IS this the ultimate Freudian slip? Bush Insists His Administration Seeking 'new Ways to Harm Our Country':
Bush Insists His Administration Seeking 'new Ways to Harm Our Country'
The Associated Press
Published: Aug 5, 2004WASHINGTON (AP) – President Bush offered up a new entry for his catalog of “Bushisms” on Thursday, declaring that his administration will “never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people.”
Bush misspoke as he delivered a speech at the signing ceremony for a $417 billion defense spending bill.
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we,” Bush said. “They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
No one in Bush's audience of military brass or Pentagon chiefs reacted
I think he meant wargaming. In any case, will Franken and Moor call him a liar on this one? While we’re on the subjects of mistatements:
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=6920
An easy-to-make linguistic error, especially if tired or under stress. The first sentence gets the speaker into a rhythm, ending in “and so are we”. If the speaker is not in best form it’s easy to end the second sentence in the same pattern: “and neither do we”. The intent is clear, but the words are the opposite of what was intended.
Reminds me of my favorite Richard J. Daleyism (at the 1968 DNC, after the riots): “The police are not here to create disorder. The police are here to preserve disorder.”
Wow, that’s a highly entertaining tabloid. Thanks, MP.
I agree that Bush’s “slip” was likely just that — he tends to go on autopilot with speeches, like most people. It’s not quite like his inability to pronounce “Abu Ghraib” despite briefings and several attempts, or his misunderestimate slip. What floored me about this one was the fact that the media picked it up so quickly — and so openly.
The “mainstream” news outlet Associated Press ran with Bush’s mistake, but ignored Kerry’s mistake in his DNC acceptance speech:
“We will double our Special Forces to conduct terrorist operations, anti-terrorist operations, and we will provide our troops with the newest weapons and technology to save their lives and win the battle.”
John Kerry
July 29, 2004
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25678-2004Jul29.html
Bias? I report, you decide.
Anti-bias: Kerry corrected his misstatement at that instance. Note: ” … terrorist operations, anti-terrorist operations, …” The last two words are clearly a correction of the first two words, not part of the original sentence.
Bush did no correct his error and showed no awareness that he made it.
Comparing media reactions to two different instances as though they are identical does not prove anything.
I think it proves that you never laugh.