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Bushism

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"But Iraq has—have got people there that are willing to kill, and they're hard-nosed killers. And we will work with the Iraqis to secure their future." [1]

A Bushism is any of a number of peculiar words, phrases, pronunciations, malapropisms, semantic or linguistic errors and gaffes that have occurred in the public speaking of United States President George W. Bush and, before that, of his father George H. W. Bush.[1][2] The term (a neologism) has become part of popular folklore, and is the basis of a number of websites and published books. It is often used to caricature the two presidents.

Characteristics

Some common characteristics of Bushisms include:

  • Use of words that sound similar to intended words but are either inappropriate for the context (i.e. malapropism, such as "nucular power pants" instead of "nuclear power plants"[3]), or completely alter the meaning of the sentence, such as using "devaluation" instead of "deflation" (which "caused confusion in the currency markets"),[4] OPEC instead of APEC,[5] or Austria instead of Australia[5]
  • Constructing neologisms such as "tacular"[6][7][8] (a portmanteau of "tactical" and "nucular") and "misunderestimated" ("misunderstood" and "underestimated")[9]
  • Occasional use of spoonerisms such as "mexed missages" (mixed messages) and "terriers and bariffs" (barriers and tariffs)[10]
  • Pluralization of, or addition of articles to, familiar terms ("suiciders",[11] "Internets",[12][13] and "the Google"[14])
  • Using informal and non-standard language to describe the job of the presidency such as "I'm a commander guy,"[15][16] or "I'm the decider"[17]
  • Redundancy intended to add emphasis but which instead obfuscates the message, such as "We had a chance to visit with Teresa Nelson who's a parent, and a mom or a dad"[18] or "If you want to help, give cash money to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army"[19]
  • Change of subject mid-sentence, such as, "I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport"[20]
  • Wrong word order within a sentence, such as, "give my chance a plan to work"[21]
  • Explaining the obvious, such as, "I appreciate preservation. It's what you do when you run for President, you've got to preserve"[22]

Some columnists, including the late Molly Ivins (the co-author of a book of Bushisms), have suggested that Bush may have difficulty speaking "Washington English," and that he may be trying to cover his accent by over-emphasizing words. Some have hypothesized that Bush is not familiar with some of the words that he feels he must use as a president.[23]

Books and calendars

Bush's misuse of the English language has spawned dozens of books that document the phenomenon. The majority of these books are written by Slate magazine editor Jacob Weisberg. The first Bushism book, simply titled Bushisms, was released in 1992. The Bushism books have had a good reception around the world, with editions released in Germany, France, and Italy placing on best seller lists.[24]

Some of the titles released are:

  • Bushisms (1992)
  • George W. Bushisms : The Slate Book of The Accidental Wit and Wisdom of our 43rd President (2001)
  • More George W. Bushisms: More of Slate's Accidental Wit and Wisdom of Our 43rd President (2002)
  • Still More George W. Bushisms: Neither in French nor in English nor in Mexican (2003)
  • Ultimate Bushisms (2004)
  • The Deluxe Election Edition Bushisms: The First Term, in His Own Special Words (2004)
  • George W. Bushisms V: New Ways to Harm Our Country (2005)
  • The Ultimate George W. Bushisms: Bush at War (with the English Language) (2007)

In addition, multiple calendars have been introduced, with a Bushism for each remaining day in Bush's term.

"Make the Pie Higher" poem

A poem composed entirely of Bushisms titled "Make the Pie Higher" has become popular on the Internet. Each line contains some sort of grammatical error, logical error, or unusual usage and is said to have been uttered by George W. Bush. Although its origin is uncertain, it has been attributed to Washington Post political cartoonist and satirist Richard Thompson. The poem has been criticized as apocryphal. However, the Urban Legends Reference Pages at Snopes.com have verified all but the line "I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity" as having been spoken by Bush at one point or another during his presidency.[25] The site has also noted that the president made reference to "mential losses", not "mental losses" as the poem claims. This phrase was possibly in reference to missile launches.

