Bushism: Overview and Analysis

What is a Bushism?

• Definition: Bushisms are unconventional statements, phrases, errors in pronunciation, malapropisms, and semantic or linguistic errors made by George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States.
• Common Features:
  • Malapropisms
  • Spoonerisms
  • Creation of neologisms or stunt words
  • Errors in subject-verb agreement

Popularization and Documentation

• Books and Poems: Several books and poems document Bushisms, including a poem titled "Make the Pie Higher" by cartoonist Richard Thompson.
• Media Representation: Public figures and humorists like Jon Stewart (host of The Daily Show) and Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury cartoonist) have popularized Bushisms.

Linguistic and Cultural Analysis

• Mark Liberman's View: Linguist Mark Liberman suggests that Bush is not unusually error-prone compared to other public figures, noting that anyone could be portrayed similarly under intense scrutiny.
• Philip Hensher's Analysis: Hensher considers Bush's term "misunderestimated" as a notable contribution to language, expressing a need for a term that means "to underestimate by mistake."
• Keith Hennessey's Perspective: A former Bush advisor argues that the frequency of Bush's gaffes is typical given his public speaking volume, also noting less scrutiny on Barack Obama's gaffes.

Criticism and Defense

• Christopher Hitchens' Essay: Hitchens speculates about Bush's dyslexia, suggesting his gaffes could be symptomatic of the condition.
• Bush's Own Response: At the 2001 Radio & Television Correspondents Dinner, Bush humorously acknowledged his Bushisms.

Notable Bushisms

• Famous Quotes:
  • "I think we agree, the past is over." (May 10, 2000)
  • "They misunderestimated me." (November 6, 2000)
  • "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." (September 29, 2000)
  • "Families is where nations find hope, where wings take dream." (October 18, 2000)
  • "Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?" (January 11, 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." (August 5, 2004)

Impact and Legacy

• Cultural Impact: The term "Bushism" has entered popular folklore, spawning websites and literature dedicated to these linguistic oddities.
• Comparison with Other Figures: Similar sayings include Chernomyrdinka (Viktor Chernomyrdin), Colemanballs, and Yogiisms (Yogi Berra).

Related Concepts

• Concepts and Terms:
  • Malapropism
  • Spoonerism
  • Freudian slip
  • Eggcorn
  • Covfefe (a typo by Donald Trump)
  • Linguistic error analysis

Notable References and Publications

• Books:
  • "Bushisms: President George Herbert Walker Bush in His Own Words" by Jonathan Bines
  • "The Bush Dyslexicon: Observations on a National Disorder" by Mark Crispin Miller
  • "George W. Bushisms: The Accidental Wit and Wisdom of Our 43rd President" by Jacob Weisberg
• Websites:
  • DubyaSpeak.com
  • The Complete Bushisms by Jacob Weisberg