The Complete BushismsUpdated frequently.
Updated Friday, March 20, 2009, at 3:48 PM ET"This is my maiden voyage. My first speech since I was the president of the United States and I couldn't think of a better place to give it than Calgary, Canada."—As reported by the Associated Press, Calgary, Canada, March 17, 2009
"I'm going to put people in my place, so when the history of this administration is written at least there's an authoritarian voice saying exactly what happened."—On what he hopes to accomplish with his memoir, as reported by the Associated Press, Calgary, Canada, March 17, 2009
"I guess it's OK to call the secretary of education here 'buddy.' That means friend."—Philadelphia, Jan. 8, 2009
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StumbleUponClick here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 2:38.
"One of the very difficult parts of the decision I made on the financial crisis was to use hardworking people's money to help prevent there to be a crisis."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 20:48.
"In terms of the economy, look, I inherited a recession, I am ending on a recession."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 13:48.
"The best way to ensure that there is a sustainable cease-fire is to work with Egypt to stop the smuggling of arms into the Gaza."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 4:48.
"I'm telling you there's an enemy that would like to attack America, Americans, again. There just is. That's the reality of the world. And I wish him all the very best."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 12, 2009
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 20:25.
"So I analyzed that and decided I didn't want to be the president during a depression greater than the Great Depression, or the beginning of a depression greater than the Great Depression."—Washington D.C., Dec. 18, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 19:09.
"People say, well, do you ever hear any other voices other than, like, a few people? Of course I do."—Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 31:42.
"I've abandoned free market principles to save the free market system."—Washington, D.C., Dec. 16, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 1:40.
"I've been in the Bible every day since I've been the president."—Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2008
"He was a great father before politics, a great father during politics and a great father after politics."—On his father, George H.W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 2008
"Yesterday, you made note of my—the lack of my talent when it came to dancing. But nevertheless, I want you to know I danced with joy. And no question Liberia has gone through very difficult times."—Speaking with the president of Liberia, Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 0:23.
"I want to share with you an interesting program—for two reasons, one, it's interesting, and two, my wife thought of it—or has actually been involved with it; she didn't think of it. But she thought of it for this speech."—Washington D.C., Oct. 21, 2008, discussing PlayPumps International, which improves access to clean water in Africa
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 13:39.
"This thaw—took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw."—Alexandria, La., Oct. 20, 2008
"Anyone engaging in illegal financial transactions will be caught and persecuted."—Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 4:56.
"I didn't grow up in the ocean—as a matter of fact—near the ocean—I grew up in the desert. Therefore, it was a pleasant contrast to see the ocean. And I particularly like it when I'm fishing."—Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 5:06.
"We're fixing to go down to Galveston and obviously are going to see a devastated part of this fantastic state."—Houston, Sept. 16, 2008
See video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 3:10.
"The people in Louisiana must know that all across our country there's a lot of prayer—prayer for those whose lives have been turned upside down. And I'm one of them."—Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 3, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 3:40.
"I'm coming as the president of a friend, and I'm coming as a sportsman."—On his trip to the Olympics in China, Washington, D.C., July 30, 2008
"But oftentimes I'm asked: Why? Why do you care what happens outside of America?"—Washington, D.C., June 26, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 14:20.
"And they have no disregard for human life."—Describing the brutality of Afghan fighters, Washington, D.C., July 15, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 25:47.
"I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., June 26, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 12:50.
"I think it was in the Rose Garden where I issued this brilliant statement: If I had a magic wand —but the president doesn't have a magic wand. You just can't say, 'low gas.' "—Washington D.C., July 15, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 14:57.
"The economy is growing, productivity is high, trade is up, people are working. It's not as good as we'd like, but—and to the extent that we find weakness, we'll move."—Washington, D.C., July 15, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 7:55.
"Should the Iranian regime—do they have the sovereign right to have civilian nuclear power? So, like, if I were you, that's what I'd ask me. And the answer is, yes, they do."—Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., July 2, 2008
"Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people."—Charlottesville, Va., July 4, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 7:10.
"We've got a lot of relations with countries in our neighborhood."—Kranj, Slovenia, June 10, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 12:56.
"One of the things important about history is to remember the true history."—Washington, D.C., June 6, 2008
"The German asparagus are fabulous."—Meseberg, Germany, June 11, 2008
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 6:22.
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 9:22.
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 56:45.
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 22:47.
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 11:21.
Click here to see a video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 50:16.
Click here to see a video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 50:17
Click here to see video of Bush's comments. The Bushism is at 19:30.
"Now, there are some who would like to rewrite history—revisionist historians is what I like to call them."—Elizabeth, N.J., June 16, 2003
"I am determined to keep the process on the road to peace."—Washington, D.C., June 10, 2003 (Thanks to Tanny Bear.)
"The true strength of America happens when a neighbor loves a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves."—Elizabeth, N.J., June 16, 2003
"We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in so doing, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure."—Crawford, Texas, May 3, 2003 (Thanks to Tony Marciniec.)
"This is a nation that loves our freedom, loves our country."—Washington, D.C, May 17, 2002
"The public education system in America is one of the most important foundations of our democracy. After all, it is where children from all over America learn to be responsible citizens, and learn to have the skills necessary to take advantage of our fantastic opportunistic society."—Santa Clara, Calif., May 1, 2002
"After all, a week ago, there were—Yasser Arafat was boarded up in his building in Ramallah, a building full of, evidently, German peace protestors and all kinds of people. They're now out. He's now free to show leadership, to lead the world."—Washington, D.C., May 2, 2002 (Thanks to M. Bateman.)
"This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating."—as quoted by the New York Daily News, April 23, 2002
"I want to thank the dozens of welfare to work stories, the actual examples of people who made the firm and solemn commitment to work hard to embetter themselves."—Washington, D.C., April 18, 2002 (Thanks to George Dupper.)
"And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours." —Bridgeport, Conn., April 9, 2002
"It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber."—Washington, D.C., April 10, 2002
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