NationStates Jolt Archive

Many liberals use this quote as a hallmark of Bush's idiocy. I frankly cannot understand why -- perhaps liberals are too simple to understand the subtle point Bush was making. On January 11, 2001, in Florence, South Carolina, Bush stated: "rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" Now, many people think that this is a grammatical error -- a sign of Bush's failure to grasp the English language. However, this is not so. He was illustrating to the audience why our schools were failing; why our children were not learning enough. Because of grammar. In liberal schools, children are taught "grammar" and "how to speak properly." What they are not taught is fighting and how to handle a gun properly. Look at Bush -- he isn't Daniel Webster, yet he became president of the United States. Why? Because he didn't bother with liberal schools -- hell, he drank his way through his liberal college. Look at Cheney. He isn't eloquent -- he's no modern-day Shakespeare -- yet none of his friends can question his prowess when it comes to shooting ducks (well, maybe just one friend). And where has that gotten him? To vice-president of the United States. So before you think about criticizing Bush based on that quote, analyze the quote. Bush is telling you what's wrong with our school system -- twisted priorities. Two of the most powerful men in the world didn't get where they are because of grammar, or writing, or math, or science, or history. No, those topics are useless in this day and age. I don't remember who said it (maybe I read it in a book somewhere, or maybe Bush said it), but ignorance is strength. That's what our schools fail to understand. So why are our schools focusing on such minor topics as grammar and math instead of weapons training? Listen to Bush's own words on the subject, which came from a press dinner on March 29, 2001:

Then there is my most famous statement: "Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning." Let us analyze that sentence for a moment. If you're a stickler, you probably think the singular verb "is" should have been the plural "are." But if you read it closely, you'll see I'm using the intransitive plural subjunctive tense. So the word "is" are correct. Finally, let's see you wordsmiths out there diagram this sentence I said -- this may sound a little west Texan to you, "but when I'm talking about myself and when he's talking about myself, all of us are talking about me." Now, ladies and gentlemen, you have to admit, in my sentences I go where no man has gone before. But in closing, the way I see it is I am a boon to the English language. I've coined new words, like, misunderstanding and "Hispanically." I've expanded the definition of words themselves, using "vulcanized" when I met "polarized," "Grecians" when I meant "Greeks," "inebriating" when I meant "exhilarating." And instead of "barriers and tariffs," I said "terriers and bariffs."

Yes, a great man with great ideas. Why is he getting picked apart by vulturous liberals?

Now now, how can you whine about "vulturous liberals" when you yourself admitted you are every bit as liberal as I am? Sounds like you think what's good for the goose is not good for the gander.

Now now, how can you whine about "vulturous liberals" when you yourself admitted you are every bit as liberal as I am? Sounds like you think what's good for the goose is not good for the gander.

Read it a little closer...the post is absolutely dripping with sarcasm.

I liked the Orwell reference, too.

I dont believe you typed that out all on your own....

Read it a little closer...the post is absolutely dripping with sarcasm.

I liked the Orwell reference, too.

I would think so too if it wasnt for his post record, i think hes serious.

The subtle point that no one understood until someone explained it as a contrived useless futile attempt to show college is useless, schools suck, and guns are more important than learning to speak.

How decidely un-American. Why dont you go burn some Muslim stamps or something and get the liberal hate out.

I would think so too if it wasnt for his post record, i think hes serious.

I don't know...I'd be hard pressed to believe that this is actually complimentary to President Bush.

exactly. its the pride in ignorance neo-cons have and theur distrust/distaste for acquired knowledge.

frightning stuff

OMG. Bush apologeticism drops to a new low...

I don't know...I'd be hard pressed to believe that this is actually complimentary to President Bush.

He said he believes bush is a uniter as he has claimed.....anyone who could actually believe that is seriously delusional

Ah... The celebration of stupidity. What more can man ask, but that he be too dumb to put together a coherant sentence? Why, we should all accept our history and return to innarticulate grunting as a means of communication!

After all, it's how well you cheat, lie, and steal that really earns you power.

He said he believes bush is a uniter as he has claimed.....anyone who could actually believe that is seriously delusional

Or taking mockery of the President to a whole level...

Honestly, there's no way that this is a serious defense of the President...even the most nutty conservative wouldn't quote 1984 as a model for society.

So who do we think this guy is, Bushanomics, or UN Abassadorship?

He said he believes bush is a uniter as he has claimed.....anyone who could actually believe that is seriously delusional

He also believes Saddam supported the Taliban. -.-

Or taking mockery of the President to a whole level...

Honestly, there's no way that this is a serious defense of the President...even the most nutty conservative wouldn't quote 1984 as a model for society.

