Dubya's Bushisms : George W. Bush Dumb Quotes

How can a nation elect a man so dumb? Oh, wait, they didn't did they? Some of the best dumb things said by the President of the US of A...

 

God loves you, and I love you. And you can count on both of us as a powerful message that people who wonder about their future can hear.
- George W. Bush, Los Angeles, Calif., March 3, 2004

The march to war affected the people's confidence. It's hard to make investment. See, if you're a small business owner or a large business owner and you're thinking about investing, you've got to be optimistic when you invest. Except when you're marching to war, it's not a very optimistic thought, is it? In other words, it's the opposite of optimistic when you're thinking you're going to war.
- George W. Bush, Springfield, Mo., Feb. 9, 2004

See, one of the interesting things in the Oval Office -- I love to bring people into the Oval Office -- right around the corner from here -- and say, this is where I office, but I want you to know the office is always bigger than the person.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2004

More Muslims have died at the hands of killers than — I say more Muslims — a lot of Muslims have died — I don't know the exact count — at Istanbul. Look at these different places around the world where there's been tremendous death and destruction because killers kill.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2004

Just remember it's the birds that's supposed to suffer, not the hunter.
- George W. Bush, advising quail hunter and New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici, Roswell, N.M., Jan. 22, 2004

I was a prisoner too, but for bad reasons.
- George W. Bush, to Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, on being told that all but one of the Argentine delegates to a summit meeting were imprisoned during the military dictatorship, Monterrey, Mexico, Jan. 13, 2004

One of the most meaningful things that's happened to me since I've been the governor -- the president -- governor -- president. Oops. Ex-governor. I went to Bethesda Naval Hospital to give a fellow a Purple Heart, and at the same moment I watched him -- get a Purple Heart for action in Iraq -- and at that same -- right after I gave him the Purple Heart, he was sworn in as a citizen of the United States -- a Mexican citizen, now a United States citizen.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 9, 2004

The Iraqis need to be very much involved. They were the people that was brutalized by this man.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 15, 2003

The best way to find these terrorists who hide in holes is to get people coming forth to describe the location of the hole, is to give clues and data.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 15, 2003

This very week in 1989, there were protests in East Berlin and in Leipzig. By the end of that year, every communist dictatorship in Central America had collapsed.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Nov. 6, 2003

As you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Oct. 28, 2003

The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the -- the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Oct. 27, 2003

See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction.
- George W. Bush, Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 3, 2003

We've had leaks out of the administrative branch, had leaks out of the legislative branch, and out of the executive branch and the legislative branch, and I've spoken out consistently against them, and I want to know who the leakers are.
- George W. Bush, Chicago, Sept. 30, 2003

I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavour for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 21, 2003

And finally, Mayor Al is with us, the Mayor of Monroe. Al Cappuccilli is here. Thank you, Mayor, for being with us. You must be filling the potholes. Picking up the garbage. That's the way to go.
- George W. Bush, Monroe, Michigan, Sep. 15, 2003

Sometimes it's not easy to be the friend of George W. Bush -- I know that. If you know what I mean.
- George W. Bush, Houston, Texas, Sep. 12, 2003

I appreciate Dwight Adams, who is the Director of the FBI Laboratory. He just gave me a fine tour. It's pretty sophisticated facilities.
- George W. Bush, Quantico, Virginia, Sep. 10, 2003

I want to thank General John Fryer, the Superintendent of Schools here. I thought it was pretty interesting, when I was reading the background of the schools here, I see that you got you a general running the school system.
- George W. Bush, Jacksonville, Florida, Sep. 9, 2003

She is a fabulous First Lady. I was a lucky man when she said, yes, I agree to marry you. I love her dearly, and I'm proud of the job she's doing on behalf of all Americans. Just like I love my brother.
- George W. Bush, Jacksonville, Florida, Sep. 9, 2003

I learned some pretty interesting lessons as the governor. And one lesson is that in order for schools to succeed, you'd better have you a good principal.
- George W. Bush, Jacksonville, Florida, Sep. 9, 2003

