Bush fails again at the Grammar Rodeo...today's "photo op" transcripts

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

OK, English Majors, what's wrong with THIS sentence...spoken to Tony Blair:

"It's really important for leaders to have allies that they can count on and rely on, and who's got good judgment -- and you do."

TIME'S UP! Now examine THIS sentence, in reply to a NATO question:

"There is going to be some constraints, obviously."

The climax:

"Q What do you both say to the men of violence in Iraq, who will probably want to take no notice of this resolution?

PRESIDENT BUSH: I will tell them that freedom will eventually prevail and that they are not going to drive us out of Iraq because of their random killing; that we will not be intimidated by their murderous ways.

President Bush, Prime Minister Blair Discuss Iraq at G8 Summit
Remarks by the President and Prime Minister Blair of the United Kingdom in a Photo Opportunity

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040609-1.html

[hatrack]

1. Is it just me, or does Blair look incredibly gay in that photo?

Oh, by the way, nice grammar, CHIMP!!

[R3dD0g]

2. Must be his Brit genes and open shirt.

But, he does look a might gay.

[sendero]

23. Not to mention..

.... his open mouth.

[VolcanoJen]

4. It's a Seinfeldian "Puffy Shirt!"

Isn't it...? :D

[Blue-Jay]

6. Yeah. He looks like he just wrapped a porno shoot.

[notadmblnd]

13. I was thinking that it was a very feminine shirt

he is wearing. I was looking really hard to see if it had ruffles on the cuffs.

[KoKo]

18. Why does he have an "extra button" undone on his shirt? If he had boobs

it would be quite revealing. Weird photo of him. Is it real? Or, photoshopped.

[Momgonepostal]

16. It's not just you!

Those were my thoughts exactly when I first saw that shirt and his stance.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :-)

[MisterP]

19. Poodle in an unbuttoned smock-think

bleck!

[denverbill]

3. They both look like shit in that picture.

And they look scared shitless.

[hippiegranny]

5. like 2 deer in headlights

frozen in their own bloody tracks.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Subject-Verb Agreement Disorder

Sad, really sad. And tragic.

[koopie57]

8. it looks like

bush doesn't want to let go ... maybe he likes Blair's little shirt and wants to play.

[Generic Other]

9. He needs to make his subjects agree with his actions

And that goes for his grammar too.

[Straight Shooter]

LOL

Good one! :)

[gulliver]

10. And it was cleaned up big time.

They played the first part on NPR. He got the grammar wrong in the sentence and probably said "uh, um, er..." a half dozen times in every sentence.

[salin]

11. I swear he sounds like the dialogue written for a cartoon

that was scripted by an eight year old. A grammar challenged eight year old.

[punpirate]

12. Grammar aside...

... the content is even more interesting: "I will tell them that freedom will eventually prevail and that they are not going to drive us out of Iraq because of their random killing."

Isn't that an odd, odd thing to be saying while assuring the world that there will be a complete return of sovereignty on June 30th? Doesn't that, sort of, let the cat out of the bag?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

14. "freedom will eventually prevail"...

...OK, cue up Carly Simon singing "Anticipation."

[Jane Austin]

15. Well, besides using "that" instead of "who", etc,

he makes it sound like Tony Blair is just lucky enough to have fabulous allies. :)

[Neecy]

17. this is your brain on Jack Daniels...

Blair looks like a cast member from "Cats". Is that his wife's blouse he's wearing?

[No2W2004]

20. Shrub flunks is writin' test....

who's got good judgment George, do you mean to say "who is got good judgment" here? I think it should be "who have good judgment."

"There is going to be some constraints, obviously." George, you're an idiot..."There are going"

Your last sentence is too stupid to even go over. When you get back, see Mr. Cheney about writing your own statements. I think he will want to re-think that decision.

Kissies to you and Pickles!
Condi.

[Auntie Bush]

21. Blair looks younger. Maybe a little or a lot of Botox!

[Steely_Dan]

22. I'll take a stab at it...

I'll take a stab at it...

>>"It's really important for leaders to have allies that they can count on and rely on, and who's got good judgment -- and you do."<<

The word "that" is makes the sentence (at the very least) awkward.

It should say: "count and rely on" and not "count on and rely on."

It should read "who has good judgment" or "possesses good judgment."

There is a disagreement between the plural and the singular when referring to "allies" and the awkward "who's got good."

>>"There is going to be some constraints, obviously."<<

The sentence should read: "There will obviously be some constraints" or "Obviously, there will be some constraints." The sentence is not wrong on its surface...it is merely another awkward construction.

>>"I will tell them that freedom will eventually prevail and that they are not going to drive us out of Iraq because of their random killing; that we will not be intimidated by their murderous ways."<<

I personally don't like the use of "eventually" in this sentence. I know what he is trying to say, but it contradicts (or at least lessens) the effectiveness of his point. No big deal.

The word "because" is a real problem here. I don't know exactly why...(I admit it, I'm no English major). Wouldn't this be better stated as: "as a result of" or "random killing will not shake our resolve" or something else?! It is also redundant with the terms "killings" and "murderous ways."

The term "random" is inconsistent with "murderous ways" in that you cannot have an established form of action and have that be consistent with randomness.

Just my two cents...Gosh, I wish I would have paid attention in school.

-Paige