NationStates Jolt Archive

Our President makes so many mistakes when publicly speaking. Anyone have favorites? Mine would be "nuculer power pants" instead of "nuclear power plants".

is our children learning?

my favorite is when he says,"The baby boomers are getting older,trust me I was the baby boom." Or something to that affect.

On a side note, did any of you know that the German word for "misspeaking" is spelled almost exactly like the German word for "promise"?

Our President makes so many mistakes when publicly speaking. Anyone have favorites? Mine would be "nuculer power pants" instead of "nuclear power plants".

That is not a grammatical mistake. It has perfect grammar, but it makes no sense when spoken. Just like madlibs, they sound nonsensical, but are grammatically correct.

Didn't JFK say
Ich ben ein Benginer(SP?)-I am a jelly donut
instead of
Ich ben ein Berliner.-I am a Berliner

On a side note, did any of you know that the German word for "misspeaking" is spelled almost exactly like the German word for "promise"?

Yes.

Just some of them:

"I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep on the soil of a friend." —George W. Bush, on visiting Denmark, Washington D.C., June 29, 2005

"I was going to say he's a piece of work, but that might not translate too well. Is that all right, if I call you a 'piece of work'?" —George W. Bush to Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg, Washington, D.C., June 20, 2005

"The relations with, uhh — Europe are important relations, and they've, uhh — because, we do share values. And, they're universal values, they're not American values or, you know — European values, they're universal values. And those values — uhh — being universal, ought to be applied everywhere." —George W. Bush, at a press conference with European Union dignitaries, Washington, D.C., June 20, 2005
"You see, not only did the attacks help accelerate a recession, the attacks reminded us that we are at war." —George W. Bush, on the Sept. 11 attacks, Washington, D.C., June 8, 2005



--> http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm



"They misunderestimated me." :rolleyes:

A reminder to all: He's a president, not a professional orator.

Didn't JFK say
Ich ben ein Benginer(SP?)-I am a jelly donut
instead of
Ich ben ein Berliner.-I am a Berliner

He said "Ich bin ein Berliner." which translates as "I am a citizen of Berlin" but not in a literal sense. It was correct grammatically for both "I am a citizen of Berlin" and "I am a jelly doughnut" but everyone listening to his speech knew he didn't mean a jelly doughnut. "Ich bin Berliner" is the phrase that literally means "I am a citizen of Berlin" if I recall correctly.

That is not a grammatical mistake. It has perfect grammar, but it makes no sense when spoken. Just like madlibs, they sound nonsensical, but are grammatically correct.

Didn't JFK say
Ich ben ein Benginer(SP?)-I am a jelly donut
instead of
Ich ben ein Berliner.-I am a Berliner
He said "Ich bin ein Berliner." Berliner also denotes a jelly filled donut in the Berlin area. It's called a "Krapfen" in Bavaria and a "Pfannkuchen" in Brandenburg. There's no such thing as a "Benginer".

That is not a grammatical mistake. It has perfect grammar, but it makes no sense when spoken. Just like madlibs, they sound nonsensical, but are grammatically correct.

Didn't JFK say
Ich ben ein Benginer(SP?)-I am a jelly donut
instead of
Ich ben ein Berliner.-I am a Berliner

I think JFK's mistake actually was grammatical - not incorrect grammar but grammar that changes the meaning of the sentence. He said "Ich ben ein Berliner" but he should have said "Ich ben Berliner." A Berliner is a person from Berlin, but also a jelly doughnut. Indistinguishable in English, but adding the definitive article changed the meaning of his sentence in German. Wonder what would have happened if he'd made that speech in Frankfurt or Hamburg? Heh.

A reminder to all: He's a president, not a professional orator.Oxymorons aside... He's neither.

He said "Ich bin ein Berliner." which translates as "I am a citizen of Berlin" but not in a literal sense. It was correct grammatically for both "I am a citizen of Berlin" and "I am a jelly doughnut" but everyone listening to his speech knew he didn't mean a jelly doughnut. "Ich bin Berliner" is the phrase that literally means "I am a citizen of Berlin" if I recall correctly.Nah. "Ich bin ein Berliner" is just as common as "Ich bin Berliner". More common would be to say that you're from Berlin. But "ein" also means "one" so the connotation also makes you a part of the city and heightens the feeling of a common background... in a way. I'd certainly use that variation in a speech rather than the other, it has more emphasis.

A reminder to all: He's a president, not a professional orator.

In my opinion, a president has to be a professional orator. :rolleyes:

Wonder what would have happened if he'd made that speech in Frankfurt or Hamburg? Heh.