OMG has begoner been a satire troll this whole time!?:eek:

I feel betrayed, shocked and betrayed

Everyone got it all wrong when they leapt on the "Is our children learning" line. Bush never suggested that someone should say that, he was simply pointing out a possible grammatical error that he encountered only on rare occassions.
A moment of praise to the English-learning system within the US that a bunch of jack-asses completely misunderstood.

Begoner21;11689202']Yes, a great man with great ideas. Why is he getting picked apart by vulturous liberals?

Maybe they misunderestimated him? :D

Everyone got it all wrong when they leapt on the "Is our children learning" line. Bush never suggested that someone should say that, he was simply pointing out a possible grammatical error that he encountered only on rare occassions.
A moment of praise to the English-learning system within the US that a bunch of jack-asses completely misunderstood.Yes, but he forgot to say it in quotation marks.

That statement was well dumb! Is our children learning? Of course they is, innit?:p

Begoner21;11689202']Many liberals use this quote as a hallmark of Bush's idiocy. I frankly cannot understand why -- perhaps liberals are too simple to understand the subtle point Bush was making. On January 11, 2001, in Florence, South Carolina, Bush stated: "rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" Now, many people think that this is a grammatical error -- a sign of Bush's failure to grasp the English language. However, this is not so. He was illustrating to the audience why our schools were failing; why our children were not learning enough. Because of grammar. In liberal schools, children are taught "grammar" and "how to speak properly." What they are not taught is fighting and how to handle a gun properly. Look at Bush -- he isn't Daniel Webster, yet he became president of the United States. Why? Because he didn't bother with liberal schools -- hell, he drank his way through his liberal college. Look at Cheney. He isn't eloquent -- he's no modern-day Shakespeare -- yet none of his friends can question his prowess when it comes to shooting ducks (well, maybe just one friend). And where has that gotten him? To vice-president of the United States. So before you think about criticizing Bush based on that quote, analyze the quote. Bush is telling you what's wrong with our school system -- twisted priorities. Two of the most powerful men in the world didn't get where they are because of grammar, or writing, or math, or science, or history. No, those topics are useless in this day and age. I don't remember who said it (maybe I read it in a book somewhere, or maybe Bush said it), but ignorance is strength. That's what our schools fail to understand. So why are our schools focusing on such minor topics as grammar and math instead of weapons training? Listen to Bush's own words on the subject, which came from a press dinner on March 29, 2001:



Yes, a great man with great ideas. Why is he getting picked apart by vulturous liberals?
Allow me to shed light on this. Bush said that this statement was correct grammar. And it was. But then he said something extremely stuped afterword.(Bush is a liberal silly man!)

Then we pull out other examples of George Bush's mastery of English grammar and your point is moot.

Yes, but he forgot to say it in quotation marks.
He was speaking you can't pronounce punctuation, or are you one of those "air quote"-people?

He was speaking you can't pronounce punctuation, or are you one of those "air quote"-people?Serious doesn't suit you, Fiddles. :)

I liked the Orwell reference, too.

Oh, right, it was from Orwell! Now I remember, thank you. There was this ultra-intelligent entity controlling the government or something. You know, Bush could take a thing or two from that entity, whatever it was called. He needs to let the public know that war is the only way to achieve peace. He has to tell us that what we call "freedom" is really slavery, and that terrorists are the slave owners. And he needs to re-assert that our ignorance is our strength. If he does all that, maybe one day we'll have the beautiful government outlined in that Orwell book. Anyway, it doesn't matter. We're slowly heading in that direction anyway. Our civil rights are being slowly and inexorably curtailed so that one day we may live in that paradise. I say "full steam ahead to utopia, Great Leader! You're almost like a big brother to me."

Begoner21;11689329']Oh, right, it was from Orwell! Now I remember, thank you. There was this ultra-intelligent entity controlling the government or something. You know, Bush could take a thing or two from that entity, whatever it was called. He needs to let the public know that war is the only way to achieve peace. He has to tell us that what we call "freedom" is really slavery, and that terrorists are the slave owners. And he needs to re-assert that our ignorance is our strength. If he does all that, maybe one day we'll have the beautiful government outlined in that Orwell book. Anyway, it doesn't matter. We're slowly heading in that direction anyway. Our civil rights are being slowly and inexorably curtailed so that one day we may live in that paradise. I say "full steam ahead to utopia, Great Leader! You're almost like a big brother to me."

Beautiful...absolutely beautiful.

Serious doesn't suit you, Fiddles. :)
The only thing I've ever been serious about was my complete lack of seriousness.
On the other hand, sometimes the joke wraps itself around the humor and strangles it, like a boa constrictor with a punch line, and that may well have happened here.

