OXFORD, Miss. – President George W. Bush has made some bizarre remarks,
and popular culture has deemed these slips of the tongue as Bushisms.
“They misunderestimated me,” Bush reportedly said once in Bentonville,
Ark., and “Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”
Bush was quoted in Florence, S.C.
While it’s easy for comedians to poke fun of Bush and other politicians, the funniest politician today is Al Franken, says comic Robert Wuhl.
“Al’s a professional comedian,” Wuhl said at a University of Mississippi news conference Tuesday afternoon. “He has to be the funniest politician.”
A registered independent, Wuhl was on campus to deliver his “Assume the Position” monologue Tuesday evening at Fulton Chapel.
Besides Franken, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger all make witty remarks, Wuhl said. He also suggested that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin sounds like a cartoon character when she speaks.
“Now (Abraham) Lincoln was funny too,” Wuhl said. “He had jokes. Someone once called him two-faced, and he replied, ‘If I am two-faced, then would I be wearing this one?’ That’s how Lincoln became so popular. He made people laugh.”
The “Assume the Position” show is part of nearly 100 debate-related events on the UM campus in the weeks leading up to the presidential debate, set for Friday evening at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
“I’m thrilled to be here,” Wuhl said. “I can’t believe I’m here this week.”
The event marks Wuhl’s second trip to Oxford. His first came in 1970 while a student at the University of Houston, when he traveled here to see his alma mater take on Archie Manning and the Ole Miss Rebels.
“Ole Miss lost that game,” Wuhl said, “and Archie broke his arm.”
The return trip brings back memories for Wuhl. He reflected that the first black football player in NCAA history attended the University of Houston, and Ole Miss is hosting the first black presidential candidate.
“It’s amazing,” Wuhl said. “It’s an amazing story.”
Yet, as a comedian, Wuhl stayed true to his nature about the debate.
“I’d love to see (John) McCain or (Barack) Obama come out with a hand buzzer when they shake hands on stage Friday night,” Wuhl said. “That would be funny.”
For more information on the presidential debate or related events, go to http://debate.olemiss.edu .