaths in Iraq. And keep in mind these U.S. military deaths were sustained only after a massive military operation and a major war. When the troops come home, I sure hope they bring their body armor with them!
When you frame George W. Bush’s quotes from PAD’s blog entry with the admission from Paul O’Neil that the administration was gunnin’ for Iraq from Day 1, the picture is especially damming.
Not that it will stop the Bush apologists from spinning the truth, though.
“I did not have sex with that woman.”
-Bill “Bubba” Clinton “
–Who did this kill again?
The innocence of the nation. Oh, wait; before that happened, we were about as innocent as a… thing that’s… not… um, innocent. OK, I’ll come up with a better analogy later. The point is, we weren’t innocent.
In fact, I’m not even sure this was a lie. After all, Bubba, bless his heart, made it pretty clear during that whole mess he was very tight about semantics, and at no time was it ever proven that he and Monica Lewinsky were unconscious in the same bed.
This coming from a Clinton supporter. I just think it’s funny.
Also, I saw that Daily Show debate between Governor Bush and President Bush. It was bloody hilarious.
“we went in there with no real plans of how to get out”
There is no substitute for victory.
I am very interested to know what some of your thoughts are about this: http://denbeste.nu/essays/strategic_overview.shtml
It is a comprehensive overview of the WoT, how and why we got into Iraq and where to go from there.
And I’d like to see PAD respond to it.
PAD – I think it was a mistake to lump Bush’s anti-nation building statements with his verbal gaffes because now half the people on this list are focusing on the gaffes and instead of the your original point of using quotes out of context to try and undermine the oppostion.
“And if you really are concerned about the mortality rate of Americans, you need to look no farther than the streets of any major city in the United States. In Chicago, for example, there were more murders in 2003 than a year’s worth of combat AND noncombat U.S. military deaths in Iraq. “
If that’s the case, then maybe we should aim our attention to solving our own problems at home before we stick our nose into some other country where we don’t belong.
Ra!
**”Ok, I got one:
“I did not have sex with that woman.”
-Bill “Bubba” Clinton “
–Who did this kill again?**
Clinton responded by attacking targets in Afghanistan and Sudan three days after admitting the Lewinsky affair. So pointing out a lie of a Dem get’s a response of “Who did this kill?”. Talk about looking the other way.
Don’t blame Kennedy for Vietnam. Eisenhower got us in there. Before Kennedy’s death he had already signed executive orders that would have brought most of our troops home before the end of 1963, which Johnson overturned almost immediately upon taking office. Don’t forget JFK’s words: “Ultimately, it’s their war. They’re the ones who have to win or lose it.”
The exit strategy is easy to see : Hussein and his like out of power, and the people in Iraq having a free voice to speak their mind about what they wish instead of spending their time in a rape room, prison cell, or otherwise fearing for their lives.
The biggest difference between what Bush is saying is what he is doing to back up some of those words. Yes, I did say some. Yes, I realize that he said that Hussein had w.o.m.m., but so did Clinton, who also said something had to be done.
Which one of them did something to prevent Hussein from becoming a credible threat?
Yes, I realize that he said that the intelligence he was given said Hussein had stronger weapons than he seems too. It’s too bad that various democrats who voted for the resolution to remove hussein from power also saw the same intelligence and based their vote on that information. (Including, but I could be wrong, Kerry.)
America will be a safer place with a regime change in Iraq.
Saddam was no threat to the U.S., had no WMD’s, & Didn’t have terrorists in the parts of the country he controlled. But overthrowing him & thereby inciting more hatred toward America makes us safer.
How?
If that’s the case, then maybe we should aim our attention to solving our own problems at home before we stick our nose into some other country where we don’t belong.
When was the last time you saw a concerted effort of protesters and activists working together to end the high number of murders in U.S. cities? Most efforts are half-hearted, underfunded or fragmented, at best. At least I write to newspapers, with some success, I might add, and take them to task for avoiding or burying the issue, which I think is a national disgrace.