I had a discussion the other day with a co-worker about a certain former vice president. I won't say which vp, but I will say there were potatoes involved.
My comment was that, with the news media following you every day, all day, you're bound to say something that sounds stupid sometime. In fact, the whole conversation started because I had said something like "we need to be prepared for every known problem and even for unknown problems." She accurately pointed out that you can't really prepare for unknown problems and I was reminded of this old quote.
But I decided to look for some dumb quotes from politicians. I decided that the current president is still on his honeymoon and finding dumb quotes from him may be difficult and I frankly didn't want to work that hard. I wanted to be bi-partisan, so I looked for quotes by both Republicans and Democrats. I offer below some quotes by two former presidents and two former vice presidents and two former candidates. In some cases, I cite the source, in others I don't. Sue me. I also did no checking to see if these are correct, it's just not that important. My point stands: You can find something stupid on everyone.
Bush: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004
Cheney:
"I had other priorities in the sixties than military service." –on his five draft deferments, April 5, 1989
"I'm up in the Senate most Tuesdays when they're in session. The first time I ever met you was when you walked on this stage tonight." --Vice President Dick Cheney to Sen. John Edwards during the vice presidential debate, despite the fact they had met on at least three previous occasions
Kerry:
"You bet we might have." (that's definitive)
"I actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it." (standing up for what he believes in - at the moment)
McCain:
"I spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, in the dark, fed with scraps. Do you think I want to do that all over again as vice president of the United States?"
Bill Clinton:
"I'm sure I spent more time in Texas than anybody else who had run for President recently." (George H. Bush?)
"The last time I checked, the Constitution said, 'of the people, by the people and for the people.' That's what the Declaration of Independence says." - Bill Clinton (Note that the statement quoted was from the Gettysburg Address)
Al Gore:
"There was never any doubt in our minds that men and women were equal, if not more so." (Source: NY Times, 08/12/00 - he must have read Animal Farm)
"A zebra does not change its spots."
4 comments:
I love the one from President Bush! I think that is more funny than dumb! But the one where Clinton didn't know where that statment came from is pretty dumb, he was a president and didn't even know, I didn't go to college and I knew that! I probably could have quit in 5th grade and still have known that!
Those are good ones! LOL!
Katie, it's funny that you said Clinton's quote was dumb. One of the comments I've heard a lot lately is "I don't think that person is any smarter than me and I think the President (or Vice President) should be smarter than me." The first I heard this was from Tina Fey. The second was from another female, about a past VP. Odd coincidence to hear the words now, from another female, about someone on the other side of the aisle. Food for thought for a later day.
Brooke - Glad you liked them. I tried very hard to find some from both sides. What's your favorite?
Probably this one:
"You bet we might have." (that's definitive)
LOL!
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