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Jan. 3, 2009

Bush Remembered For Not-So-Smooth Talk

A Look Back At Some Of The President's Misunderestimated Remarks

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    President Bush will be remembered for many things, some of which he may want to forget. But, along the way, Bush has poked fun at others too.

  • A misunderestimated president? George W. Bush will be remembered, in part, for his occasional difficulty speaking and the often-hilarious mangled phrases that he used. Photo

    A misunderestimated president? George W. Bush will be remembered, in part, for his occasional difficulty speaking and the often-hilarious mangled phrases that he used.  (AP)

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(AP)  President George W. Bush will leave behind a legacy of Bushisms, the label stamped on the commander in chief's original speaking style. Some of the president's more notable malaprops and mangled statements:

  • "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." - September 2000, explaining his energy policies at an event in Michigan.

  • "Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?" - January 2000, during a campaign event in South Carolina.

  • "They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the commander in chief, too." - Sept. 26, 2001, in Langley, Va. Bush was referring to the terrorists who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks.

  • "There's no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail." - Oct. 4, 2001, in Washington. Bush was remarking on a back-to-work plan after the terrorist attacks.

  • "It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber." - April 10, 2002, at the White House, as Bush urged Senate passage of a broad ban on cloning.

  • "I want to thank the dozens of welfare-to-work stories, the actual examples of people who made the firm and solemn commitment to work hard to embetter themselves." - April 18, 2002, at the White House.

  • "There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again." - Sept. 17, 2002, in Nashville, Tenn.

  • "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." - Aug. 5, 2004, at the signing ceremony for a defense spending bill.

  • "Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." - Sept. 6, 2004, at a rally in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

  • "Our most abundant energy source is coal. We have enough coal to last for 250 years, yet coal also prevents an environmental challenge." - April 20, 2005, in Washington.

  • "We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job." - Sept. 20, 2005, in Gulfport, Miss.

  • "I can't wait to join you in the joy of welcoming neighbors back into neighborhoods, and small businesses up and running, and cutting those ribbons that somebody is creating new jobs." - Sept. 5, 2005, when Bush met with residents of Poplarville, Miss., in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

    Quote

    Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?

    President George W. Bush, during a January, 2000campaign event in South Carolina
  • "It was not always a given that the United States and America would have a close relationship. After all, 60 years we were at war 60 years ago we were at war." - June 29, 2006, at the White House, where Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

  • "Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die." - Dec. 7, 2006, in a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

  • "These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved." - June 11, 2007, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

  • "Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit." - September 2007, in Sydney, Australia, where Bush was attending an APEC summit.

  • "Thank you, Your Holiness. Awesome speech." - April 16, 2008, at a ceremony welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the White House.

  • "The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place." - May 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.

  • "And they have no disregard for human life." - July 15, 2008, at the White House. Bush was referring to enemy fighters in Afghanistan.

  • "I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." - June 26, 2008, during a Rose Garden news briefing.

  • "Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people." - July 4, 2008 in Virginia.

  • "The people in Louisiana must know that all across our country there's a lot of prayer - prayer for those whose lives have been turned upside down. And I'm one of them. It's good to come down here." - Sept. 3, 2008, at an emergency operations center in Baton Rouge, La., after Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast.

  • "This thaw - took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." Oct. 20, 2008, in Alexandria, La., as he discussed the economy and frozen credit markets.

    © MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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    Add a Comment See all 327 Comments
    by sockpuppet4 January 3, 2009 6:22 PM PST
    Bush is a greedy, foaming at the mouth for a dollar, corporate puppet, lobbyist monkey, selfish, worst President ever, slave creating, war mongering, United States destroying, incompetent, trickle down, cowboy wannabe miss by a mile, chicken scratch, moronic, arrogant, religious using for personal gain, irrational, treasonous, neocon pig.

    .... and he never once tough talked. He sounds like a mama boy, little peepee, wuss.
    Reply to this comment
    by kittykatty2 January 3, 2009 6:31 PM PST
    It just sounds like he''s been on an 8 year bender to me.
    Reply to this comment
    by mikefl11 January 3, 2009 6:50 PM PST
    There''s little doubt that he''s the worstest.
    Reply to this comment
    by ramos937 January 3, 2009 6:52 PM PST
    President George W. Bush will leave behind a legacy of THE MOST stupidest President in the History of Mankind as we know it today.
    ---------------------------------------

    To Ms.....you cannot in any way shape or form blame Bush. The American people elected him twice. The old saying of fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me is very appropriate.

