# Dubya Wishes He Was A Dictator; It Would Be Easier **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 19, 2000, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384 "2000-12-19T18:24:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/1 "2000-12-19T18:24:11Z")
> [@](#): > > _George W. Bush, on working with Congressional leaders_: > > **``I told all four that there are going to be some times where we don’t agree with each other, but that’s OK. If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator’'** > > [Associated Press, Monday, December 12, 2000](http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20001218/el/bush_64.html) Somebody tell Dubya his attempts at spontaneous humor are not funny, and border on the scary; sometimes the man out-Quayles Quayle. :wally ---
**Author:** ![bashere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bashere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bashere)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/2 "2000-12-19T20:50:01Z")
Fear, you are reaching. I grinned when I read it. I thought it was cute ( not hilarious, but cute ). I would have appreciated the sentiment had Clinton said the same thing, so please don’t accuse me of partisianship on this point. Also, you will note that Bush did not say that he wished he were a dictator, merely that it would be easier if he were. I wish you nothing but the best of luck in finding dumb things that Bush says. It should not be hard. You may, however, wait for something really juicy. Oh, and out of curiousity, what is wrong with him saying to congressional leaders “sometimes we won’t agree, and that’s okay”? Afraid he might work with congress a little better than other presidents have? ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/3 "2000-12-19T21:12:51Z")
It’s goofball comments like this that is going to cause me recurrent bouts of nausea over the next four years. How the HELL did Gore lose to this guy? Yeah, yeah, I know . . . because of Clinton. Believe me, I’m P.O.'d at him too. Because of his incredibly stupid affair, he did terrible damage to his party. The Democrats should have sailed into the White House. If a class act like Colin Powell beat Gore, I may not have been as upset. I’d have to find out more about where he stands on the issues, but on the surface he seems like Presidential material. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/4 "2000-12-19T22:22:27Z")
I don’t think this is as stupid as a lot of his comments/pronunciations, but I did cringe a bit when I heard it. Not the wisest thing to say when you are accused of having taken the presidency illegitimately. Now that he will be representing our country, I don’t greet his gaffes with much glee. They embarrass me because he represents my nation. The man is incapable of making a decent extemporaneous speech, and that scares me. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/5 "2000-12-20T02:57:08Z")
Let’s move this over to Great Debates, o.k.? ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/6 "2000-12-20T03:19:20Z")
I think worrying about this one is reaching, folks. I mean, there are so many _legitimate_ problems with Bush, why bother with silly crap like this? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/7 "2000-12-20T03:22:32Z")
Yes, let’s all shout a _Heil_ or two for ol’ Bush Caesar, lest his Praetorian Stormtroopers come kicking in our doors to slaughter all our firstborn. After all, everything a person says should be treated with all gravity and seriousness. C’mon, everyone, say it with me… GIMME A “R”… GIMME A “O”… GIMME A “L”… AND ANOTHER “L”… AND AN “E-Y-E-S”! ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/8 "2000-12-20T03:44:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by David B \* > \*\*I think worrying about this one is reaching, folks. I mean, there are so many _legitimate_ problems with Bush, why bother with silly crap like this? \*\* Well, there’s reason to feel that his poor communication _is_ a legitimate problem. Although this would normally be a completely harmless and dumb attempt at humor, under the circumstances of having stolen the presidency, it’s pretty tasteless and crass. Not that I would expect anything better. stoid ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/9 "2000-12-20T03:46:20Z")
:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/10 "2000-12-20T03:48:01Z")
Apparently I need to type (or read) faster. ---
**Author:** ![Gollum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gollum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollum)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/11 "2000-12-20T05:18:17Z")
I wish i were a dictator ---
**Author:** ![Gollum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gollum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollum)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/12 "2000-12-20T05:19:31Z")
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!! NOOOOO!! Now i have something in common with bush, besides vaguely human ancestory. Right, nothing for it but the lobotomy then… ---
**Author:** ![jshore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@jshore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jshore)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/13 "2000-12-20T06:06:37Z")
I tend to agree with **David B** on this one. Let’s save our ammunition for when Bush starts doing really bad things like pushing tax breaks for his wealthy buddies, letting polluters write the environmental regs, … It ain’t the silly, folksy comments that worry me! ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/14 "2000-12-20T07:47:57Z")
I think it was Harry Truman who said “Whenever you have an efficient government, you have a dictatorship.” What is it about Bush’s comment that is untrue or inaccurate? Are you saying a dictatorship _isn’t_ easier? Or are you saying that you’d take a negative stance towards Bush no matter what he did? I can envision the future threads… “Damn that horrible, horrible Bush… he brought about World Peace!! He’s evil, I tell you, evil!” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7feea3/32.png) [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/15 "2000-12-20T08:00:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Soup \* > \*\*If a class act like Colin Powell beat Gore, I may not have been as upset. I’d have to find out more about where he stands on the issues, but on the surface he seems like Presidential material. \*\* It’s stuff like this that makes me proud to be an American. ---
**Author:** ![Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/16 "2000-12-20T14:01:13Z")
The Ryan: Care to elaborate? ---
**Author:** ![Gurd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90db22/32.png) [@Gurd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gurd)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/17 "2000-12-20T14:19:58Z")
``I told all four that there are going to be some times here we don’t agree with each other, but that’s OK. If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator’’ I think the first sentence in this statement sets it up as a harmless joke. Just imagine though if you change it slightly: “I told all four that there are going to be some times here we don’t agree with each other, and it makes me mad as hell. If this were a dictatorship, it would be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator.” If he had said that, we’d have something to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/18 "2000-12-20T15:06:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you saying a dictatorship isn’t easier? I imagine that a dictatorship is a hell of a lot easier. After all, why waste time on trying to achieve consensus when you can have the secret police get rid of the problem??? But…should people do things based on the most efficient thing to do or the RIGHT thing to do? Certainly not the first dumb thing that Bush said. Anyone else remember “there really ought to be limits on freedom” (from the whole [gwbush.com](http://gwbush.com) debate, which was an excellent site but unfortunately faded from the public view ☹ )? But hey…I can safely say that I didn’t vote for him, nor am I going to be much of a fan of his either (I suppose I would have been in the past, having been a conservative before becoming a Libertarian) Personally, in 2004, I hope that they finally add a “none of the above option”…certainly would be no recount required there ;). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/19 "2000-12-20T16:03:16Z")
Not all dictators have been evil, per se. There was King Alexander of Yugoslavia, who established a royal dictatorship after his good friend and prime minister, Radich? was gunned down on the floor of Parliament. It was only a temporary measure, and while the regime was indeed oppressive, Alexander was not a Mussolini or a Hitler. Unfortunately, Alexander was assassinated before he could bring back parliament-he had only recently brought back the constitution. ---
**Author:** ![McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384/20 "2000-12-20T16:59:10Z")
Then there were the Tsars of Russia who were enormously oppressive (Especially Alexander III) but who certainly had their peoples best interests at heart. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dubya-wishes-he-was-a-dictator-it-would-be-easier/46384.md?page=2)