Top Bushisms

George W. Bush has left the building, but he leaves behind a rich legacy of public mangling of the language that often resulted in both friend and foe shaking heads for much of his eight years in the White House.

In the process of saying goodbye to our 43rd President, Time put together its list of the “Top 10 Bushisms” uttered by the Chief Executive during his two terms in office.

Here goes:

1. “Is our children learning?”

2. “I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.”

3. “Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.”

4. “They misunderestimated me.”

5. “There’s an old saying in Tennessee…I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, ‘Fool me once, shame on … shame on you. Fool me… You can’t get fooled again!’”

6. “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful. And so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people. And neither do we.”  

7. “Too many OB-GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women.”

8. Asked if he had ever “Googled” anybody: “Occasionally. One of the things I’ve used on The Google is to pull up maps.”

9. “I didn’t grow up in the ocean, as a matter of fact — er, near the ocean. I grew up in the desert. Therefore, it was a pleasant contrast to see the ocean. And I particularly like it when I’m fishing. It turns out I’m not the first president who liked to fish, it turns out the first president really liked to fish. George Washington, I was reading where one time he caught 100,000 herring in a single day.”

10. “Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.”

To read more about these misspeakings and other malatalkings, visit Time. 

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