# What did Bush say? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176 "2000-09-06T03:18:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/21 "2000-09-06T20:13:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gabbyhayes \* > I can’t believe anyone with a three digit IQ could bring himself to vote for these losers. Just my opinion, of course. I never said I was voting for him (I know you didn’t accuse me of doing so, but that’s just sort of an introduction to my rejoinder). And I don’t favor insults as a means of political discourse. I’m just sick to death of the “I want my house on the east side of the mountain so I can see the sun rise” crap. After Jesse Ventura was elected governor of Minnesota, I heard on the news about some memo that was circulated among Republicans about what lesson they should learn from his victory. The memo said they should “appear to be plain-speaking”, which illustrates how clearly they missed the point. Rather than “appear to be plain-speaking”, I desperately wish they’d just speak plainly. I don’t support Jesse Ventura any more than I do Bush the Younger, but at least I know where he stands on things. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/22 "2000-09-06T20:14:02Z")
Hey, MK, when I heard the story on NPR, they said “an obscene epithet”… which I thought a bit harsh. I mean, it’s not like he said, “m_ **r-f** ing w_\*\*\*-mongering horse’s arse” or anything. “Asshole” seems fairly tame by today’s lack-of-standards. If only his fly had been open when he said it, then it would have REALLY been a news story. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/23 "2000-09-06T20:21:45Z")
Hell, he had no PANTS on when he said it. But does your lily-livered nihilistic fellow-traveling pinko gun-controlling atheistic misfit hippie peace-marching homosexual media print THAT? Hah! ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/24 "2000-09-06T20:36:27Z")
My favorite part of the story: > [@](#): > > Asked if he planned to apologize to the reporter, Bush answered, “I regret people heard the comments.” I find Bush to be totally humorless and his policies against my own ideas for the most part, but THAT is fucking hysterical! * * * Yer pal, Satan _I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Four months, four weeks, 18 hours, 34 minutes and 58 seconds. 6030 cigarettes not smoked, saving $753.87. Extra life with Drain Bead: 2 weeks, 6 days, 22 hours, 30 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/25 "2000-09-06T20:39:19Z")
I’m sure that George said “ **He has a major league fastball** ” to which Cheney replied, “ **Yeah. Ready for the big-time** ” ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/26 "2000-09-06T20:43:59Z")
Satan: > [@](#): > > I find Bush to be totally humorless Really? No way; this guy has them rolling in the aisles. The following is from this week’s TIME magazine, an article about discussions inside the Bush campaign: > [@](#): > > An economic update is next; someone makes a joke about budget baselines. Everyone laughs. Now, come on, could a humorless guy (or his campaign workers) come up with a good budget-baseline joke? Heck, I’ve been hanging out here for a year and a half, which has included contact with some pretty incredible wits, and I have yet to hear a _single_ budget-baseline joke. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tymp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Tymp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tymp)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/27 "2000-09-06T20:47:45Z")
**Ike** , The fact that a gun-totin’ coke snortin’ prisoner killin’ Earth pollutin’ ass pickin’ Texas redneck can’t dress himself properly is hardly newsworthy by the lily-livered nihilistic fellow-traveling pinko gun-controlling atheistic misfit hippie peace-marching homosexual media’s standards. What is newsworthy is the fact that he was able to manage the two-syllable word “asshole” in a sensible context. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/28 "2000-09-06T20:55:49Z")
This is yet another example of why Bush is better than Gore: honesty. Asked about the comment later Monday as he deplaned in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he was to make a speech on health-care policy Tuesday, Bush said, “I regret that the private comments made it to the public airwaves.” ``` Asked if he planned to apologize to the reporter, Bush answered, "I regret people heard the comments." ``` none of that democrat question dodging crap. ---
**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:** [September 6, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/29 "2000-09-06T21:11:30Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by mblackwell \* \*\*This is yet another example of why Bush is better than Gore: honesty. Because he’s honestly rude, you’d vote for him? ANd because he’s honestly rude, you think he’s honest about everything? You think a politician can even be honest and get elected to the governership of Texas? You’d rather have an apparantly honest moron than someone who is intelligent, thoughtful, and experienced, but somewhat dodgy? What I do not get is why anyone would seriously consider Bush. What is their criteria for president-picking? Charm? A smiley face? Well, I heard something pleasant the other day: a think-tank org of political scientists who have some whiz-bang number crunching formula for predicting presidential winners has Gore winning comfortably. Thank god. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/30 "2000-09-06T21:18:32Z")
**mblackwell** How is it that Bush being overheard saying something he subsequently said he had wished was not overheard a sign of honesty? :rolleyes: * * * Yer pal, Satan _I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Four months, four weeks, 19 hours, 17 minutes and 36 seconds. 6032 cigarettes not smoked, saving $754.02. Extra life with Drain Bead: 2 weeks, 6 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/31 "2000-09-06T21:21:39Z")
So you guys think this _is_ important? Well, I don’t get it. Clinton has had several similar slips when he said something thinking he could not be heard and nobody thought much of it. The one I remember best he was visiting a private home in a poor neighborhood in NE Washington DC and he totally lost his temper and blurted out something. I do not remember the details but the thing is this guy has lost his temper over some very minor things… Is that a good thing in the guy who has his finger on the button? Do you really believe Algore does not call anyone asshole? Supposing he doesn’t… would you want a guy like that as president? I still think this is a nonissue. of course, nobody wants to talk about issues anyway ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/32 "2000-09-06T21:53:51Z")