Begoner21;11689329']Oh, right, it was from Orwell! Now I remember, thank you. There was this ultra-intelligent entity controlling the government or something. You know, Bush could take a thing or two from that entity, whatever it was called. He needs to let the public know that war is the only way to achieve peace. He has to tell us that what we call "freedom" is really slavery, and that terrorists are the slave owners. And he needs to re-assert that our ignorance is our strength. If he does all that, maybe one day we'll have the beautiful government outlined in that Orwell book. Anyway, it doesn't matter. We're slowly heading in that direction anyway. Our civil rights are being slowly and inexorably curtailed so that one day we may live in that paradise. I say "full steam ahead to utopia, Great Leader! You're almost like a big brother to me."

I take back everything I've said. You aren't a far-right lunatic with reality issues, you're an up and coming comedian! :)

Begoner21;11689329'] *snip*

*Appreciative applause!*

Begoner21;11689329']Oh, right, it was from Orwell! Now I remember, thank you. There was this ultra-intelligent entity controlling the government or something. You know, Bush could take a thing or two from that entity, whatever it was called. He needs to let the public know that war is the only way to achieve peace. He has to tell us that what we call "freedom" is really slavery, and that terrorists are the slave owners. And he needs to re-assert that our ignorance is our strength. If he does all that, maybe one day we'll have the beautiful government outlined in that Orwell book. Anyway, it doesn't matter. We're slowly heading in that direction anyway. Our civil rights are being slowly and inexorably curtailed so that one day we may live in that paradise. I say "full steam ahead to utopia, Great Leader! You're almost like a big brother to me."

you have just made my list of cool NSers whose posts and threads i will check out even if im not interested in the topic.

congratulations on a very smart thread.

Begoner21;11689202']Many liberals use this quote as a hallmark of Bush's idiocy. I frankly cannot understand why -- perhaps liberals are too simple to understand the subtle point Bush was making. On January 11, 2001, in Florence, South Carolina, Bush stated: "rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" Now, many people think that this is a grammatical error -- a sign of Bush's failure to grasp the English language. However, this is not so. He was illustrating to the audience why our schools were failing; why our children were not learning enough. Because of grammar. In liberal schools, children are taught "grammar" and "how to speak properly." What they are not taught is fighting and how to handle a gun properly. Look at Bush -- he isn't Daniel Webster, yet he became president of the United States. Why? Because he didn't bother with liberal schools -- hell, he drank his way through his liberal college. Look at Cheney. He isn't eloquent -- he's no modern-day Shakespeare -- yet none of his friends can question his prowess when it comes to shooting ducks (well, maybe just one friend). And where has that gotten him? To vice-president of the United States. So before you think about criticizing Bush based on that quote, analyze the quote. Bush is telling you what's wrong with our school system -- twisted priorities. Two of the most powerful men in the world didn't get where they are because of grammar, or writing, or math, or science, or history. No, those topics are useless in this day and age. I don't remember who said it (maybe I read it in a book somewhere, or maybe Bush said it), but ignorance is strength. That's what our schools fail to understand. So why are our schools focusing on such minor topics as grammar and math instead of weapons training? Listen to Bush's own words on the subject, which came from a press dinner on March 29, 2001:



Yes, a great man with great ideas. Why is he getting picked apart by vulturous liberals?

Wow...ignorance is strength? The only reason you would of said such a thing is because you want to say that you're opinion is stong, when it's actually quite flimsy. We need more weapons training? Why don't you go join the Taliban in Afghanistan, since that's the only thing they focus on. The US is not a terrorist nation, the last time I checked, so why are you so hell bent on teaching our children how to kill people? That's what the Taliban and the IRA do, an Al Quada, and Hezbollah...should I go on? I'm so sick and tired of rednecks who think guns are cool...democracy needs an EDUCATED public, not one based on terrorist ideals (i.e. educating children in violence and violent behaviors). Nice try, Hitler.