    Remember the BBC headline after 11/04/2004 "How could 50 million people be so stupid". We reelected this guy. So, who is to blame?
    Reply to this comment
    by spoonerfineart January 3, 2009 6:55 PM PST
    Not so smooth... the guy from deliverance was not so smooth... Bush is the Moron depicted there!

    Death and War, Torture and eavesdropping an Americans. 700 Billions to his unregulated Markets and an second worse economy since the Great Depression.

    This one man nearly destroyed the USA all by himself and all you can say is he''ll be remembered for ''Not so Smooth. a talker.
    Reply to this comment
    by ldvuong January 3, 2009 6:55 PM PST
    Obama will be remembered for "all talks," and no actions?
    Reply to this comment
    by stinginrich January 3, 2009 7:18 PM PST
    Shrub will be remembered as the Drunken, 59IQ, AWOL/Deserter, Idiot-Son Front-Man, of a Criminal Family of Ruling Elite, that have quite masterfully used his retardded azz to complete the largest theft and transfer of wealth in World History.....
    That, and of course the Mass Murder of over a Million Human Beings......
    Reply to this comment
    by terrorislame January 3, 2009 7:26 PM PST
    Kids, don`t grow up to be like this ~
    A Typical RepubliCon,
    Uneducated,
    And an Embarrassment to ALL !
    Reply to this comment
    by sockpuppet4 January 3, 2009 7:34 PM PST
    Bush .... Stoopit .... Oink .... Oink !
    Reply to this comment
    by rmonroe401 January 3, 2009 7:46 PM PST
    Yep, this the moron elected for and by morons.
    Reply to this comment
    by breadline1 January 3, 2009 7:47 PM PST
    I hope this will be a good lesson to future generations as well as the present that cocaine and alcohol are bad for the brain. gorge bushbot proved this fact for eight years straight! what an Idiot!
    Reply to this comment
    by breadline1 January 3, 2009 7:53 PM PST
    I would like to know what happened to the 54% of stupid voters that put him in office the second time. not shooting your mouths off like you did in 04,.. are ya!
    Reply to this comment
    by flsunjnky January 3, 2009 7:59 PM PST
    You know, I have been around since Eisenhower, and it seems like the voting public just never learn. What did they learn from Reagan? Or daddy Bush, for that matter? Now, we are back in the same boat, an older boat that leaks a lot worse than it did back then. Lessons learned? None.
    Reply to this comment
    by flsunjnky January 3, 2009 8:04 PM PST
    Hi, good to see ya DJ. Your question answered itself.
    Reply to this comment
    by breadline1 January 3, 2009 8:06 PM PST
    hey gctomajtom you kinda sound like one of the 54% that voted for him the second time. a stupid repuke who won''t even give the guy a chance. he hasn''t even been given the power to change anything yet. but when he does... I hope your one of the ones he taxes the *** out of!
    Reply to this comment
    by flsunjnky January 3, 2009 8:07 PM PST
    Your not going to bait me tonight DJ. I think others have something to say too. But, I expected better from you.
    Reply to this comment
    by jumkey January 3, 2009 8:15 PM PST
    Hey, this Bush-bashing is okay, AS LONG AS Obama gets the same nasty treatment.

    Posted by gctomajtom

    Yeah sure, let''s "bash" the guy (who isn''t even President yet) because he says "ahhh" at the beginning of a sentence.

    This compares to 8+ years of imbecilic, childish comments from Bush or maybe his war that killed 800,000 people or the terrorists he failed to catch or the economy he destroyed or the Constitution he raped or the people he ordered tortured or the overall general stupidity and evil and criminality Bush and his followers (like you) have visited upon this country and the world.

    Yeah, to be "fair" we mention how much Obama''s speech pattern annoys you.

    Reply to this comment
    by flsunjnky January 3, 2009 8:21 PM PST
    I have never posted anything like that DJ! Don''t press me!
    Reply to this comment
    by hjay5 January 3, 2009 8:26 PM PST
    Bush has been an embarrassment. He''s the dumbest and worst president ever. The people who voted for him are now complaining about everything.
    Reply to this comment
    by flsunjnky January 3, 2009 8:28 PM PST
    DJ, I misread that. Yes, I apologize! My mistake, sorry.
    Reply to this comment
    by kaelinda January 3, 2009 8:35 PM PST
    I hope someone has the energy to copy these statements and send them around the world in an email. I can hardly wait!
    Reply to this comment
    by merlgrey January 3, 2009 8:37 PM PST
    "...... we should have a one party system?"