Ich bin ein Hamburger :D


Ich bin ein Frankfurter would be good, too, although I don't like those sausages... ;)

"My views are one that speaks to freedom" - from the poster on my wall.

I think, Bush once said something about fish and humans living together in peace... :confused:

I think, Bush once said something about fish and humans living together in peace... :confused:



Are you sure? That sounds more like something Clinton would say :confused:

Oxymorons aside... He's neither.



Tell that to the American public, congress, and the rest of the world.

In my opinion, a president has to be a professional orator. :rolleyes:



I think Hitler proved that oral aptitude doesn't make one a good leader ;)

I think Hitler proved that oral aptitude doesn't make one a good leader ;)

Right. I wanted to point out that a leader has to have many qualities, among them oral aptitude, but many others, too.

Are you sure? That sounds more like something Clinton would say :confused:

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."

- G.W. Bush


--> http://www.geocities.com/gabrudos/quotesbush.htm

Tell that to the American public, congress, and the rest of the world.The rest of the world and the American public, minus the 51% (of voters) that voted for him, don't consider him to be a president. At least one that's worthy of such a title.

The rest of the world and the American public, minus the 51% (of voters) that voted for him, don't consider him to be a president. At least one that's worthy of such a title.



Then I wonder why the welcome him and address him as the president when he visits their nations? Some people might say he's not a good president, but he is still a president, as much as Carter and Clinton were.

Then I wonder why the welcome him and address him as the president when he visits their nations? Some people might say he's not a good president, but he is still a president, as much as Carter and Clinton were.


1. hospitality. politeness. duteousness...

2. You are right. He IS president. Wether he is a GOOD president or not, does not matter in this case.

Then I wonder why the welcome him and address him as the president when he visits their nations? He is welcome by nation's leaders, not by the populace.
Some people might say he's not a good president, but he is still a president, as much as Carter and Clinton were.Actually I'm not a big fan of Carter.

I have decided that Bush was elected for one reason -- the alternative was equally stupid. Face it -- we were completely screwed in the last election.

I have decided that Bush was elected for one reason -- the alternative was equally stupid. Face it -- we were completely screwed in the last election.

Same thing happened in Germany a lot over the last 2 decades.... why do you think Kohl was in charge for 16 years? And why do you think Schroeder made the last election? No alternative, that's why.

Same thing happened in Germany a lot over the last 2 decades.... why do you think Kohl was in charge for 16 years? And why do you think Schroeder made the last election? No alternative, that's why.


It happens.

Same thing happened in Germany a lot over the last 2 decades.... why do you think Kohl was in charge for 16 years? And why do you think Schroeder made the last election? No alternative, that's why.



Oh, so it's not like the Germans were very supportive of Schröeder? That's a relief lol.

Oh, so it's not like the Germans were very supportive of Schröeder? That's a relief lol.

Well, at least they didn't fall for the deep-south, right-winged, Christian nutcase :p (talking about Stoiber here)

Merkel as an alternative... poor Germany ;)

I used to live a happy life - too young to vote. I was not responsible. Now I am. :headbang: I think I'll have to form a new party :rolleyes:

What would your party program be?

PersonalHappiness is always right.
Obey PersonalHappiness.

:D want to be my first party member?

PersonalHappiness is always right.
Obey PersonalHappiness.

:D want to be my first party member?



Yes, my liege. *zombie-face* :eek:

Yes, my liege. *zombie-face* :eek:

:D :D That's a good start. But you forgot to go down on your knees :p

I have decided that Bush was elected for one reason -- the alternative was equally stupid. Face it -- we were completely screwed in the last election.In the 2004 perhaps... but that still doesn't account for Al Gore though.

In the 2004 perhaps... but that still doesn't account for Al Gore though.

Screwed even more.

Although his poor grammar and limited vocabulary are an embarrassment to America, it's his continual lying and willful ignorance that shame us the most.

Screwed even more.That's preposterous. Al Gore had awesome policies for America, domestic and foreign. He would have been a great president.

Although his poor grammar and limited vocabulary are an embarrassment to America, it's his continual lying and willful ignorance that shame us the most.

And his Monkey Face. :p Just Kidding.

That's preposterous. Al Gore had awesome policies for America, domestic and foreign. He would have been a great president.

That's what I meant. He got screwed, and so did the US democracy...

Edit: Sorry, I can see that my post could have been misinterpretated...

That's what I meant. He got screwed, and so did the US democracy...

Edit: Sorry, I can see that my post could have been misinterpretated...
:D All's well that ends well