From what I heard on the radio today, many newsworthy people from various walks of life – not just politicians – have been long upset with Adam Clymer’s newsgathering techniques. Sorry I don’t remember any of the details, but it sounded so bad that I’m guessing that Bush genuinely saw no need to apologize to him. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/33 "2000-09-06T22:06:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > > **So you guys think this _is_ important?** I consider reading comprehension important… Read my question again, please. I simply asked how this situation shows how Bush is honest and Gore is not, because I don’t see it, and that’s what another poster claimed. * * * Yer pal, Satan _I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Four months, four weeks, 20 hours, 5 minutes and 6 seconds. 6033 cigarettes not smoked, saving $754.18. Extra life with Drain Bead: 2 weeks, 6 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/34 "2000-09-06T22:38:45Z")
Satan, I wasn’t talking to you. \>\> I consider reading comprehension important… Me too PS. As far as selling my soul I think I might get a better offer elsewhere so I am not ready to make a decision yet. I’ll let you know. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/35 "2000-09-06T22:52:08Z")
> [@](#): > > So you guys think this _is_ important? Forgive me for thinking I was a “guy” in question. The words combined with when you posted it made it seem like you were referring to me. * * * Yer pal, Satan _I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Four months, four weeks, 20 hours, 51 minutes and 6 seconds. 6034 cigarettes not smoked, saving $754.34. Extra life with Drain Bead: 2 weeks, 6 days, 22 hours, 50 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/36 "2000-09-06T23:11:02Z")
I don’t think that this is important at all, the media is taking it too seriously. I like how Bush said that he wished noone had heard it rather than makeing excuses and saying that he was wrong to say it. That is what I meant by honesty. I do not think that either Bush or Gore is an honest person. I do not want either one of them to be president. I believe that Bush is by far the lesser of two evils. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/37 "2000-09-06T23:34:26Z")
Satan, in fact you posted while I was writing so I had not seen your post until I posted mine. Just a coincidence. It has happened to me in a couple of threads where while I am composing my post someone else posts and then my response seems out of place or like I didn’t read the previous post. ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/38 "2000-09-07T00:00:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mblackwell \* > > **I like how Bush said that he wished noone had heard it rather than makeing excuses and saying that he was wrong to say it.** But he _didn’t_ say that he regretted SAYING the comments. He said, and I quote, “I regret people _ **heard** _ the comments.” (Emphasis mine.) And as you can see what I quoted above in my other post, he went on even further (in a side-stepping way that amused the hell out of me and would have made Clinton smile for all he is accused of) to answer a question about apologizing to the reporter by again simply stating tghat he was sorry IT WAS HEARD! This is the equivalent of saying that you’re sorry you got caught, not that you’re sorry you did something. And there’s a huge difference, don’t you think? And please, don’t backtrack. Read your post. You began your post with “This is yet another example of why Bush is better than Gore: honesty.” and ended it with “…none of that democrat question dodging crap.” This says clearly that you find this to be Bush being honest while Gore is not - and, in fact, you then say imply that ALL Democrats “dodge” the truth. You do realize that you turning this around as you did makes you no better than any Democrats who might point to this as a big issue somehow, right? Feel free to like Bush, but don’t be disingenuous about what really happened here, or try and read something into it that isn’t there. * * * Yer pal, Satan _TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING: Four months, four weeks, 21 hours, 50 minutes and 44 seconds. 6036 cigarettes not smoked, saving $754.55. Extra time with Drain Bead: 2 weeks, 6 days, 23 hours, 0 minutes._ ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/39 "2000-09-07T00:04:36Z")
This illustrates a point I was making in an earlier thread about Gore’s “internet invention” statement, and the flap that generated: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=36177](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=36177) Just to show I’m not being partisan, this one is another example of my gripe, applying to Bush this time. OK, he called a reporter an asshole when he thought he was speaking privately, and we got to hear it. Does anybody old enough to be out of cub scouts or brownies really believe politicians DON’T talk like this in private? I’m sure what Gore says to HIS campaign in private would require some “expletive deleted” to be printed in the more prudish media as well. In keeping with my earlier comments concerning things like this taking up our time instead of more important questions we could ask the political figure in question, we could be asking why Bush is being so coy about debate formats … ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176/40 "2000-09-07T00:05:47Z")
I think that _was_ the (little bit of) honesty displayed, **Satan**. Bush did not back off his opinion that the Times reporter is an a\*\*hole, but that he was sorry the comment got out to offend the sensibilities of voters. Kind of snarky in a frat-boy kind of way. Kind of like, as you say, another politician. But you’re right in a big-picture sort of way; anyone who would see a “pattern” of honesty from one snarky comment is making a mistake. Most importantly of all, it is a mistake that should be made in Great Debates. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-bush-say/32176.md?page=1)