Did anyone else catch this?

[talkwrite]

Did anyone else this weekend happen to catch the sound bite of our president stating that he fully intended to sign the immigration bill into law because "that was the way it was done in my government"
I knew it. We are living under a dictatorship.

[robeiae]

It's my government, too.

[dclary]

Since he was talking to a shitload of people from OTHER governments, there's not a whole lot wrong here, grammatically. He couldn't say "our" because it wouldn't be appropriate contextually for his audience. He couldn't say "the" because there isn't just one represented there.

What part of proper word usage in mixed company suggests fascism?

[johnnysannie]

Did anyone else this weekend happen to catch the sound bite of our president stating that he fully intended to sign the immigration bill into law because "that was the way it was done in my government"
I knew it. We are living under a dictatorship.

Of course we're living under a dictatorship and possibly a Bush dynasty.

[Tiger]

I think "our" would've been worse... Sort of like the royal "We."

[pconsidine]

I'm still waiting for the Royal Wii to come out.

[TheGaffer]

He was talking about the no-confidence vote in Alberto Gonzalez, saying it wouldn't impact who he chooses in "my government," and he was speaking to the press at the time.

It's a departure from the more common phrasing, "my administration."

But he's displayed such tendencies of this type in the past, and in worse examples, too.

[whistlelock]

Sometimes I think Bush doesn't have a clear grasp on the different branches of the federal and state governments.

[robeiae]

Sometimes I think Bush doesn't have a clear grasp on the different branches of the federal and state governments.
Neither do a good number of Senators, but they don't let that stand in their way, do they?

[William Haskins]

It's a departure from the more common phrasing, "my administration."

i dispute that it's a more "common" phrasing. perhaps in the US, but he was speaking to a european audience. it took me less than 20 seconds to find two (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1756369.ece) recent (http://today.reuters.com/misc/PrinterFriendlyPopup.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-05-06T181532Z_01_L06633468_RTRUKOC_0_US-FRANCE-ELECTION.xml) articles that use "government" instead of "administration" as a term for the executive and his or her cabinet.

i was far more disturbed later in the day when he referred to the US as "mein reich"...

[TheGaffer]

i dispute that it's a more "common" phrasing.

Articles, gov't officials, talking heads, generally refer to "the administration" or "this administration" or "my administration." It's pretty common - when referring to "the government" often that refers to either Congress or the whole of the government, that being Legis/Exec/Jud branches.

[William Haskins]

i've also heard him refer to air force one as the "chariot of the gods".

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
gov·ern·ment /ˈgʌvərnmənt, ‑ərmənt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[guhv-ern-muhnt, ‑er-muhnt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration: Government is necessary to the existence of civilized society.
2. the form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed: monarchical government; episcopal government.
3. the governing body of persons in a state, community, etc.; administration.
4. a branch or service of the supreme authority of a state or nation, taken as representing the whole: a dam built by the government.
5. (in some parliamentary systems, as that of the United Kingdom)
a. the particular group of persons forming the cabinet at any given time: The Prime Minister has formed a new government.
b. the parliament along with the cabinet: The government has fallen.
6. direction; control; management; ru

[Anthony Ravenscroft]

Early in his febrile reign, he referred to a delegation of visiting Republican Texas Chicanos as "my Mexicans."

[William Haskins]

in his defense, they were so-branded.

[dclary]

I'm still curious what the issue is...

"My government takes very seriously the reports provided by the Secretariat on the financial difficulties faced by the organization. " -- Madeliene K. Albright, speech to the UN, March 7, 1996

"Let me assure you: Whether the fathers of those crimes or the mass murderers who bombed Pan Am Flight 103, my government is determined to see that such terrorists are brought to justice." -- Bill Clinton, speech to the UN, Sept 27, 1993

"On behalf of my Government and my country, I welcome you to the United States." -- John K. Kennedy, Speech in Miami, Dec 29, 1962

"My Government, interested as it is in the maintenance of peace in all parts of the world, is gratified that the League of Nations, with a view to a peaceful settlement, has given its attention to the controversy which has unhappily arisen between your Government and the Italian Government and that the controversy is now in process of arbitration." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, reported in Time, Jul 15, 1935.

[Joe270]

It seems a tad early to be crying 'dictatorship', a few steps are missing yet. How 'bout we give the dude a chance and wait until he scraps the two-party system, or at least runs for a third term, whaddaya say?

[dclary]

Or builds a moon-sized space station.

[small axe]

Oh, I'm thinking if you listen to NPR they use the phrase "so-and-so's government" frequently: the Blair government, the Partoli (?) government etc failing votes of confidence ... bringing another coalition party into their government (usually meaning a coalition in Parliament etc) ...

We (and the world) have more important issues with the exiting Bush administration, than to harp on his use of Texan speech, hey?

Myself, I often hear East Coaster intellectual-types pick on a phrase like it was totally beyond their comprehension, and I think "Haven't you ever spoken to some slub with a blue collar, man-in-the-street, that you understand his phrase or his tone there?"

Bush talks "good-ol' boy" (which, I'll agree, isn't often becoming of his high Office, but isn't a sign of retardation either) ...

And remember: there's not much insight in complaining that the cowboy Presidente sez "Yippy-Kai-Yay" ... when the cowboy is the most powerful man in the world.

Cowboy can say whatever he wants, all you can say is he sounded funny?

Not impressed.

[TheGaffer]

I'm still curious what the issue is...

"My government takes very seriously the reports provided by the Secretariat on the financial difficulties faced by the organization. " -- Madeliene K. Albright, speech to the UN, March 7, 1996

"Let me assure you: Whether the fathers of those crimes or the mass murderers who bombed Pan Am Flight 103, my government is determined to see that such terrorists are brought to justice." -- Bill Clinton, speech to the UN, Sept 27, 1993

"On behalf of my Government and my country, I welcome you to the United States." -- John K. Kennedy, Speech in Miami, Dec 29, 1962

"My Government, interested as it is in the maintenance of peace in all parts of the world, is gratified that the League of Nations, with a view to a peaceful settlement, has given its attention to the controversy which has unhappily arisen between your Government and the Italian Government and that the controversy is now in process of arbitration." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, reported in Time, Jul 15, 1935.


Right. Exactly.

I maintain still that the phrasing "my administration" is more common than "my government" in the U.S. My point remains that anyone looking for fascistic or authoritarian tendencies out of GWB has better examples elsewhere.

[III]

Or builds a moon-sized space station.

He's already working on one with Dr. Parsons and Dr. Allen. It's called the <finger quotes> Allan Parsons Project <finger quotes>. And Gaffer, stop sticking up for Bush all the time.

[TheGaffer]

III, don't tell me what to do or I will unleash the awesome power of the Allan Parsons Project upon you.

[talkwrite]

He was talking about the no-confidence vote in Alberto Gonzalez, saying it wouldn't impact who he chooses in "my government," and he was speaking to the press at the time.

But he's displayed such tendencies of this type in the past, and in worse examples, too.

Thank you Gaffer; I stand corrected.
My point remains, how important, for once in his life, it would be for him to consider his choice of words. It was not written by a speech writer who do take the mood of the country into account. Whether or not he feels "untouchable" and above reproach; he needs to know how his words affect the reputation and safety of Americans in the eyes of the world. Especially if you travel, like I do. I endured his reign over Texas as Governor and we have collections of inappropriate statements he made then- especially about the death penalty.