President Bush talks `kerfuffle' [Pickler alert]

ap ^ | 3/20/06 | Nedra PICKLER

[mathprof]

President Bush is known as a plainspoken man, a straight-talker. So how did a word like "kerfuffle" come out of his mouth?

It's not an everyday word; it means a commotion or fuss. Bush casually used it during a question-and-answer session after a speech at the City Club here. Someone had asked about his administration's warrantless surveillance program, which has stirred concern about whether it exceeds the bounds of his authority and violates the law.

Saying the program had "created quite a kerfuffle in the press," Bush gave his rationale for authorizing it.

No question, the program has riled some Republicans and Democrats. But Bush may be the only politician who says it has caused a kerfuffle. An aide said he has heard Bush use the word privately before, but not in public.

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The apocalypse is another word that doesn't come up often in presidential discussions - at least not in front of the cameras. But it was at the heart of the first question posed to Bush during his Cleveland appearance.

A woman said some Christians see the war in Iraq and the rise of terrorism as signs of the apocalypse - the destruction of the world as described in the biblical book of Revelation. "Do you believe this, that the war in Iraq and the rise of terrorism are signs of the apocalypse? And if not, why not?"

Bush was taken aback. "Hmm," he started.

[mathprof]

Another fine article by the Nedra PICLER:

[detsaoT]

I could've sworn the Left insists that he's a dunce. So how do they want him? Simple, everyman's diction? Eloquence approaching Kerryesque territory? Can't have it both ways, people, and apparently, no matter which way he goes, you'll never be happy.

THE PRESS = ENEMIES: DOMESTIC.

[Unam Sanctam]

Maybe the President reads James Taranto!

[Joe Marine 76]

The first time I heard "kerfuffle" used was a few years ago by John Gibson of Fox News. His use of the word actually caused a stir then.

Kerfuffle - Scots Gaelic - carfuffle

cearr = wrong + fuffle = to become disheveled

[ReaganRevolution]

Liberals are so weird.

[Mike Darancette]

Rather hear this Pickler.

[bagadonutz]

LOL - W is absolutley reading Taranto's Best of the Web! That's great! I wonder if John F. Kerry* reads him too!


*the haughty french-looking Senator from Mass.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Kerfuffle is an everyday word in Canada. Sometimes it's the only word that'll do.

(As Mark Twain said: "“The difference between the right word and the nearly right word is the difference between lightning and lightning bug.”)