Other Bushisms

  • "We need an energy bill that encourages consumption."[26]
  • "Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?"[26][27]
  • "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."[26][27]
  • "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."[26][28]
  • "Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die."[26][29]
  • "I think that the vice president is a person reflecting a half-glass-full mentality."[26][30]
  • "You're working hard to put food on your family."[25][31]
  • "Too many good doctors are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."[26][32]
  • "Families are where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."[26][33]
  • "This is still a dangerous world. It's a world of madmen and uncertainty and potential mential losses."[26][25]
  • "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."[34][35]
  • "Childrens do learn." [36]
  • "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." [37]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bines, Jonathan (May 1992). Bushisms: President George Herbert Walker Bush in His Own Words. Workman Pub Co. ISBN 1-56305-318-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "George H.W. Bushisms". About: Political Humor. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  3. ^ G.W. Bush (September 30 2003). (Speech). Chicago, Illinois. {{cite speech}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ "Bush gaffe hits yen". BBC. 2002-02-18. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  5. ^ a b ""APEC? OPEC? Thanks Austria"". The Herald Sun. September 7,2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Dana Milbank (May 5 2000). "What's on W's Mind? Hard To Say". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-10-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Nancy Gibbs (Feb 14 2000). "McCain's Moment". Time. Retrieved 2007-04-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Ben Fenton (Feb 4 2000). "Bush image damaged by his slips of the tongue". Telegraph. Retrieved 2006-10-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ G.W. Bush (November 6 2000). (Speech). Bentonville, Arkansas. {{cite speech}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ G.W. Bush (January 7 2001). (Speech). Rochester, New York. {{cite speech}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ "President Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel Participate in Joint Press Availability". The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. May 23 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Transcript of the third Gore-Bush presidential debate". Commission on Presidential Debates. 2000-10-17. Retrieved 2006-12-23.
  13. ^ "Transcript of the second Bush-Kerry presidential debate". Commission on Presidential Debates. 2004-10-08. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
  14. ^ "Bush says he uses "the Google". Interview with [[CNBC]]'s [[Maria Bartiromo]]". Think Progress. 2006-10-23. Retrieved 2006-12-22. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  15. ^ "President Bush Discusses War on Terror, Economy with Associated General Contractors of America". The White House. May 2007.
  16. ^ The official White House transcript states that President Bush said "a commander guy" but numerous reporters and the official stenographer at the event quote him as saying "the commander guy." See: "Bush is A commander guy, not THE commander guy". Reuters. May 4, 2007.
  17. ^ "Bush: 'I'm the decider' on Rumsfeld". CNN. April 18, 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "President Bush Discusses the "No Child Left Behind Act" in Florida". The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. Sept 9 2003. Retrieved 2006-10-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "White House Press Conference". September 2, 2005. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "President Opens Reagan National Airport". The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. Oct 2 2001. Retrieved 2006-10-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ "Bush ism on Charlie Rose - "Give my chance a plan to work"". Retrieved 2007-05-02.
  22. ^ "Remarks by the President at the Radio-Television Correspondents Association 57th Annual Dinner". Retrieved 2007-04-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |2= (help); Text "pub" ignored (help)
  23. ^ Kathleen Parker (August 23, 2006). "Intellectually curious George". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  24. ^ http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/002-0025243-5478473?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bushisms&x=0&y=0
  25. ^ a b c "Make the Pie Higher!". Snopes.com. 2002. Retrieved 2006-10-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jacob Weisberg. "The Complete Bushisms". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  27. ^ a b "Remarks by the President at the Radio-Television Correspondents Association 57th Annual Dinner". Office of the Press Secretary. March 29, 2001. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  28. ^ "President Signs Defense Bill". Office of the Press Secretary. August 5, 2004. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  29. ^ "President Bush Meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair". Office of the Press Secretary. December 7, 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  30. ^ "Insurgents Launch Attacks on Shiite Pilgrims as They Celebrate Holy Day; Iraq Strategy; Story of a Champion". CNN. January 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  31. ^ George W. Bush (Jan. 27, 2000). (Speech). Nashua, N.H., USA http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushism-foodonfamily.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-28. {{cite speech}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ^ "President's Remarks at a Victory 2004 Rally in Poplar Bluff, Missouri". Office of the Press Secretary. September 6, 2004. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  33. ^ George W. Bush (Oct. 18, 2000). (Speech). LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA. {{cite speech}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. ^ "The 50 Dumbest Things President Bush Said in His First Term". Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  35. ^ "President Bush speaks at Townsend Elementary School in Tennessee". The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. February 21, 2001. Retrieved 2007-03-28.
  36. ^ "Bush: No Child Left Behind Is Working". Washington Post Newspaper. September 26 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ "Bushism of the Day". Slate.com. September 18 2002. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Further reading

  • Frank, Justin A., Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President (2004), ISBN 0-06-073670-4.
  • Miller, Mark Crispin. The Bush Dyslexicon (2001), ISBN 0-393-04183-2.
  • George W. Bushisms: The Accidental Wit and Wisdom of Our 43rd President. Ed. Jacob Weisberg. ISBN 0-7407-4456-9.
  • Bushisms/President George Herbert Walker Bush in His Own Words New Republic. Workman Pub Co., May1992, ISBN 1-56305-318-7
  • George W. Bush -- On The Trips Of His Tongue -- A Linguistic Legacy. [2] B. Elwin Sherman. ISBN 978-1430317951.
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