We had a chance to visit with Teresa Nelson who's a parent, and a mom or a dad.
- George W. Bush, Jacksonville, Florida, Sept. 9, 2003

I'm a follower of American politics.
- George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, Aug. 8, 2003

We had a good Cabinet meeting, talked about a lot of issues. Secretary of State and Defense brought us up to date about our desires to spread freedom and peace around the world.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Aug. 1, 2003

Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to peace.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 25, 2003

Our country puts $1 billion a year up to help feed the hungry. And we're by far the most generous nation in the world when it comes to that, and I'm proud to report that. This isn't a contest of who's the most generous. I'm just telling you as an aside. We're generous. We shouldn't be bragging about it. But we are. We're very generous.
- George W. Bush, bragging about not bragging, Washington, D.C., July 16, 2003

It's very interesting when you think about it, the slaves who left here to go to America, because of their steadfast and their religion and their belief in freedom, helped change America.
- George W. Bush, Dakar, Senegal, July 8, 2003

My answer is bring them on.
- On Iraqi militants attacking U.S. forces, George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2003

I urge the leaders in Europe and around the world to take swift, decisive action against terror groups such as Hamas, to cut off their funding, and to support - cut funding and support, as the United States has done.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., June 25, 2003

Iran would be dangerous if they have a nuclear weapon.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., June 18, 2003

Now, there are some who would like to rewrite history - revisionist historians is what I like to call them.
- George W. Bush, Elizabeth, N.J., June 16, 2003

I'm the master of low expectations.
- George W. Bush, aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003

I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things.
- George W. Bush, aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003

I recently met with the finance minister of the Palestinian Authority, was very impressed by his grasp of finances.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 29, 2003

Oftentimes, we live in a processed world - you know, people focus on the process and not results.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 29, 2003

First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 19, 2003

We've had a great weekend here in the Land of the Enchanted.
- George W. Bush, Albuquerque, N.M., May 12, 2003 (New Mexico's state nickname is "Land of Enchantment")

I think war is a dangerous place.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 7, 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.
- George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, May 3, 2003

You're free, and freedom is beautiful...and, you know, it'll take time to restore chaos and order - order out of chaos, but we will.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 13, 2003

All of us need to step back and try to figure out how to make the U.N. work better as we head into the 21st century. Perhaps one way will be, if we use military force, in the post-Saddam Iraq the U.N. will definitely need to have a role. And that way it can begin to get its legs, legs of responsibility back.
- George W. Bush, unaware that we already are in the 21st century and coining a bizarre term "legs of responsibility," Lajes, Azores, Mar. 16, 2003

I described them [Iraq] as the axis of evil once. I described them as an enemy until proven otherwise. They obviously, you know, desire weapons of mass destruction. I presume that he still views us as an enemy.
- George W. Bush, showing that he believes all countries are guilty until proven innocent, Ridgewood Country Club, Waco, Texas, Mar. 10, 2003

I was disappointed that the Congress did not respond to the $3.5 billion we asked for. They not only reduced the budget that we asked for, they earmarked a lot of the money. That's a disappointment, a disappointment when the executive branch gets micromanaged by the legislative branch.
- George W. Bush, objecting to the form of democracy he is willing to kill for, Washington, D.C., Feb. 24, 2003

Now, we talked to Joan Hanover. She and her husband, George, were visiting with us. They are near retirement - retiring - in the process of retiring, meaning they're very smart, active, capable people who are retirement age and are retiring.
- George W. Bush, Alexandria, Va., Feb. 12, 2003

The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorize himself.
- George W. Bush, Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 29, 2003

One year ago today, the time for excuse-making has come to an end.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 8, 2003

There's only one person who hugs the mothers and the widows, the wives and the kids upon the death of their loved one. Others hug but having committed the troops, I've got an additional responsibility to hug and that's me and I know what it's like.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2002.

