Patriot Paradox
Posted on 08/31/2004 8:41:49 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Text of a speech by Jenna and Barbara Bush delivered Tuesday at the Republican National Convention, as transcribed by e-Media Inc.:
JENNA BUSH: It's great to be here. We love Arnold. Isn't he awesome?
Thanks to him, if one of us ever decides to marry a Democrat, nobody can complain, except maybe our grandmother, Barbara. And if she doesn't like it, we would definitely hear about it.
We already know she doesn't like some of our clothes, our music, or most of the TV shows we watch.
Gammie, we love you dearly, but you're just not very hip.
She thinks "Sex and the City" is something married people do, but never talk about.
We spent the last four years trying to stay out of the spotlight. Sometimes, we did a little better job than others.
We kept trying to explain to my dad that when we are young and irresponsible, well, we're young and irresponsible.
BARBARA BUSH: Jenna and I are really not very political, but we love our dad too much to stand back and watch from the sidelines.
We realized that this would be his last campaign, and we wanted to be a part of it.
Besides, since we've graduated from college, we're looking around for something to do for the next few years.
Kind of like dad.
JENNA: Our parents have always encouraged us to be independent and dream big. We've spent a lot of time at the White House, so when we showed up the first day, we thought we had it all figured out. But apparently my dad already has a chief of staff, named Andy.
BARBARA: When your dad's a Republican and you go to Yale, you learn to stand up for yourself.
I knew I wasn't quite ready to be president, but number two sounded pretty good.
Who is this man they call Dick Cheney (news - web sites)?
JENNA: I think I know a lot about campaigns. After all, my grandfather and my dad have both run for president, so I put myself in charge of strategy. Then I got an angry call from some guy named Karl.
BARBARA: We knew we had something to offer. I mean, we've traveled the world; we've studied abroad. But when we started coming home with foreign policy advise, dad made us call Condi.
JENNA: Not to be deterred, we thought surely there's a place for strong willed, opinionated women in communications. And next thing we know, Karen's back.
BARBARA: So we decided the best thing we could do here tonight would be to introduce somebody we know and love.
JENNA: You know all those times when you're growing up and your parents embarrass you? Well, this is payback time on live TV.
BARBARA: Take this. I know it's hard to believe, but our parents' favorite term of endearment for each other is actually Bushy.
And we had a hamster, too. Let's just say ours didn't make it.
JENNA: But, contrary to what you might read in the papers, our parents are actually kind of cool. They do know the difference between mono and Bono. When we tell them we're going to see Outkast, they know it's a band and not a bunch of misfits. And if we really beg them, they'll even shake it like a Polaroid picture.
BARBARA: So, OK, maybe they have learned a little pop culture from us, but we've learned a lot more from them about what matters in life, about unconditional love, about focus and discipline.
They taught us the importance of a good sense of humor, of being open-minded and treating everyone with respect.
And we learned the true value of honesty and integrity.
JENNA: When you grow up as the daughters of George and Laura Bush, you develop a special appreciation for how blessed we are to live in this great country.
We are so proud to be here tonight to introduce someone who read us bedtime stories, picked up car pool, made us our favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cheered for us when we scored a goal, even when it was for the wrong team.
BARBARA: Someone who told us we actually looked cute in braces, always welcomed our friends and was there waiting when we came home at curfew.
JENNA: Ladies and gentlemen, one of the two most loving, thoughtful people we know.
BARBARA: Your president and our dad, George W. Bush.
I agree. And they didn't need to do a terrible stand up routine either. If they're not ready for prime time, then put them on in the afternoon, or let them simply introduce their mother. Is it helpful their comment about their dad running for reelection because he needs something to do the next 4 years???
I'm sorry but I don't know what that means. Anyone care to let me in on this?
They were probably very nervous. In comparison, John Edwards' daughter did a good job with her speech, maybe it would have been better if the twins tried to be a little more serious.
And that's after the parents dropped, what, $160,000 or more on their Yale education?
Were they really awful? Someone probably thought up a lot of the things for them to say --- to me it looks like one-liners to be fun and light --- and what could you expect of the poor girls who would likely be very nervous up on a stage like that for the first time. They've been sheltered from cameras and microphones all this time.
What did the comment about the hamster mean? I've been living on the Left coast too long so immediately Richard Gere came to mind but I'm sure this was not the context. Could someone please explain this joke to me?
The voice of reason, finally!
I remember shaking polaroid pictures to try and get them to dry quicker. Perhaps that's what they meant.
They're not running for office. In a serious convention, it seemed appropriate to lighten up things for a few minutes. They really made their Dad & Mom look good. They were raised well. I don't think they're going to follow their parents' footsteps but they were loving and supportive. Whether they got the MTV vote for their Father, well that remains to be seen.
Refers to the song, "Hey Ya" by Outkast. Means to shake your body (dance).
Their timing was horrible, their slams at grandma (and dad) were kind of a shocker, but laughing at their bad jokes not because of the content, and watching them was hilarious, and very light hearted.
DK88 again declares - Hotties both of 'em. Rrrrowww.
I thought *they* looked comfortable enough, given the situation... and the considerable pressure.
Perhaps it's a matter of expectations. I wasn't expecting them to come up with any earthshattering oratory. I expected a couple of giggling 22 year old kids.
I was just kidding about the polls. I know better than to think this will matter. It was hard to watch after Arnold, though.
Its from a song.
Stop making excuses for bad behavior. They are college graduates & far from children. There are "children" older than them over in Afghanistan & Iraq fighting for our freedom in much more severe circumstances.
They did exceedingly well given there circumstance.
What circumstance? They are the Ivy League educated daughters of the President of the United States. Under these circumstances, they should get some class.
See post 52.
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