# Yet another reason that Bush is a moron **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 25, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036 "2004-05-25T19:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/1 "2004-05-25T19:14:52Z")
Fuck’s sake…big televised address, major issues, reputation at stake…and you _still_ haven’t learnt to pronounce Abu Ghraib correctly? You fucking moron!!! Clearly you haven’t been bothering with much at all, have you? Or did they not write it out in syllable on your autocue? IDIOT!!! ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/2 "2004-05-25T19:28:52Z")
hehe. I wasn’t really listening, but I thought I heard 3 pronuciations from him in 3 minutes. To be fair, they did get better each time (the first one being Abu stumblemumble). ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/3 "2004-05-25T19:31:34Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Yet another reason that Bush is a moron What you mean is “Yet another _indication_ that Bush is a moron.” He doesn’t need a reason. He just is. At any rate, here is your chance to fight the ignorance of a fellow Doper. How in the hell do you pronounce Abu Ghraib? I’ve only seen it in print, I’ve never heard it. Is it AH-boo grah-EEB? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/4 "2004-05-25T19:37:09Z")
Granted, it’s pretty much impossible for an anglophone to get it spot on, but it’s a single syllable, something like ‘Grehb’. Definately not ‘garrib’, as Bush was calling it. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/5 "2004-05-25T19:45:06Z")
**GorillaMan** , thank you for giving me a free pass on calling any and all blacks idiots when they say aks, instead of ask. You’ve truly opened my eyes to judging people based on the way they pronounce words! ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/6 "2004-05-25T19:48:26Z")
This bothered me too, but not for the same reason. To me it wasn’t that important whether he pronouced it correctly or not, I’d have been happy if he mispronounced it the same way at all times. What really bothered me is it came off sounding as if he’d never discussed the place before the speech, something I think will reflect poorly on him the Middle East. YMMVOC. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/7 "2004-05-25T19:53:13Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > **GorillaMan** , thank you for giving me a free pass on calling any and all blacks idiots when they say aks, instead of ask. You’ve truly opened my eyes to judging people based on the way they pronounce words! Brilliant logic - I say that Bush should be more concious of Arabic sensitivities and more courtious to other cultures, by such basic things as learning to pronounce words, so…errrmm…I’m a racist, am I? Or did your point go waaaay over my head? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/8 "2004-05-25T19:55:52Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > **GorillaMan** , thank you for giving me a free pass on calling any and all blacks idiots when they say aks, instead of ask. You’ve truly opened my eyes to judging people based on the way they pronounce words! Official or not, part of the president’s job (and IMO this has been the case for some time) is to at least look intelligent. Not being able to properly pronounce a place that’s been in the news now for some time doesn’t bode well for his public stature. But then this is the same man who could take a lesson from grade school children regarding the pronunciation of “nuclear”. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/9 "2004-05-25T20:00:58Z")
I was always fond of Clinton’s and Carter’s “Eye-talian”. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/10 "2004-05-25T20:04:38Z")
I can’t believe I’m defending Bush, but I actually thought he did a very good job last night. Didn’t agree much with what he said, but he carried himself quite well. The only thing that made me laugh/cringe was when he finished listing off a number of countries and had a huge “Mommy, look what I did!” look of pride/surprise on his face. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/11 "2004-05-25T20:10:59Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > …and had a huge “Mommy, look what I did!” look of pride/surprise on his face. Awwwww, give him a break on that one - he’s only been toilet-trained recently ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/12 "2004-05-25T20:16:44Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Granted, it’s pretty much impossible for an anglophone to get it spot on, but it’s a single syllable, something like ‘Grehb’. Definately not ‘garrib’, as Bush was calling it. Nope, not impossible. I mean any educated person should get pronounciation right. As you argued a few posts above. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/13 "2004-05-25T20:24:13Z")
> [@iampunha](#): > > Official or not, part of the president’s job (and IMO this has been the case for some time) is to at least look intelligent. Not being able to properly pronounce a place that’s been in the news now for some time doesn’t bode well for his public stature. But then this is the same man who could take a lesson from grade school children regarding the pronunciation of “nuclear”. Dipshit, nuclear is a valid word as it is part of a regional dialect. It’s no different than someone saying “cah” instead of “car”. It’s also no different than saying “catsup” instead of “ketchup”. You understand that in a land of 300 million people, there may be a few that aren’t as perfect as your awesome self, right? Those who would buy a pop from a vending machine, might find people that buy soda from the same machine. So please tell us, oh Great One, how should all of us conform to your greatness? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/14 "2004-05-25T20:28:05Z")
BTW, I will only listen to Bush=idiot arguments if you can show you’ve earned a Master’s from Harvard or a comparable school. I’m sure we have some, and I’ll listen. Otherwise, you’re offering cheap shots that at best are written for SNL. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/15 "2004-05-25T20:29:50Z")
Maybe I’m slightly dyslexic, but I’ve pronouncing it gah-REEB all along. I did notice the slip-up in the speech, though. Not so much that he pronounced it incorrectly, but that he stumbled on the word-- it wasn’t really clear exactly how he pronounced it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Man\_With\_The\_Golden\_Gun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_With_The_Golden_Gun)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/16 "2004-05-25T20:34:53Z")
Holy shit! A United States president pronounces a word wrong? My God, my little world is crushed like a cockroach in a mousetrap! Why, next you’ll be telling be a president lied about something. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/17 "2004-05-25T20:37:16Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Dipshit, nuclear is a valid word as it is part of a regional dialect. It’s no different than someone saying “cah” instead of “car”. It’s also no different than saying “catsup” instead of “ketchup”. You understand that in a land of 300 million people, there may be a few that aren’t as perfect as your awesome self, right? Those who would buy a pop from a vending machine, might find people that buy soda from the same machine. So please tell us, oh Great One, how should all of us conform to your greatness? Bullshit. What region is nuclear properly pronounced “nookyooler”? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/18 "2004-05-25T20:37:50Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Dipshit, nuclear is a valid word as it is part of a regional dialect. It’s no different than someone saying “cah” instead of “car”. It’s also no different than saying “catsup” instead of “ketchup”. You understand that in a land of 300 million people, there may be a few that aren’t as perfect as your awesome self, right? Those who would buy a pop from a vending machine, might find people that buy soda from the same machine. So please tell us, oh Great One, how should all of us conform to your greatness? In fact, Jimmy Carter pronounced it the same way as Bush does. From Merriam Webster: > [@](#): > > **usage** Though disapproved of by many, pronunciations ending in -ky&-l&r\ have been found in widespread use among educated speakers including scientists, lawyers, professors, congressmen, U.S. cabinet members, and at least one U.S. president and one vice president. While most common in the U.S., these pronunciations have also been heard from British and Canadian speakers. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/19 "2004-05-25T20:37:57Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I was always fond of Clinton’s and Carter’s “Eye-talian”. And Bush I’s “Eye-rack” always made me think of salad dressing. ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036/20 "2004-05-25T20:45:14Z")
> [@](#): > > so…errrmm…I’m a racist, am I? Hmm, a tough accusation indeed. Let’s check the record: “… the debate really centers around the fact that people don’t believe Iraq can be free; that if you’re Muslim, or perhaps brown-skinned, you can’t be self-governing or free.” - _G.W. Bush, 12 April 2004_ Sure sounds like it! … Racist! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-reason-that-bush-is-a-moron/247036.md?page=2)