The 'misunderestimated' president?

All politicians are prone to make slips of the tongue in the heat of the moment – and President George W Bush has made more than most. The word "Bushism" has been coined to label his occasional verbal lapses during eight years in office, which come to an end on 20th January. Here are some of his most memorable pronouncements.

ON HIMSELF

- "They misunderestimated me."

Bentonville, Arkansas, 6 November, 2000

- "I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe -- I believe what I believe is right."

Rome, 22 July, 2001

- "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."

Nashville, Tennessee, 17 September, 2002

- "I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today. He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me."

Nashville, Tennessee, 27 May, 2004



FOREIGN AFFAIRS

- "The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorise himself."

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 29 January, 2003

- "The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the -- the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice."

Washington DC, 27 October, 2003

- "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."

Washington DC, 5 August, 2004

- "I think war is a dangerous place."

Washington DC, 7 May, 2003

- "You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."

CBS News, Washington DC, 6 September, 2006



ECONOMICS

- "I understand small business growth. I was one."

New York Daily News, 19 February, 2000

- "It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."

Reuters, 5 May, 2000



HEALTHCARE

- "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."

Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 6 September, 2004



OUT OF LEFT FIELD

- "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."

Saginaw, Michigan, 29 September, 2000

- "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"

Florence, South Carolina, 11 January, 2000

- "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."

LaCrosse, Wisconsin, 18 October, 2000

- "That's George Washington, the first president, of course. The interesting thing about him is that I read three - three or four books about him last year. Isn't that interesting?"

Speaking to reporter Kai Diekmann, Washington DC, 5 May, 2006



ON GOVERNING

- "I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together."

Bartlett, Tennessee, 18 August, 2000

- "I'm the decider, and I decide what is best."

Washington DC, 18 April, 2006

- "And truth of the matter is, a lot of reports in Washington are never read by anybody. To show you how important this one is, I read it, and [Tony Blair] read it."

On the publication of the Baker-Hamilton Report, Washington DC, 7 December, 2006

- "All I can tell you is when the governor calls, I answer his phone."

San Diego, California, 25 October, 2007

- "I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."

Washington DC, 12 May, 2008

--Courtesy BBC