Possibly the only world leader with three books dedicated to his speech inefficiencies The Bush Dyslexicon, The DubyaSpeak Compendium and George W Bushisms: The Accidental Wit and Wisdom of our 43rd President, US President George W Bush’s latest gaffe—an aside to British Prime Minister Tony Blair—was broadcast over a microphone at a lunch during the ongoing G-8 summit in St Petersburg.

The text, the context

Bush: I think Condi Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is going to go to the Middle East pretty soon.

Blair: Right, that’s all that matters, it will take some time to get that together. See, if she goes out she’s got to succeed as it were, where as I can just go out and talk.

Bush: See, the irony is what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it’s over.

Head to headline

Possibly in celebration of the discovery that world leaders do have candid conversations at these parties, the US media has been gentle with the latest manifestation of the president’s gaffe. Examples:

‘It was frank talk, no bull’ Chicago Tribune

‘Bush’s open mike catches tough talk’ USA Today

‘Bush curses Hezbollah attack’ Washington Post

‘Bush’s trash talk is heard’ Newsday

‘Bush-Blair conversation goes global’ Houston Chronicle

Feet in the mouth

The good humour may well be born of familiarity. Consider what the media, and the public at large, have coped with recently…

I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it’s easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?
On being asked if the tide was turning in Iraq, Washington DC, June 14

Trying to stop suiciders—which we’re doing a pretty good job of on occasion—is difficult to do. And what the Iraqis are going to have to eventually do is convince those who are conducting suiciders who are not inspired by Al Qaeda, for example, to realise there’s a peaceful tomorrow.
In Washington DC, May 24

I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5 pound largemouth bass in my lake.
On his best moment in office in an interview with Bild in Sonntag, May 7

You never know what your history is going to be like until long after you’re gone.
In Washington DC, May 5

The point now is how do we work together to achieve important goals. And one such goal is a democracy in Germany.
In Washington DC, May 5

Finally, the desk, where we’ll have our picture taken in front of—is nine other Presidents used it. This was given to us by Queen Victoria in the 1870s, I think it was. President Roosevelt put the door in so people would not know he was in a wheelchair. John Kennedy put his head out the door.
Showing German newspaper reporter Kai Diekmann the Oval Office, May 5

I was not pleased that Hamas has refused to announce its desire to destroy Israel.
In Washington DC, May 4

I’m the decider, and I decide what is best. And what’s best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of Defense.
In Washington DC, April 18

If the Iranians were to have a nuclear weapon they could proliferate.
In Washington DC, March 21

After the bombing, most Iraqis saw what the perpetuators of this attack were trying to do.
On the bombing of the Golden Mosque of Samarra in Iraq, in Washington, March 13

People don’t need to worry about security. This deal wouldn’t go forward if we were concerned about the security for the United States of America.
On the deal to hand over US port security to a company operated by the UAE in Washington DC, February 23

I like my buddies from west Texas. I liked them when I was young, I liked them then I was middle-age, I liked them before I was president, and I like them during president, and I like them after president.
In Nashville, Tennessee, February 1

You took an oath to defend our flag and our freedom, and you kept that oath underseas and under fire.
Addressing war veterans, Washington DC, January 10