On The Strength Of A Nation

Everyone got a kick out of Fearless Leader's latest bit of douchebaggery, when he showed up at today's National Catholic Prayer Breakfast and said this:

"Prayer breakfasts show the true strength of our nation."

Stupid? Yep. Inane? Checkaroony. But to me it sounded like just the sort of cheesy bromide that an imbecile like Bush would throw out at every opportunity. I'm sure this would be a lot more fun with Lexis-Nexis, but Google will have to do for me.

On faith-based government, 2001: "The good news about America is there are so many willing to serve. It's the great strength of our nation."

To Poland's President Kwasniewski, July, 2002: "Mr. President, the strength of our nation is not our balance sheet, it's not our military. [Boy, he hadn't seen anything yet.] The strength of our nation is the American people."

To Pennsylvania coal miners in August, 2002: "I asked to come by to meet our nine citizens and their families because I believe that what took place here in Pennsylvania really represents the best of our country, what I call the spirit of America, the great strength of our nation."

National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2002: "America’s cultural diversity has always been a great strength of our Nation."

National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2002: ". . .the strength of our nation is built on the strength of our ideas."

Radio address, Dec. 2003: "With their good works, volunteers are living out the spirit of this season. And year round they are showing the heart and soul of our people -- which is the greatest strength of our nation."

USA Freedom Corps, 2004: "As the President says, the true strength of our nation is not in our military might, but in the hearts and souls of our people."

Presidential proclamation, April, 2005: "The great strength of our nation is found in the hearts and souls of the American people."

Fourth Anniversary of the Freedom Corps, Jan, 2006: "Americans have continued to demonstrate that the true strength of out Nation lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens."

Radio address, Nov. 2006: "Thanksgiving reminds us that the true strength of our nation is the compassion and decency of our people."

In Uruguay, March, 2007: ". . .a tradition which is a welcoming society; a tradition that says we welcome our diversity because we believe in our diversity we can find the strength of our nation."

I think I'll leave it at that. Cataloguing Bush's stupidity is no way to spend an afternoon.