    it is basically a one party system... at best, diet coke vs diet pepsi at this point. the dem party and the repub party pretend to be at odds, but thier comfy coexistence relies on that illusion, they work equally hard to keep any other competition out of the game.

    we the voting public are all the suckers.
    Reply to this comment
    by flsunjnky January 3, 2009 8:38 PM PST
    Well, Kaelinda, maybe it would enlighten those who may read them an insight as to how some of us here in America feel and think. The most important thing is that we are free to speak our minds and disagree amongst ourselves. Maybe they could learn something from that.
    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 8:45 PM PST
    So easy to claim that the Democrats were behind the housing collapse yet you didn''t even hear John McCain voice any concern until AFTER his wife dumped all her shares in Freddie and Fannie. As for Bush....January 20th, January 20th....just keep repeating January 20th. Obama''s inauguration will make New Year''s festivities look like little more than a prelude to the main event.
    Reply to this comment
    by flsunjnky January 3, 2009 8:51 PM PST
    Well, gctomajtom,I guess that your claims that Bush will go down as anything other than one of the worst Presidents will have to stand the test of time.
    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 8:54 PM PST
    gctomajtom....OUCH - And just how do your comments lay claim to your statement that ''remember, we comment on the articles here.''
    Reply to this comment
    by jerr11 January 3, 2009 8:56 PM PST
    Not-So-Smooth Talk is the least of this Liar-in-Chief''s problem.

    935 lies.

    4200 Dead Americans.

    The economy completely decimated.

    $10 trillion debt!

    Hey give me not-so-smooth talk anytime!!

    Reply to this comment
    by tripster101 January 3, 2009 9:00 PM PST
    The past 8 years have not been good at all.
    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 9:04 PM PST
    What is truly hysterical is the subtitle of this article. Whether you were for or opposed to the man, there has been little or nothing come out of his mouth that was ''misunderestimated''. The consistency in which he botched statements became the rule and an expectation anxiously awaited by all. Either you were on the side of anxiously awaiting his contribution to much needed comic relief or were one of his avid supporters who just shuddered and said, ''Not again''.
    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 9:09 PM PST
    gctomajtom....No, it is not easy to understand. You can''t claim that you are doing anything more or less than the other person when you claim that your addressing the article but then attacking people''s IQ''s or level of stupidity. You just enjoined yourself with the very people you were trying to disassociate yourself from.
    Reply to this comment
    by harp1963 January 3, 2009 9:11 PM PST
    "Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren''t able to practice their love with women all across this country." - Sept. 6, 2004, at a rally in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

    This was one of my personal favorites. What an idiot.

    I also thought his appointment of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, THE SUPREME COURT, who had zero experience as a judge in any capacity, was hilarious. Wasn''t there ANYONE else he could of thought of before somebody that had never been a judge in their entire life?

    If George Bush had come from a normal middle class family he would have been lucky to be a decent assistant manager at a fast food restaurant. His family''s money is his only reason for success.
    Reply to this comment
    by livewire190 January 3, 2009 9:11 PM PST
    "Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren''t able to practice their love with women all across this country." - Sept. 6, 2004,
    Reply to this comment
    by ballpen1 January 3, 2009 9:12 PM PST
    Let''s not remember that guy for anything. Let''s just put him behind us. He was an embarrassment like we never had to deal with since 1776. I just hope the world will forgive us on electing this, this, this.... TWICE! We elected him TWICE! Good Lord, what were we THINKING?!
    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 9:17 PM PST
    Nope, not all of us have that guilt to deal with. Some of us were fortunate enough to recognize what a bad joke he was after only once having voted for him as governor. For some of us it hasn''t been 8 years of Dubya, it''s been more like 16.
    Reply to this comment
    by erasmus606 January 3, 2009 9:25 PM PST
    I just hope the world will forgive us on electing this, this, this.... TWICE! We elected him TWICE! Good Lord, what were we THINKING?!

    Posted by ballpen1 at 09:12 PM : Jan 03, 2009

    The world doesn''t know what you were thinking, but now that he''s leaving, I''m positive you''ll be forgiven.:)


    "Too many OB/GYNs aren''t able to practice their love with women all across this country."

    Hahahaha. Well, if nothing else, he is funny!

