More George W. Bushisms: More of Slate's Accidental Wit and Wisdom of Our Forty-Third President

Follow a man around with a tape recorder long enough and he will say ridiculous things. If he is George W. Bush, to judge by this collection of verbal gaffes, he will say many ridiculous things-some funny (""It's about past seven in the evening here so we're actually in different time lines"";) some callow (""This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating""); some mysterious (""We'll be a country where the fabrics are made up of groups and loving centers""); but most just embarrassing (""Of all states that understands local control of schools, Iowa is such a state""). Undoubtedly Bush struggles to ""express himself with clarity and coherence,"" in the words of Garry Trudeau's foreword, but the tacit corollary-that he is a fool and unfit for the presidency-is not demonstrated here. While the characteristic ""Bushisms"" on display-stammering, misstatements, stubborn disagreements between subject and verb-may hint at the President's rumored dyslexia, mostly they portray a man whose limited rhetorical gifts cannot stand up to the 24/7 media glare. Defensive Bush supporters will find this an endearing proof of his authenticity; his detractors will laugh heartily but should, of course, look elsewhere for a substantive critique. B&w photos.