Bush "in rare form...confusing APEC with OPEC and transforming Australian troops into Austrians"

[ProSense]

Bush shows gift of gaffe at APEC summit

Fri Sep 7, 12:23 AM ET

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Even for someone as gaffe-prone as U.S. President George W. Bush, he was in rare form on Friday, confusing APEC with OPEC and transforming Australian troops into Austrians.

Bush's tongue started slipping almost as soon as he started talking at a business forum on the eve of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney.

"Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction," he told Prime Minister John Howard. "Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit."

As the audience of several hundred people erupted in laughter, Bush corrected himself and joked, "He invited me to the OPEC summit next year." Australia has never been a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Later in his speech, Bush recounted how Howard had gone to visit "Austrian troops" last year in Iraq. There are, in fact, no Austrian troops there. But Australia has about 1,500 Australian military personnel in and around the country.

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[groovedaddy]

1. It's probably just the time change / jet lag

but has Bush EVER really known what time it is?

[Virginia Dare]

5. either that or the booze...

but probably mostly the stupidity and ignorance.

[groovedaddy]

8. Yes, the stupidity and arrogance can never be discounted!

Sad, but true.

[boston bean]

2. can he be anymore embarassing. what a fool, really! nt

[liberal renegade]

3. The man doesn't know shit from shoe polish....

[Virginia Dare]

6. or as we say here in the south..

he doesn't know shit from shine-ola..or he doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground..:rofl:

[april]

4. No it is not jet lag it is the true ignorance of Bush ! Bush being Bush

[TwilightGardener]

7. Condi's been getting him liquored up...

[trumad]

9. And we make fun of poor 17 year old Miss Teen SC,

[Bluebear]

11. I am thinking Miss Teen SC would have been a much better President.

[DFW]

12. You were looking at the next Republican Secretary of State

[ProSense]

10. Kick! n/t

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. and he walked the wrong way off the stage...

"Upon finishing his speech, Bush took the wrong way off-stage and, looking slightly perplexed, had to be re-directed by Howard to a centre-stage exit.

But not before a veteran White House correspondent seized the opportunity to ask Bush whether there had been any new message in his speech. Apparently misunderstanding the question, he bristled and asked, "Haven't you been listening to my past speeches?" before turning away." (same link as OP)

[BootinUp]

14. This is not a President, he's the court jester!

It took me way too long to figure it out.

[radfringe]

15. he also frequently confuses

freedom with fascism and democracy with dictatorship... but not too many people pay attention to that... :shrug: