There is only one thing I will miss about our soon-to-be-former President: his mangling of the American English language.
Admittedly, American English is a difficult language, filled with contradictions and odd colloquialisms. I have trouble with it myself, even though it is the only language I speak. But I expect a Yale-educated former business executive who was elected President of the United States for two terms to have better mastery of the language than I do.
People who have worked closely with him claim that in private, he is disciplined, inquisitive and forceful in his leadership style. His public persona contradicts that claim.
Here are a few examples from a story on the AOL site:
"I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." | Location: White House Rose Garden, Washington, D.C. | Date: June 26, 2008
"These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved." | Location: Sofia, Bulgaria | Date: June 11, 2007
"We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job." | Location: Meeting with Mississippi leaders, Gulfport, MS. | Date: Sept. 20, 2005
"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." | Location: Campaign rally, Poplar Bluff, MO. | Date: Sept. 6, 2004
"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." | Location: The White House, Washington, D.C. | Date: Aug. 5, 2004
"They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the commander in chief, too." | Location: Langley, Va. | Date: Sept. 26, 2001
I say again that I am no literary giant, but I expect more from a President. However, if people close to him believe he is smarter than he seems, I might have misunderestimated him too.
A Little Ditty
2 weeks ago
3 comments:
I agree completely. It might have been funny in the beginning (not really, but give him the benefit of doubt) however, as he matured in his position, his language should reflect his intelligence and understanding of the importance of his position and of the image he projects of the USA. A lot of damage was done to the image of the US. Let's hope our next president can repair it.
One of the reasons he was elected president is the idea that we choose our leader based on whether or not it would be fun to sit down and have a beer with him. So, maybe he talks the way he does to remind us of why we voted for him in the first place. Fill 'er up.
I've had enough of the mangling and am looking forward to an erudite leader in the Oval Office.
Oh, and one more thing... c'mon George, say it properly JUST ONCE before leaving office: Nu-CLE-ar. It won't hurt much, I promise.
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