Austrian Vs. Australian

By now, we all know of President Bush's recent verbal gaffes at the APEC Summit in Sydney.  Much has been made of his reference to "Austrian" troops serving in Iraq, when very clearly he intended say "Australian." Nevertheless, the partisan vultures swooped down to tear a chunk off of Mr. Bush's still-warm political carcass. This shocking lack of deference has motivated me to dedicate my first ever diary to the defense of my Commander in Chief. Well, actually, I am not in the armed forces.  And, technically, it is therefore legally and constitutionally impossible for me to have a commander in chief. But don't tell a Republican that.  Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, verbal gaffes.

The human mind is a mysterious thing, and there are many reasons for using a mistaken word. Sometimes, a mistaken word is used where instead there should be silence. Example: uttering an expletive at a business meeting. Sometimes, a mistaken word is used due to lack of forethought. Example: using the term "Colored" at the country club, instead of the more culturally sensitive and current "Negro."  And finally, sometimes a mistaken word is used simply out of confusion. Example: The APEC Summit. Or so we think.

History is replete with examples of great leaders and thinkers using technically incorrect words for dramatic effect. Churchill, Washington, Harding, and numerous others who tower above average men. The more I thought about this mysterious "gaffe" in Sydney, made by a man otherwise known for his eloquence and gravitas, the more I realized that it was no mistake. It was a calculated and cerebral statement that most people simply didn't "get."  It was a thinly veiled reference to an historic speech made several years ago; one which even to this day I find myself quoting from time to time. A speech so stirring and moving, that a mere reprint of the text is insufficient. Only this link to archived film footage is appropriate. It's really only the first 45 seconds that applies here, but feel free to watch it in its entirety if you please. So, Daily Kos readers, open your minds, free your hearts, and understand that as long as our President draws inspiration from such brilliant statesmen, America will continue to soar.

•  i picked einstein

  as code for Alfred E Newman

  by NY Writer on Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 09:25:22 PM PDT

•  There's a difference?

  by JessicaDrewSW on Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 09:25:49 PM PDT

•  Of course Bush is as smart...

  ....as any of those guys. In their present state, that is.

  by metal prophet on Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 09:27:19 PM PDT

•  as it happens...

  My mother resided for a time in Austria, and it was not uncommon for international mail from the United States to Austria to be misrouted to Australia, resulting in extended delivery delays.

  So we could rightly say that George Bush is as smart as a postal sorting machine.

  by craiger on Wed Sep 12, 2007 at 10:44:59 PM PDT

  •  Not just them

    I live in Switzerland. I was once asked how far away from Stockholm (the capital of Sweden) I lived.

    I think I did a Bambi. I wouldn't have minded, but we were in Zürich (the largest city in Switzerland) at the time...

    by Spoc42 on Thu Sep 13, 2007 at 05:45:59 AM PDT

•  Happened to me, too

  when I was studying at the University of Salzburg in the late '60s.  I'd say that a good 10% of my mail from the US went via Melbourne or Sydney.  Damned annoying when I was expecting a check from home.  Anyway, American ignorance of world geography is no new thing. It's just gotten worse, invading even the White House.  I can't imagine LBJ or Nixon making such an egregious error!

  by rivegauche on Thu Sep 13, 2007 at 03:43:50 AM PDT

  •  Some things handlers just can't make W avoid...nt

    by phrogge prince on Thu Sep 13, 2007 at 06:21:31 AM PDT

•  I was in a bar in Nashville one day

  and got talking to the guy seated next to me. He asked me about my accent and I said I'm from Australia. He said he was stationed near there and visited there on R&R when he was in the US Army. I said, where Guam? He said no, Germany.

  by The Australian on Thu Sep 13, 2007 at 03:55:05 AM PDT

•  I looked for a cross-eyed kangaroo as a choice,

  in your poll, but you didn't offer that option. Alas...

  by phrogge prince on Thu Sep 13, 2007 at 06:19:58 AM PDT