Wow...ignorance is strength? The only reason you would of said such a thing is because you want to say that you're opinion is stong, when it's actually quite flimsy. We need more weapons training? Why don't you go join the Taliban in Afghanistan, since that's the only thing they focus on. The US is not a terrorist nation, the last time I checked, so why are you so hell bent on teaching our children how to kill people? That's what the Taliban and the IRA do, an Al Quada, and Hezbollah...should I go on? I'm so sick and tired of rednecks who think guns are cool...democracy needs an EDUCATED public, not one based on terrorist ideals (i.e. educating children in violence and violent behaviors). Nice try, Hitler.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sarcasm&x=0&y=0

I have no idea whether this is supposed to be satire or another anti-liberal rant, but for the sake of debate, I think I'll take it as the latter. :P

Many liberals use this quote as a hallmark of Bush's idiocy. I frankly cannot understand why -- perhaps liberals are too simple to understand the subtle point Bush was making. On January 11, 2001, in Florence, South Carolina, Bush stated: "rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" Now, many people think that this is a grammatical error -- a sign of Bush's failure to grasp the English language. However, this is not so. He was illustrating to the audience why our schools were failing; why our children were not learning enough. Because of grammar. In liberal schools, children are taught "grammar" and "how to speak properly." What they are not taught is fighting and how to handle a gun properly.
The idea of a "school" in America is to teach English, math, history, science - the liberal arts. Schools are liberal. If you want to learn about all the features an AK-47, join the army and go to boot camp.

Look at Bush -- he isn't Daniel Webster, yet he became president of the United States. Why? Because he didn't bother with liberal schools -- hell, he drank his way through his liberal college.
He only got through school because his rich daddy could afford to buy him a diploma and send him to Yale. He became president because his family cheated him into the White House - his sister in the Supreme court, and his brother Jeb, the governor of Florida, who cut hundreds of black liberal voters ("felons") from the list just so Bush could win.

Look at Cheney. He isn't eloquent -- he's no modern-day Shakespeare -- yet none of his friends can question his prowess when it comes to shooting ducks (well, maybe just one friend). And where has that gotten him? To vice-president of the United States.
WTF does shooting ducks have anything to do with it? He's the CEO of Haliburton Oil. He's a greedy rich bastard - that's how he got recruited to Bush's side.

So before you think about criticizing Bush based on that quote, analyze the quote. Bush is telling you what's wrong with our school system -- twisted priorities. Two of the most powerful men in the world didn't get where they are because of grammar, or writing, or math, or science, or history.
Which is exactly what schools were invented to teach.
Two of the most powerful men in the world got where they are because they ripped enough people off. That doesn't require a formal course in school, and neither does gun handling, or whatever. Anyone can pull a trigger.

No, those topics are useless in this day and age.
This day is September 16, 2006, and we are at the beginning of the Information Age, and we managed to get so far because we're learning about science, history, math, and how to read and write properly.

I don't remember who said it (maybe I read it in a book somewhere, or maybe Bush said it), but ignorance is strength.
Ignorance is stupidity. You define stupidity as strength?
You need help, my friend.

Listen to Bush's own words on the subject, which came from a press dinner on March 29, 2001:
Then there is my most famous statement: "Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning." Let us analyze that sentence for a moment. If you're a stickler, you probably think the singular verb "is" should have been the plural "are." But if you read it closely, you'll see I'm using the intransitive plural subjunctive tense.
There is no such thing as a plural "wishing" tense. And to use "is" requires that there be a direct object. :D

Finally, let's see you wordsmiths out there diagram this sentence I said -- this may sound a little west Texan to you, "but when I'm talking about myself and when he's talking about myself, all of us are talking about me."
And yet that has nothing to do with the earlier idiotic grammatical error.
Georgie, when you provide an example of something, you need to make it relevant to the subject matter... :rolleyes:

Now, ladies and gentlemen, you have to admit, in my sentences I go where no man has gone before.
In terms of idiocy and arrogance? Yes, indeed. :D

But in closing, the way I see it is I am a boon to the English language.
Reinventing the meanings of words and tacking on suffixes and prefixes to make words mean what you want them to mean doesn't make one a "boon" to the English language. It just makes one an idiot. If you don't know the proper word, for something, just look it up! :rolleyes:

I've coined new words, like, misunderstanding and "Hispanically."
Misunderstanding is not in any way a new word, and "Hispanically" sounds dumb. :P People can afford to at least try to say things the right way.

I've expanded the definition of words themselves, using "vulcanized" when I met "polarized," "Grecians" when I meant "Greeks," "inebriating" when I meant "exhilarating."
LMFAO! :D
"Vulcanise" means "to harden rubber". "Grecian" refers to the culture of ancient Greeks. "Inebriating" means that a person is drunk (well, I suppose it might be an "exhilarating" experience for some). (And I am not implying that he's saying we should talk like him.) It just sounds crazy. Get a dictionary for the love of god! :D

Finally, a bush troll who isn't 100% obvious! sweet

Kinda makes you want to Make the pie higher (http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/piehigher.asp).

Finally, a bush troll who isn't 100% obvious! sweet

I know, he had me fooled for so long*blushes*

The main purpose of grammar should to just allow our kids to talk well enough to be understood. Screw complex this and complicated that. Not all the kids are going to be English majors.