    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 9:33 PM PST
    George W. served two terms as Governor of Texas - first in 1994 and again in 1998. Has since served two terms as President. That''s 16 years that some of us have had to put up with him in one way or another. What was his legacy as Governor....TAAS and TAKS...an educational system that has completely failed to prepare kids for college or endowed them with anything more than rudimentary memorization skills and as such is FINALLY being done away with. Who in their right mind thought this man knew anything about education and don''t tell me his wife was a teacher. She didn''t teach long enough to really get her feet wet compared to real teachers who have devoted their life blood to the task of educating young people.
    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 9:34 PM PST
    "I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican" Governor Bush
    "A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls." Governor Bush
    "When I have been asked who caused the riots and the killing in LA, my answer has been direct & simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame George W. Bush
    "Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it." Governor George W. Bush, 5/20/96
    "We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur." Governor George W. Bush, 9/22/97
    "For NASA, space is still a high priority." Governor George W. Bush, 9/5/93
    "Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children." Governor George W. Bush, 9/18/95
    "The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that George Bush may or may not make." Governor George W. Bush
    "We''re all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may not have made." Governor George W. Bush
    "It isn''t pollution that''s harming the environment. It''s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." Governor George W. Bush
    "[It''s] time for the human race to enter the solar system." Governor George W. Bush
    WANT MORE - http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/Bush-Quotes-ngin.htm

    Reply to this comment
    by dxgmk January 3, 2009 9:34 PM PST
    actually I think George W. speaks rather well considering what morons his parents are1
    Reply to this comment
    by idnnsg January 3, 2009 9:36 PM PST
    Bush is clearly severely mentally handicapped.

    It really says something about the Republican party leaders (and supporters, too!) that they picked this imbecile to be the public face of the party while D!ck Cheney ran the country into the ground for his personal profit.
    Reply to this comment
    by tripster101 January 3, 2009 9:36 PM PST
    As Americans, I don''t think we should allow anyone to prosecute a past president.
    Reply to this comment
    by idnnsg January 3, 2009 9:38 PM PST
    "We elected him TWICE! Good Lord, what were we THINKING?!" -- ballpen1

    Actually, he was SELECTED by the republican controlled supreme court, not elected by the people.
    Reply to this comment
    by centerfall94 January 3, 2009 9:40 PM PST
    The United States (and the world!) wil be relieved to be rid of this idiot in chief! What an extreme embarrassment for us as a nation, and as a people!
    Reply to this comment
    by tripster101 January 3, 2009 9:41 PM PST
    I don''t know about Cheney running the country, but Bush was the president, not him.
    Reply to this comment
    by erasmus606 January 3, 2009 9:43 PM PST
    As Americans, I don''''t think we should allow anyone to prosecute a past president.

    Posted by Tripster101 at 09:36 PM : Jan 03, 2009

    No. He was just doing his job to the best of his ability. The ones that should be held accountable are the ones that put him there. Don''t ya think?:)
    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 9:45 PM PST
    Given the degree to which leaders of this nation have not only stood in judgment of leaders of other nations but have actively sought to remove them from power, had them stand trial and even put to death, I don''t think it fairs well for us to hypocritically state that we would be less inclined to hold our own leaders accountable. I would add that I would hope that we would never see that day but IF the shoe fits then it should at least be addressed by the courts.
    Reply to this comment
    by idnnsg January 3, 2009 9:46 PM PST
    "As Americans, I don''t think we should allow anyone to prosecute a past president." -- Tripster101

    So, you think they should just get a permanent "get out of jail" card? This is SUPPOSED to be a country of LAW, not of MEN! No one is above the law, not even if he says he is.

    Cheney and Bush are war criminals. The International Criminal Court should try them for their crimes and administer the appropriate punishment.
    Reply to this comment
    by tripster101 January 3, 2009 9:48 PM PST
    Posted by Tripster101 at 09:36 PM : Jan 03, 2009
    No. He was just doing his job to the best of his ability. The ones that should be held accountable are the ones that put him there. Don''''t ya think?:)

    Well, they might need to be accountable for his election, but he is the one that ran the country as president. Not the ones that voted for him.
    Reply to this comment
    by sjbj2322 January 3, 2009 9:51 PM PST
    ainttaken....lol....it would seem that the issue of where the position of VP is or was as far as Cheney is concerned is an issue that will be debated by historians long after he''s gone. Seems the Bush administration couldn''t even agree on that one from one day to the next.
    Reply to this comment
    by tripster101 January 3, 2009 9:53 PM PST
    I guess I don''t know how to work thing right just yet.
    Reply to this comment
    by debinok1 January 3, 2009 9:54 PM PST
    People actually voted to put this man in office TWICE. Oh my, Oh my. At least I can honestly say I didn''t.
    Reply to this comment
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