In other words, I don't think people ought to be compelled to make the decision which they think is best for their family.
- George W. Bush, on smallpox vaccinations, Washington, D.C., Dec. 11, 2002

Let me tell you my thoughts about tax relief. When your economy is kind of ooching along, it's important to let people have more of their own money.
- George W. Bush, Boston, Oct. 4, 2002

We need an energy bill that encourages consumption.
- George W. Bush, Trenton, N.J., Sept. 23, 2002

People say, how can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil? You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2002

There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again.
- George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

See, we love - we love freedom. That's what they didn't understand. They hate things; we love things. They act out of hatred; we don't seek revenge, we seek justice out of love.
- George W. Bush, Oklahoma City, Aug. 29, 2002

There's no cave deep enough for America, or dark enough to hide.
- George W. Bush, Oklahoma City, Aug. 29, 2002

I'm thrilled to be here in the bread basket of America because it gives me a chance to remind our fellow citizens that we have an advantage here in America - we can feed ourselves.
- George W. Bush, Stockton, Calif., Aug. 23, 2002

I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here.
- George W. Bush, speaking at the President's Economic Forum in Waco, Texas, Aug. 13, 2002

I love the idea of a school in which people come to get educated and stay in the state in which they're educated.
- George W. Bush, Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 14, 2002

The problem with the French is that they don't have a word for entrepreneur.
- George W. Bush, discussing the decline of the French economy with British Prime Minister Tony Blair

Over 75 percent of white Americans own their home, and less than 50 percent of Hispanos and African Americans don't own their home. And that's a gap, that's a homeownership gap. And we've got to do something about it.
- George W. Bush, Cleveland, Ohio, July 1, 2002

Do you have blacks, too?
- George W. Bush, to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso

This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating.
- George W. Bush, as quoted by the New York Daily News, April 23, 2002

Sometimes when I sleep at night I think of 'Hop on Pop.'
- George W. Bush, in a speech about childhood education, Washington, D.C., April 2, 2002

I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.
- George W. Bush

We've tripled the amount of money - I believe it's from $50 million up to $195 million available.
- George W. Bush, Lima, Peru, March 23, 2002

I understand that the unrest in the Middle East creates unrest throughout the region.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002

There's nothing more deep than recognizing Israel's right to exist. That's the most deep thought of all. ... I can't think of anything more deep than that right.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002

My trip to Asia begins here in Japan for an important reason. It begins here because for a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times. From that alliance has come an era of peace in the Pacific.
- George W. Bush, who apparently forgot about a little something called World War II, Tokyo, Feb. 18, 2002

He [Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi] said I want to make it very clear to you exactly what I intend to do and he talked about non-performing loans, the devaluation issue and regulatory reform and he placed equal emphasis on all three.
- George W. Bush, who had meant to say the deflation issue rather than the devaluation issue, and accidentally sent the Japanese Yen tumbling, Tokyo, Feb. 18, 2002

I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah.
- George W. Bush, at a White House Menorah lighting ceremony, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 2001

I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Oct. 3, 2001

The folks who conducted to act on our country on September 11th made a big mistake. They underestimated America. They underestimated our resolve, our determination, our love for freedom. They misunderestimated the fact that we love a neighbor in need. They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the Commander-in-Chief, too.
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2001

My administration has been calling upon all the leaders in the - in the Middle East to do everything they can to stop the violence, to tell the different parties involved that peace will never happen.
- George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, Aug, 13, 2001

A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it.
- George W. Bush, July 27, 2001

You saw the president yesterday. I thought he was very forward-leaning, as they say in diplomatic nuanced circles.
- Goerge W. Bush, referring to his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, July 23, 2001

I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right.
- George W. Bush, in Rome, July 22, 2001

It is white.
- George W. Bush, asked by a child in Britain what the White House was like, July 19, 2001

We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease.
- George W. Bush, at a news conference in Europe, June 14, 2001

For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it.
- George W. Bush, May 14

