President Bush: the malaprop gift that keeps giving
George W. Bush, unlike Barack Obama, never will have to worry about getting criticized for putting too much emphasis on the eloquence of his words or the smoothness of their delivery. If further evidence was needed, the president offered some this afternoon.
Bush convened a photo op at the White House, featuring himself and Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno. One of the leading U.S. commanders in Iraq, Odierno has been nominated by Bush to serve as vice chairman of the Army.
Bush praised him as "a man who was [in Iraq] when times looked grim and a man who observed firsthand progress that was made as a result of the surge."
Then, according to the White House transcript of the gathering, the president had this to say: "And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq."
Thank you, Mr. President.
--Don Frederick
Don Frederick has served as an editor helping guide coverage of every presidential election since 1984. He is a third-generation Washingtonian, so watching the political world comes naturally to him.
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000.
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This malaprop guy has killed and crippled hundreds of thousands of innocent people. He is a criminal. He should be impeached. He should go to jail.
Posted by: Kim Iannone | March 03, 2008 at 07:25 PM
bush has the gift of the gab for sure... almost anything he says betrays his honest-to-god insincerity with short or no notice.
that is more than can be said about people like obama who will yak like a whole press club before telling any substantial lie... or saying anything much at all.
but then, temperaments differ.
Posted by: dave | March 04, 2008 at 03:25 AM
And to think, up until 1994 he'd never held public office. This is who the American people elected to lead us. We are getting everything we deserve.
Posted by: Tourist | March 04, 2008 at 06:09 AM
I'm with you Kim...and I want to know why our President can't be charged with War Crimes by the International Community and tried in a court of International Law for waging war without provocation and under false pretenses...they lied. I think there is enough evidence to prove this. Why can't he be tried in the same way they would try any other tyrant who committed the same kinds of atrocities? Of course, there are (stupid, uneducated) people in this country who support him, but there were also a whole hell of a lot of people who supported Hitler and Milocevic.
As far as I'm concerned...don't impeach him...a separate International court should be bringing charges against both George W. and Dick Cheney.
Posted by: Red | March 04, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Each time our commander in chief opens his mouth, I feel my heart sink. As someone who has supported many of his policies, I feel angry and embarrassed by the President's sloppy speaking habits. His cavalier attitude has alienated a lot of people who might otherwise have been persuaded by a larger degree of eloquence. Just look at Barack Obama!
Posted by: Gaily | March 04, 2008 at 08:45 AM
With this latest display of linguistic prowess, our President is obviously now a front runner to win the Norm Cosby/Leo Gorcey, Malapropism Life Time Acheivement Award.
If the eyes are the mirror of the soul than language is surely the reflection of ones intellect.
I'm sure his ardent supporters really DEPRECIATE his leader ship and service to our country over the last 8 years..................
Posted by: Pablo | March 04, 2008 at 09:49 AM
George is too stupid to realize just what a moron he really is.
Posted by: Paul | March 04, 2008 at 10:02 AM