Complex English should be like Calculus: taught only to those who give a damn. It's not needed. Whether you say "is they" or "are they", I'm sure people would know what the hell you are trying to say. That's probably why English is taught in grades k(letters are part of the language, you know.)-12 to everyone, no matter if they are some stereotype who came here illegally to eat tacos and refuse to learn English or native English speakers. It's such a hard, god-damn language to master that it needs simplifying. Look at Spanish. They obey their spelling rules. No bending the rules for special-interests, like ancient and weird. Just an easier-to-learn language that I can't learn from my neighbors because they speak it too fast.

If that was his only mistake, that would be true, BUT the problem is, he's fucked his sayings up too many times, and thats the easiest one to learn.

The main purpose of grammar should to just allow our kids to talk well enough to be understood. Screw complex this and complicated that. Not all the kids are going to be English majors.
Not all the kids have to sound like complete idiots when they're talking.

Complex English should be like Calculus: taught only to those who give a damn. It's not needed.
So you feel that you should not have to learn English at all? Because what you call "complex English" is just English. They're not two seperate languages. If you're not happy with the current form, then fine, don't learn it. But every language has a degree of "complexity" in it. If you don't like that, you don't have to learn a language.

Whether you say "is they" or "are they", I'm sure people would know what the hell you are trying to say.
Of course. But nobody cares about what you have to say if you sound like an idiot.

That's probably why English is taught in grades k(letters are part of the language, you know.)-12 to everyone, no matter if they are some stereotype who came here illegally to eat tacos and refuse to learn English or native English speakers.
English is taught in grades K-12 to everyone so that people will be able to communicate with each other and will have a sufficiently good command of the language so as not to sound like an idiot.

It's such a hard, god-damn language to master that it needs simplifying.
True. But does it really hurt that much to learn?

Look at Spanish. They obey their spelling rules. No bending the rules for special-interests, like ancient and weird. Just an easier-to-learn language that I can't learn from my neighbors because they speak it too fast.
What does Spanish have anything to do with this?

I can't believe it took me this long to figure Begoner21 out. I must say, he's one of the more clever satiric posters we've had here.

is from 1984! It is not an argument, but a quote.

He said he believes bush is a uniter as he has claimed.....anyone who could actually believe that is seriously delusional

I go with you. I think he's serious. I think he found this someplace and isn't bright enough to see the sarcasm in it. I think he really doesn't understand that this is a swipe at Bush. I think he probably found this while he was on the internet trying to put food on his family.

So who do we think this guy is, Bushanomics, or UN Abassadorship?
Definitely NOT Bushanomics and I doubt the other as well.

Begoner21;11689202']Many liberals use this quote as a hallmark of Bush's idiocy. I frankly cannot understand why -- perhaps liberals are too simple to understand the subtle point Bush was making. On January 11, 2001, in Florence, South Carolina, Bush stated: "rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" Now, many people think that this is a grammatical error -- a sign of Bush's failure to grasp the English language. However, this is not so. He was illustrating to the audience why our schools were failing; why our children were not learning enough. Because of grammar. In liberal schools, children are taught "grammar" and "how to speak properly." What they are not taught is fighting and how to handle a gun properly. Look at Bush -- he isn't Daniel Webster, yet he became president of the United States. Why? Because he didn't bother with liberal schools -- hell, he drank his way through his liberal college. Look at Cheney. He isn't eloquent -- he's no modern-day Shakespeare -- yet none of his friends can question his prowess when it comes to shooting ducks (well, maybe just one friend). And where has that gotten him? To vice-president of the United States. So before you think about criticizing Bush based on that quote, analyze the quote. Bush is telling you what's wrong with our school system -- twisted priorities. Two of the most powerful men in the world didn't get where they are because of grammar, or writing, or math, or science, or history. No, those topics are useless in this day and age. I don't remember who said it (maybe I read it in a book somewhere, or maybe Bush said it), but ignorance is strength. That's what our schools fail to understand. So why are our schools focusing on such minor topics as grammar and math instead of weapons training? Listen to Bush's own words on the subject, which came from a press dinner on March 29, 2001:



Yes, a great man with great ideas. Why is he getting picked apart by vulturous liberals?

I'm a hardcore right-winger, but rants about "liberals this, liberals that" are kind of annoying. Best leave it to Ann Coulter.

Oh, wait, I just noticed the sarcasm. Nice.

The best sarcasm is the stuff that goes unnoticed. ;)

It took me w while to pick up on begoners antics but when he posted 'not tapping phones lets the terrorists win' in a post earlier today it clicked, the guy is a comic genius with an eye for the long game.

I salute you sir.