Verbal Slip by Bush Draws No Reaction

L.A. Times ^ | Oct. 6, 2001 | staff

[Texas_Jarhead]

If, as the first statement asserts, he [Bush] didn't mean it then how is this "news". And if this isn't "news" then why bother to print it?

One word - AGENDA

Or you might prefer - BIAS

Maybe I'm just reading too much into it.

[CheneyChick]

Actually, I heard that and looked up at the TV (from FR, of course) - it really surprised me. My take is that I'm glad that people aren't picking on him as much....

[American Soldier]

I'd love to think the L.A. Times' days are numbered in much the same way as the Taliban's are numbered.

Shoot the murderers abroad; hang the traitors at home.

Check out 'The American Battle Hymn' -- A Soldier's Anthem for the Struggle to Come'

[The Raven]

Disinformation.

[piasa]

When I heard him say that I cringed. I'm surprised no one else said anything about it. He seemed distracted as heck there, as if he was making up the speech on the spot. While all this crap is going on he ought to revert to just reading the teleprompter.

[piasa]

Disinformation? No, he really goofed it.

[Shermy]

I'd say a Freudian Slip showing his true feelings, except George makes gaffes like this all the time.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

During his speech to the CIA last week, he said that the terrorists had "mis...uh...misunderestimated the will of the American people. And they also mis...uh...misunderestimated their Commander in Chief." Cringe-o-rama. I thought great here's more fodder for the Bush is a Dummy crowd. Never heard a word about it, though.

[JohnHuang2]

"Will fail" was obviously meant to be "won't fail"

Is this is the best LaLaTimes can dredge up?

[537 Votes]

"And there is no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail," the president said.

Better a gaffe than an omen.

[KillerWabbit]

Verbal Slip by Bush Draws No Reaction

I laughed. Come on, can't we be human here? Must we draw a pained gasp when he gaffs?

It might take the edge off if we'd relax about it a bit.

BTW my favorite speech gaff was Jimmy Carter introducing Humphrey as "Hubert Horatio Hornblower". The camera cut to the crowd and you could see a delegate mouthing, "Hornblower? Hornblower?"

[American Soldier]

He needs to have every speech drafted. When an attorney is representing a party subject to frequent litigation, they'll draft EVERY statement that person will be allowed to make in front of another human being. Unfortunately, the same policy needs to be applied to our President. As far as his talent for addressing the public, he's simply not a Reagan in terms of wit and delivery. He's too subject to errors. His advisors are failing him by letting him walk around speaking off the top of his head.

Check out 'The American Battle Hymn' -- A Soldier's Anthem for the Struggle to Come'

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Well, I happen to find it refreshing. We had a "smooth" talker, liar, who could literally talk HIS pants off, and a few items of the girls clothes too.

Now we have a man.. A REAL MAN who isn't a girly boy.. who isn't afraid to lead our military,....espeically in a time like this. Considering how tired they must all be,.. he can flub up once in a while, heck, he'll even make jokes about it when the time is appropriate.

I mean to tell ya,....they are crawling outta the wood works to try to deminish him any way that they can. Won't work!!!

I've worked for a couple Presidents, and this one will lead a "willing" Military. They respect him, and trust him. I'll take that over a smooth talker any day!!!

God Bless our Commander in Chief, ~~~and~~~~ God Bless Tony Blair!! They are both superb!!!! People are getting inpatient, but its like taking kids to a fireworks display,.. .just wait.. it takes a while to set it up RIGHT, TO MAKE SURE THE TROOPS ARE SAFE,.. but baby, when it starts, and things start to rock....your gonna know just how smart this man really is!!!! LOOK OUT!!!!

[fire and forget]

Allow me to go you one further. "And there is no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail," can easily and properly be interpreted two ways: I'm certain we will fail (or) i have no doubts (leading me to believe) that we might fail. I heard this statement, and particularly in light of the context, it never occurred to me this might have been some sort of verbal gaffe. I guaranty you this is why there was no detectable response from the audience. Only the LA times, picking the speech apart after the fact, noticed the statement might be been construed as some mis-statement if read in print form. Let 'em take a flying leap for noticing and reporting it.

[BonnieJ]

The illiterate D.U. site made a big deal out of it. They don't have much to work with these days. And they NEVER cover real news or information. But it is entertaining!

[Demidog]

And there is no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail

We will fail. If the effort was to punish those that perpetrated this crime, then I have no doubt in my mind that we would succeed. However, that is not the goal. The goal has been to wipe out all terrorism everywhere in the world.

It is a meaningless and unachievable goal. It cannot be done.

A war on terrorism will never be completed and it will never succeed.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

Agreed. It's no secret that he's not a slick orator. My very first thought when I heard the "misunderestimation" series was How absurd that his advisors are apparenty not coaching him in this area where he's deficient. He obviously needs some parameters. Drafting speeches may be the only answer. OTOH, he's really at his most charming and genuine when he's speaking off the cuff, syntax be damned. Unfortunate situation.

[oceanperch]

aaahhh we here in our home found it gave a good chuckle but never the less new his brain meant to augment different speech.

[cartoonistx]

W's a little too scripted if you ask me. He doesn't seem to be able to trust himself to go "off-the-cuff" so he falls back on these damned pet phrases that some aides obviously have pumped into him at the last briefing. Trouble is, he's not too swift at working the "line of the day" into a conversational tone so he sounds understandably stiff. I wish they'd let W B W!

[poet]

You are correct. he needs a teleprompter or someone to prepare his statements. I'm for him, but, he should not give the left so much ammo with his gaffes. They haven't said anything about this yet, but, wait, they will remind us if he stubs his toes re: the "war" on terrorism and he will if he continues to listen to Mr. Powell, imo.