Stupid stuff people say

(from http://www.billyspostcards.com/Postcard/51185_Comic_Postcard_Engage_Brain_Before_Opening_Mouth.html)

While watching election day interviews, only Newt Gingrich could come up with a statement like, voters being "2nd and 3rd generation European." I had to burst out laughing.  This would make them American, Newt.  By your standard, my Great or is it Great Great Grandparents on my mother's side who came from Ireland in the late 1800's would make me over a century later, third or fourth generation European too.

We all say stupid stuff like putting up those photo-shopped pictures or posting news stories from the Onion about Samsung paying Apple off in nickels believing them to be real.  But public figures really do say some unusual things.

News people and pundits alike kept saying that the election all depended on who got the most people to the polls. You mean it all depends on who gets the most votes in the swing states? It was much like those interviews after ball games. You know the one where a player on the losing team solemnly announces that the other team played a better game or the losing team just didn't score often enough. You mean the team that plays better and scores the most points usually wins. Who knew?

So what are some of the dumber things? Here's a sampling.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

"I saw a woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it. I said, "Thyroid problem?" - Arnold Schwarzenegger, California Governor

Geroge Wallace

"I've read about foreign policy and studied, I now know the number of continents.” - George Wallace, Alabama Governor and Presidential Candidate

"The world is more like it is now than it ever has been before." - Dwight Eisenhower, US President

"For most people, death comes at the end of their lives." -United Kingdom radio broadcaster

Samuel Goldwyn

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." - Mariah Carey

"A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it is written on." - Samuel Goldwyn, CEO of MGM studios

Jerry Lewis

"People hate me because I am a multifaceted, talented, wealthy, internationally famous genius." - Jerry Lewis, Comedian

The President has kept all of the promises he intended to keep.” –  George Stephanopolous, Clinton aide and TV News Personality

 "More and more of our imports are coming from overseas." -George W. Bush, US President

 "You know the one thing that's wrong with this country? Everyone gets a chance to have their fair say." -Bill Clinton, US President

Dan Quayle

 "And now the sequence of events in no particular order." - Dan Rather, News Anchor

"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century." - Dan Quayle, US Vice-President

"Facts are stupid things".- Ronald Reagan, US President

Walter Hickel

"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is."- Dan Quayle,  US Vice President


"You just can't let nature run wild." - Walter Hickel "Alaska Governor who once justified a plan to kill hundreds of wolves.

Jay Dickey

"I think incest can be handled as a family matter within the family." -Jay Dickey Jr., US Representative from Arkansas

''Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.'' - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

In all honesty, everyone says stupid things and politicians and news folks talk for a living.  When you talk for hours on end every day, you are bound to let a few gaffs go between your lips.  While a few gaffs reveal true character, others are just those dumb things we all do.  Some of our politicians and pundits and celebrities are just better at it.  George W. was well known for what became known as Bushisms as was Dan Quayle  who frequently showed us that one should pause before opening his mouth.  I suppose the lesson here is that while Alaska Governor Sarah Palin really couldn't see Russia from her house, everyone needs to take a moment and engage the grey cells before engaging our the hole between our lower and upper jaw.