Great Speech Writers - Great Reflection on USA

Andy Rooney's editorial on Sixty Minutes last night was quite insightful.
He said that the President has 13 speech-writers with salaries ranging from $30,000 to $164,000. Taxpayers are spending over $600,000 to make sure our President says just the right words, with exact grammar and intent. The following extractions from our President's speeches makes me feel a wee bit better when someone points out one of my many mis-spellings or grammatical errors. I don't have even a good spell-checker on my computer!

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
- US President George W. Bush (August 5, 2004)

"One of the interesting initiatives we've taken in Washington, D.C., is we've got these vampire-busting devices. A vampire is a-a cell deal you can plug in the wall to charge your cell phone." George W Bush, Denver, CO. Aug. 14, 2001

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept.’04

"Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" —Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." Nashville,02

"I would say the best moment of all was when I caught a 7.5 pound perch in my lake." --George W. Bush, on his best moment in office, interview with the German newspaper 5/06

The White House also employs ten $30,000/year "gift analysts". I think I'd like that job ~ MUCH less responsibility than a speech writer. Every day would be different in trying to figure out what gift came from various countries. Then there is the challenge of figuring out what to do with another toaster or blender or didgeridoo. Dear Gussie! $300,000 worth of salaries PLUS benefits for presents to be opened and analyzed!!

I'll bet my five year old nephew Griffin would do it by himself in half the time, if he opened them with the same intensity as he does with his Christmas gifts.

p.s. I'm not picking on THIS administration alone....there are plenty of gaffs in prior administrations' speeches (I did NOT have relations with that ....) and some rather abundant gift taking upon some leaving the White House.