George W. Bush.
The term Bushism is a neologism that refers to a number of peculiar words, phrases, pronunciations, malapropisms and semantic or linguistic errors that have occurred in the public speaking of United States President George W. Bush and, before that, of his father, George H. W. Bush, a former United States president.[1][2] The term has become part of popular folklore and is the basis of a number of websites and published books. It is often used to caricature the two presidents. Common characteristics include malapropisms, the creation of neologisms, and spoonerisms.
The Bushs' frequent misuse of the English language in formal and public speeches has spawned dozens of books that document the phenomenon. The majority are written by Slate magazine editor Jacob Weisberg. The first, Bushisms, was released in 2002. The Bushism books have been received well around the world, with editions released in Germany, France, and Italy landing on best seller lists.[3] A poem entitled Make the Pie Higher, composed entirely of Bushisms, was compiled by high school English teacher Dirk Schulze under the pseudonym of Richard Thompson, as an example of a found poem for his students.[4]

[edit] Notable statements
"Maybe the greatest expression of his befuddlement was something he said when asked to respond to an article by the writer Gail Sheehy claiming he was an undiagnosed dyslexic. 'The woman who knew that I had dyslexia — I never interviewed her.'" -Jacob Weisberg [5]
"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." —Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream." —LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." —Greater Nashua, N.H., Jan. 27, 2000
"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
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." —Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000
"Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" —Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000
"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
"I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best." --Washington, D.C., Apr. 18, 2006
"They misunderestimated me." —Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000
"Poor people aren't necessarily killers." —Washington, D.C., May 19, 2003

[edit] See also
Damaging quotation
Dead Ringers
Great Moments in Presidential Speeches, a daily Bushism segment on Late Show with David Letterman
Internets
Strategery, originally a Saturday Night Live parody of a Bushism
Warren G. Harding, another American president given to making verbal gaffes
Yoshiro Mori, a Japanese Prime Minister given to making verbal gaffes

[edit] Related linguistic elements
Eggcorn
Malapropism
Neologism
Yogiism

[edit] References
^ Bines, Jonathan; Editors of the New Republic (May 1992). Bushisms: President George Herbert Walker Bush in His Own Words. Workman Pub Co. ISBN 1-56305-318-7.
^ "George H.W. Bushisms". About: Political Humor. Retrieved on 2007-03-24.
^ "Books › "bushisms"". Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.
^ "Make the Pie Higher!". Snopes.com (2002). Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
^ "What I Will Miss About President Bush ", Jacob Weisberg, New York Times, November 2, 2008

[edit] Further reading
Frank, Justin A., Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President (2004), ISBN 0-06-073670-4.
Miller, Mark Crispin. The Bush Dyslexicon (2001), ISBN 0-393-04183-2.
George W. Bushisms: The Accidental Wit and Wisdom of Our 43rd President. Ed. Jacob Weisberg. ISBN 0-7407-4456-9.
Bushisms/President George Herbert Walker Bush in His Own Words New Republic. Workman Pub Co., May 1992, ISBN 1-56305-318-7
George W. Bush -- On The Trips Of His Tongue -- A Linguistic Legacy. [1] B. Elwin Sherman. ISBN 978-1430317951.

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
Bushisms

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
George W. Bush
The Complete Bushisms Updated frequently. By Jacob Weisberg.
DubyaSpeak.com We record the damage.
"Pie Higher" at Snopes.com
Bushism as a figure of speech
Story in the Guardian
Dayton Daily News
About.com Bushisms Collection
The Complete Bush Quotes Updated frequently by Est Nyboer from The White House website.
Hail to the Chief, a song composed entirely of Bushisms by John McCutcheon.