You can find transcripts of all of the statements, interviews, news conferences, acts, etc. that the President releases at
GPOAccess.gov, which is the Government Printing Office.
Here is a nice sampling of a) dumb things b)scary things and c)ironic things that our president has said lately:
From an
interview on Al Arabiya TV, discussing Iraqi troop strength:
Mr. Ahmed. And this is--you put it as an exit strategy--with regard to the training that you just mentioned here right now, what exact number you think for Iraqi force already being trained in Iraq?
The President. Oh, how many have been trained so far?
Mr. Ahmed. Yes.
The President. Well, I think we've trained 120,000, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're ready.
So training doesn't make you ready? Perhaps "training" means that they all have hats now.
Here's one from the tsunami fallout last month:
You know, the--what you're beginning to see is a typical response from America. First of all, we provide immediate cash relief, to the tune of about $35 million. *
* White House correction.
Oh, good. They're changing history again! Quote from a 2023 history textbook:
"President Bush originally wanted to send $23 quadrillion and a pony to the tsunami-affected areas, but mean old Scrooge McCheney told him no."
From a news conference in December:
Okay, let's get away from the media. Yes, Carl [Carl Cannon, National Journal], thank you.
On behalf of
National Journal, ouch.
From a conversation about Social Security in January:
The President. Good, thanks. Well done. Now what about your--
introduce your mom.
Sonya Stone. I would like to introduce my mom. This is my mother,
Rhode Stone. And she is grandmother of three and originally from
Helsinki, Finland, and has been here over 40 years.
The President. Fantastic. Same age as my mother.
Sonya Stone. Just turned 80.
The President. Is she still giving you instructions?
Sonya Stone. Every day, and I do my best.
The President. It never stops, does it? [Laughter] No.
Rhode Stone. It shouldn't stop.
The President. That's right. [Laughter] Let her rip.
If you've read Kitty Kelley's book, your ears have pricked up. Later on in the conversation, the old woman tried to make a point, but the President ran her over. Misplaced aggression?
From the same Social Security "conversation":
I see a problem. I also see a solution. And I realize that it's going to require bipartisan cooperation.
I wonder if anyone has told him that his party controls Congress? Or maybe "bipartisan" refers to the split in Republican ranks...
From an exchange in the Oval Office, January 7th.
The President: ...Democracies equal peace, and that's what we're trying to achieve
in this administration. Steve Holland [Steve Holland, Reuters].
Q. Yes, sir.
The President. Yes, there you are.
Did the President just call on someone without seeing his hand go up? Sadly, there is no video.
These are getting harder and harder to come by, as less and less of what President Bush does is off-script. These aren't like the beautiful gems that could be dug up in earlier times, like this one plucked at random:
My personal message is that I want to keep the peace and make the world more peaceful.
From an
exhange in the Oval Office, Feb. 10th, 2003, a month before the Iraq War began.
They just don't make 'em like that anymore. (sigh...)
