January 27, 2009

Poll: Do You Miss Bush Lingo Yet?

Photo courtesy of <a href="http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushworstdisaster.htm" target="_blank">About.com's Political Humor</a>

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We’ve had a highly articulate president for a full week now. Lest you forget just what an accomplishment English fluency really is, we at Mother Jones invite you to check out our favorite verbal missteps from the former Decider-in-Chief. (We had a hard time cutting the list down to this—as Jacob Weisberg at Slate knows, there are a lot to choose from.) What’s your favorite Bush quote? Vote below.

What is your favorite Bush quote?

   This is historic times. (Washington DC, 2003)
   I think it’s very important for the American President to mean what he says. That’s why I understand that the enemy could misread what I say. That’s why I try to be as clearly I can. (Washington DC, 2008)
   I don’t particularly like it when people put words in my mouth, either, by the way, unless I say it. (Texas, 2007)
   I’m the master of low expectations. (Air Force One, 2003)
   It’s clearly a budget. It’s got a lot of numbers in it. (Reuters, 2000)
   We ought to make the pie higher. (South Carolina, 2000)
   You’re working hard to put food on your family. (New Hampshire, 2000)
   Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream. (Wisconsin, 2000)
   Rarely is the question asked, are, is our children learning? (South Carolina, 2000)
   You teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test. (Tennessee, 2001)
   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. (Missouri, 2004)
   I was like a pit bull on the pant leg of opportunity. (New York Times, 2000)
   I want to share with you an interesting program – for two reasons, one, it’s interesting, and two, my wife thought of it – or has actually been involved with it; she didn’t think of it. But she thought of it for this speech. (Washington DC, 2008)
   The Senator has got to understand that he can’t have it both ways. He can’t take the high horse and then claim the low road. (South Carolina, 2000)
   The folks who conducted to act on our country on September 11th made a big mistake.… They misunderestimated the fact that we love a neighbor in need. They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the Commander-in-Chief, too. (Virginia, 2001)
   I’m the decider, and I decide what is best. (Washington DC, 2006)
   We need an energy bill that encourages consumption. (New Jersey, 2002)
   You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror. (CNN, 2006)
   When you’re marching to war, it’s not a very optimistic thought, is it? In other words, it’s the opposite of optimistic when you’re thinking you’re going to war. (Missouri, 2004)
   It’s in our country’s interests to find those who would do harm to us and get them out of harm’s way. (White House, 2005)
   I’m telling you there’s an enemy that would like to attack America, Americans, again. There just is. That’s the reality of the world. And I wish him all the very best. (Washington DC, 2009)
   Oftentimes I’m asked, why? Why do you care what happens outside of America? (Washington DC, 2008)
   The German asparagus are fabulous. (Germany, 2008)
   We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease. (Sweden, 2001)
   First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren’t necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn’t mean you’re willing to kill. (White House, 2003)
   We’re making the right decisions to bring the solution to an end. (Washington DC, 2001)
   I am determined to keep the process on the road to peace. (White House, 2003)
   One of the great things about America, one of the beauties of our country, is that when we see a young, innocent child blown up by an IED, we cry. (Washington DC, 2006)
   Thank you, Your Holiness. Awesome speech. (White House, 2008)
   I’ve been in the Bible every day since I’ve been the President (Washington DC, 2008)
   I’ll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this
   Oval Office. (Washington DC, 2008)
   I think we agree, the past is over. (Campaign airplane, 2000)
   Bonus: 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. (Tennessee, 2002)



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This is no time to come up short. It's time to fight like hell, as our namesake would tell us to do, for a democracy where minority rule cannot impose an extreme agenda, where facts matter, and where accountability has a chance at the polls and in the press. If you value our reporting and you can right now, please help us dig out of the $100,000 hole we're starting our new budgeting cycle in with an always-needed and always-appreciated donation today.

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