Bushisms - Why they Matter

"I'm also honored to be here with the speaker of the House-just happens to be from the state of Illinois. I'd like to describe the speaker as a trustworthy man. He's the kind of fellow who says when he gives you his word he means it. Sometimes that doesn't happen all the time in the political process."-Chicago, March 6, 2001

Why do Bushisms matter?

Well, why are people inarticulate? Well there are a couple of reasons. One is that they aren't totally familiar with English. Another is that they lacked the opportunity to get a good education. There is no shame in either of these reasons. But neither, of course, applies to President Bush.

"I know something about being a government. And you've got a good one."-Stumping for Gov. Mike Huckabee, Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 4, 2002

He presumably learned English from his fellow Bush's and went to school at Andover and Yale and Harvard. Even in these days of grade inflation, one has to assume that people can learn to speak well if they want to. But that wasn't, apparently, high on Bush's priorities.

"Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to peace."-Washington, D.C., July 25, 2003

One wonders what would happen to a young black man, who lacked President Bush's connections, in Midland Texas (or anywhere else in the nation) who talked as inarticulately as President Bush. I suppose such a young man, were he talented and ambitious enough to try and get a good job, would be lectured endlessly about how important it is to present yourself. He'd be told that it is essential in our society to communicate clearly and to act a certain way. But, of course, nobody gave President Bush that lecture, and if they did, it apparently had no effect (either on his success or his speaking ability.

"I understand small business growth. I was one."-New York Daily News, Feb. 19, 2000

Of course we might also note President Bush and Senator Kerry came from remarkably similar backgrounds. They both grew up in privileged New England families and they both attended the finest schools. President Bush sounds like a Texan, Senator Kerry sounds like a New Englander.

President Bush sounds like a natural normal joe; Senator Kerry sounds like an educated New England Senator.

And, of course the one that we are asked to believe is a big phony is Senator Kerry.