But I also made it clear to (Vladimir Putin) that it's important to think beyond the old days of when we had the concept that if we blew each other up, the world would be safe.
- George W. Bush, May 1, 2001

I've coined new words, like, misunderstanding and Hispanically.
- George W. Bush, speaking at the Radio & Television Correspondents dinner, March 29, 2001

I do think we need for a troop to be able to house his family. That's an important part of building morale in the military.
- George W. Bush, speaking at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, March 12, 2001

I suspect that had my dad not been president, he'd be asking the same questions: How'd your meeting go with so-and-so? … How did you feel when you stood up in front of the people for the State of the Union Address-state of the budget address, whatever you call it.
- George W. Bush, in an interview with the Washington Post, March 9, 2001

I have said that the sanction regime is like Swiss cheese - that meant that they weren't very effective.
- George W. Bush, during a White House press conference, Feb. 22, 2001

You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.''
- George W. Bush, Feb. 21, 2001

We're concerned about AIDS inside our White House - make no mistake about it.
- George W. Bush, Feb. 7, 2001

Then I went for a run with the other dog and just walked. And I started thinking about a lot of things. I was able to - I can't remember what it was. Oh, the inaugural speech, started thinking through that.
- George W. Bush, in a pre-inaugural interview with U.S. News & World Report

It'll be hard to articulate.
- George W. Bush, anticipating how he'll feel upon assuming the presidency, Jan. 2001

If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier - so long as I'm the dictator.
- George W. Bush, Dec. 19, 2000

The great thing about America is everybody should vote.
- George W. Bush

They misunderestimated me.
- George W. Bush, Nov. 2000

One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures.
- George W. Bush

Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.
- George W. Bush

If affirmative action means what I just described, what I'm for, then I'm for it.
- George W. Bush, during the third presidential debate

Mr. Vice President, in all due respect, it is - I'm not sure 80 percent of the people get the death tax. I know this: 100 percent will get it if I'm the president.
- George W. Bush, during the third presidential debate, Oct. 2000

The woman who knew that I had dyslexia - I never interviewed her.
- George W. Bush, responding to a magazine article claiming he suffered from dyslexia

Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness.
- George W. Bush, in a CNN online chat, Aug. 2000

We cannot let terrorists and rogue nations hold this nation hostile or hold our allies hostile.''
- George W. Bush

I think anybody who doesn't think I'm smart enough to handle the job is underestimating.
- George W. Bush

The senator has got to understand if he's going to have - he can't have it both ways. He can't take the high horse and then claim the low road.
- George W. Bush, on Sen. John McCain

When I was coming up, it was a dangerous world, and you knew exactly who they were. It was us versus them, and it was clear who them was. Today we are not so sure who the they are, but we know they're there.
- George W. Bush, Jan. 2000

The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case.
- George W. Bush

It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it.
- George W. Bush

Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?
- George W. Bush

I was raised in the West. The West of Texas. It's pretty close to California. In more ways than Washington, D.C., is close to California.
- George W. Bush

Hiller: "Can you name the president of Chechnya?"
Bush: "No, can you?"
Hiller: "Can you name the president of Taiwan?"
Bush: "Yeah, Lee."
Hiller: "Can you name the general who is in charge of Pakistan?"
Bush: "Wait, wait, is this 50 questions?"
Hiller: "No, it's four questions of four leaders in four hot spots."
Bush: "The new Pakistani general, he's just been elected, not elected, this guy took over office. It appears this guy is going to bring stability to the country and I think that's good news for the sub-continent."
Hiller: "Can you name him?"
Bush: "General. I can't name the general. General."
Hiller: "And the prime minister of India?"
Bush: "The new prime minister of India is - (pause) No."
Then Bush hit back.
Bush: "Can you name the foreign minister of Mexico?"
Hiller: "No sir, but I would say to that, I'm not running for President."
- Interviewed by Andy Hiller, political correspondent for WHDH-TV, Nov. 3, 1999
 

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