Today’s Bush-ism

On my work desk I have one of those “quote a day” desk calendars - “Presidential Speak - The Very Curious Language of George W.Bush”. On most days these quotes read like some primary school kid learning the basics of English grammar, often giving a good laugh. Of course, if you really start to think about it, you realize its not so funny. Anyway, today’s insightful comment was a classic -

“If you can’t read, it doesn’t matter. That’s just as simple as that. I mean, I know it doesn’t sound very nuanced or sophisticated, but it’s true. It’s the absolute truth.“

May 12, 2004
Speaking at the National Institutes of Health on the topic of education. Bethesda, Maryland.

It looks like this dude was on a mission. A few days later we were given another pearl of wisdom, which was revealed in last Monday’s quote -

“Others may have spent a little less time in the library - a little more time keeping the stools warm down at The Chimes. But you earned your degrees, and you, too, can leave here with high hopes. I speak with some authority here - I’ve seen how things can work out pretty well for a ‘C’ student.“

May 21, 2004
Delivering the Commencement Address at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

There you have it….the leader of the free world appearing to champion illiteracy?? If these literacy rate rankings are accurate then he must be proud as punch