Bush’s Abu Ghraib Speech Impediment, Part 2
I wrote previously about the really odd way Bush mispronounced (repeatedly, and differently each time) the name of the Abu Ghraib prison during his big Iraq speech in May (Bush’s Abu Ghraib speech impediment). Now he’s done it again. In remarks to reporters the other day, Bush said, “the prime minister brought up the Abu Garef… [long, embarrassing pause] situation.” Jon Stewart’s coverage of this on The Daily Show was one of the funniest things I’ve seen him do in a long time; check it out on the Comedy Central web site (LBJ never referred to the “Tit Offensive”, requires RealPlayer).
Like Stewart says in his commentary, it’s not really fair to just run it, but seriously, what’s going on here? Craig? You’re good at providing rational-sounding explanations for this sort of wackiness; what’s your take?
June 24th, 2004 at 2:00 pm
Mark Miller’s “Bush Dyslexicon” goes into some detail about how Bush’s verbal gaffes come most often when he’s discussing something difficult or embarrassing – things he has trouble dealing with. When he’s on familiar ground, he’s much better verbally. This sounds like all of us, of course, but I think it’s particularly telling with Bush.
I would give some examples, but I can’t put my hand to my copy of “Dyslexicon.” I would recommend it to anyone as a fascinating account of language and media in the Bush presidency.
June 24th, 2004 at 6:12 pm
So I give rational SOUNDING explanations, rather than actual rational ones? Thanks for the back-handed compliment.
June 24th, 2004 at 7:05 pm
Heh. Sorry. Didn’t mean to be insulting. Your explanations may very well be rational in a great many cases. But they always _sound_ rational. I meant that in a good way.
September 29th, 2004 at 6:33 am
Just because our president has a small speech impediment does not mean he is stupid or ignorant… give the guy a break…
As far as I see it, Bush was doing his job- he was talking about Afghanistan and Iraq long before 9-11 people just weren’t as interested, it was old news. You can’t kill 3,478 Americans in a matter of 15 minutes and expect us to ignore it, can you?
Similar realities would have to be faced in other parts of the world, IE: Iran, and North Korea’s nuclear development eventually, which if goes on any further- we can consider ourselves TOAST literally.
You hear about all the deaths of americans, ok so we lost a thousand troops. Do you know how many they have lost? 15,007 so far and counting. Mr. Bush has done a very good job on keeping us safe from attacks the entire time we have been at war– But you don’t hear those things in the news.
September 30th, 2004 at 8:04 am
You’re right. We can’t ignore the killer of 3,478 Americans.
“I just don’t think about [Osama bin Laden] that much, y’know? I don’t spend that much time on him.” –George W. Bush
May 13th, 2005 at 7:42 am
Why are Bush supporters blind to the fact that Bush is beholden to corporate big money? Its 1984. We are told by the corporate owned media to be afraid of dirty bombs, because the radiation would be spread far and wide, increasing cancer rates and birth defects. Now, try to keep up with me here, Bush lovers. A dirty bomb takes a radioactive substance, say, ohh I don’t know–depleted uranium then disperses it in a conventional explosion. Mmmm…I’m sure all the Iraqis that Bush ‘liberated’ will really appreciate the effort when the depleted uranium that was used in the gulf wars I and II, starts killing off innocent civilians with skyrocketing cancer rates. I imagine a thank you letter from an Iraqi child for Bush’s liberation…”Thank you Mr. Bush for ridding our country of Saddam, he was bad. But, did you have to use depleted uranium in the bombs and rounds? Not to be ingrateful or anything, its just my little sister was born without a face, my mom died from lung cancer (she didnt smoke), and Iraqi cancer rates are shockingly high. Thanks for showing us that love for freedom!”–Wake up. All major media is owned by corporations. The one that owns ABC also provides depleted uranium munitions to the military. Man thats liberal. Reporters may tend to be left leaning. They don’t have editorial control. The big corporation does. Why is no one covering the death of Labor??? Stop worrying that gay marriage (10% of the pop.) is your biggest problem. Try to realize that the Earth is a zero sum environment. Limbaugh tells millions of ‘dittoheads’ (I’m proud not to think for myself-duh huh) that the science of climate change is silly. ‘God created man and the world, we cant destroy it’ –Why risk finding out? Why not be cautious with the only planet we have and take care of it? Answer–Because that might cost profits. Limbaugh also used to say ciggarettes dont cause cancer….ok. Please, I’m begging you red staters, please retract your craniums from your posteriors.