Bushisms over the years

2009-01-09 12:56

Washington - President George W Bush will leave behind a legacy of Bushisms, the label stamped on the commander-in-chief's original speaking style. Here are some of his 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.

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

- "There's no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail." - October 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." - September 17, 2002, in Nashville, Tennessee.

- "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." - August 5, 2004, at the signing ceremony for a defence 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." - September 6, 2004, at a rally in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

- "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." - September 20, 2005, in Gulfport, Mississippi.

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

- "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." - December 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, Arizona.

- "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." - September 3, 2008, at an emergency operations centre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast.

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

- AP