Quotes from 2008

Some of the odder statements from the year gone by.

I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.
Hillary Clinton, on visiting Bosnia in 1996, a visit that cameras show was as peaceful as could be.

So?
Cheney, responding to an ABC News correspondent after she cited a recent poll showing that most Americans do not believe the Iraq War was worth fighting.

Yeah? So?
Bush's reaction when after saying that Iraq was where al Qaeda wanted to make a stand, a reporter points out that this was only AFTER the US invaded Iraq. Dec. 14, 2008, following well in his leader's footsteps.

Our economy, I think, is still -- the fundamentals of our economy are strong.
McCain's response to the economic crisis, Sept. 15, 2008

In the 21st century nations don't invade other nations.
McCain's response to Russia's military action against Georgia, Aug. 13, 2008. (John, tell us - what is the US doing in Iraq and Afghanistan again?)

And then Sarah Palin took it to a whole new level - -

They're in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom.
Palin, after being asked by a third grader what the vice president does.

As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border.
Palin to Katie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008.

We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. ... We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America, being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation.
Palin, speaking at a fundraiser in Greensboro, N.C., Oct. 16, 2008 (for extra credit, google Greensboro and Klan sometime for a fun history lesson on this great "real America" town).

Well, let's see. There's ― of course in the great history of America there have been rulings that there's never going to be absolute consensus by every American, and there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So, you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but ―
Sarah Palin, unable to name a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with other than Roe vs. Wade, Oct. 1, 2008

I'm very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing ... any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased to be cleared of any of that.
Palin, after an Alaska legislative report found she had broken the state's ethics law and abused her power in the Troopergate scandal, Oct. 12, 2008

But ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy.
Palin, explaining the $700 billion government bailout of Wall Street to Karie Couric, Sept. 24, 2008

I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that.
Palin, on the $30 billion national gas pipeline project that she wanted built in the state, June 2008

Absolutely. Yup, yup.
Palin when asked if she was ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency

And maybe Sarah IS ready to be a heartbeat away - for when it comes to messing with the English language, few in that office could come close to George W. Bush. So as we look into 2009 with hope for a better future, here's a few more Bushisms from 2008. Yes, it really WAS that bad.

I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the — of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House.
Bush when meeting with President Arroyo of the Philippines.

I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office.
Bush, May 12, 2008

First of all, I don't see American having problems.
Bush in an interview with Bob Costas at the Beijing Olympics, Aug. 10, 2008.

And they have no disregard for human life
Bush, on the brutality of Afghan fighters, Washington, D.C., July 15, 2008

I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office.
Bush, Washington, D.C., June 26, 2008

Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people.
Bush, Charlottesville, Va., July 4, 2008

We've got a lot of relations with countries in our neighborhood.
Bush, Kranj, Slovenia, June 10, 2008

There's no question this is a major human disaster that requires a strong response from the Chinese government, which is what they're providing, but it also responds a compassionate response from nations to whom -- that have got the blessings, good blessings of life, and that's us.
Bush, on relief efforts after a Chinese earthquake, Washington, D.C., June 6, 2008

Removing Saddam Hussein was the right decision early in my presidency, it is the right decision now, and it will be the right decision ever.
Bush, Washington, D.C., March 12, 2008

And so the fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place.
Bush, Mesa, Arizona, May 27, 2008

So long as I'm the president, my measure of success is victory -- and success.
Bush, on Iraq, Washington, D.C., April 17, 2008

Thank you, your Holiness. Awesome speech.
Bush, to Pope Benedict, Washington, D.C., April 15, 2008


And then finally, maybe this one wasn't a mistake, maybe after all this time George finally got it?

And so, General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq.
Bush, to Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Washington, D.C., March 3, 2008