It's Called Being Human!

Sunday’s funnies served up today, Friday, August 1, 2008. Nearly everyday we read about the presumed presidential nominees making gaffes (a verbal mistake). When they do they commit the crime of speaking like our current president who cautions people not to ever misunderestimate him. Everyone misspeaks from time to time but it’s even more likely when you are under constant scrutiny and dealing with the pressures of daily political stress. President Jimmy Carter’s Southern drawl was difficult for interpreters to distinguish his words clearly. While on a visit to Poland he told the Polish people that he could understand their anxieties in moving towards democracy. His translator caught it as best he could, on the fly, and it came out in Polish that the president desired them sexually.

It has happened to every public official at one time or another. Senators McCain and Obama are no exception and they will undoubtedly have many more before this election cycle ends. I would imagine their staffs are very focused on trying to help them to avoid the ‘big one’. Given this propensity to say the wrong things, I think most would agree that Vice President Dan Quayle is in a class pretty much all by himself. We don’t know where he is on the list but as I recall Bum Phillips, former head coach of the Houston Oilers and how he responded when asked where he thought Earl Campbell should end up on the list of all time great running backs, he said something like this: “Don’t really know for sure but you can bet when they start calling names you will be hearing his real soon.”

Therefore, I submit the following zingers attributed to the former vice president and at the same time I want it to be very clear that I both like and respect Dan Quayle. However, he pretty much did it to himself and his quotes are a matter of public record. After reading them perhaps we all will be a little less uptight when the current folks mess up from time to time. Enjoy:

1)"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is." 2) “I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy -- but that could change." 3)"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things." 4)"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future." 5)"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix." 6)"This President is going to lead us out of this recovery." 7)"For NASA, space is still a high priority." 8)"Bank failures are caused by depositors who don't deposit enough money to cover losses due to mismanagement." 9)"Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts."10) "If you give a person a fish, they'll fish for a day. But if you train a person to fish, they'll fish for a lifetime."

There are dozens more but I think you see how he pretty much gets to be on top in this category. At least he has some character to go with him being remembered as a character. I do wish you and yours a wonderful Saturday and Lord’s Day Sunday. Who knows what lurks around the bend to be revealed on Monday? I would give you a hint but I don’t have a clue either. See you then and may God bless you and yours! Amen. . ……More later.