'Foot in mouth' prize for Rumsfeld

[Mrburns2007]

"Reports that say something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know," Rumsfeld told a news briefing.

"We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know

Makes perfect sense to me !

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/01/rumsfeld.english.reut/index.html

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

John Lister, spokesman for the campaign which strives to have public information delivered in clear, straightforward English, said: "We think we know what he means. But we don't know if we really know."

 

[Czar]

wtf??

*confused*

 

[Gaard]

lol I wonder if he can say that while patting his head and rubbing his tummy at the same time.

 

[Red Dawn]

I bet Bush understands him!

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

What Rummy meant . . . "you cannot know the unknowable . . . but you can put it in the SOTU address . . . "

 

[ITJunkie]

^^hehehe^^

Good one

 

[zzzz]

Arnold is not much behind..

"I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman," the new California governor said.

 

[PaperclipGod]

If you take Rummy's quote one section at a time, it actually makes sense. Reading it through quickly looks bizarre though. I certainly dont think it deserves the "foot in mouth" prize, though, since he really didnt say something stupid or odd... just wasnt terribly eloquent. :/

Arnold should have won with that gay marriage comment.

 

[Dari]

it makes sense to me.
known:
1. you know something
2. there are certain things you don't know, but you want to find out
3.unknown unknowns- things you don't know because you haven't been affected by them.

 

[rjain]

I think a better (as far as relevance to the progression of Rummy's statement) characterization of unknown unknowns are things that we will discover are known unknowns when we make the known unknowns into known knowns.

But what about unknown knowns (things we don't know we know, but we know)? Those are the really sticky problems.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Actually unknown unknown is more often a reflection of false knowledge . . . you think you know something when in reality you do not. Failure to acknowledge ignorance is arguably this administration's worst affliction.

 

[Gaard]

"We know they have WMD." What category would that statement fall under?

 

[Babbles]

I think it is pretty easy to understand. Well, granted the repeated use of the words 'known' and 'unkown' make it somewhat difficult to read, but the substitution of other words would just complicate things.

Maybe, just perhaps, people need to think about what is being said.

 

[DealMonkey]

We don't even know what we don't know. Would that be a fair summary?

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

I think it is pretty easy to understand . . . Maybe, just perhaps, people need to think about what is being said.

Oh I can read between the lines . . . Rummy is saying he's FOS.

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: Mrburns2007

"Reports that say something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know," Rumsfeld told a news briefing.

"We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know

Makes perfect sense to me !

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/12/01/rumsfeld.english.reut/index.html

not quite clintonesque but pretty close.

 

[LilBlinbBlahIce]

Originally posted by: zzzz
Arnold is not much behind..

"I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman," the new California governor said.

HAHAHAHA! That is the funniest thing I've heard today! :beer:

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: Gaard
"We know they have WMD." What category would that statement fall under?

the same as this one?

"The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow."

"In short, the inspectors are saying that even if they could stay in Iraq, their work would be a sham. Saddam's deception has defeated their effectiveness. Instead of the inspectors disarming Saddam, Saddam has disarmed the inspectors."



"The hard fact is that so long as Saddam remains in power, he threatens the well-being of his people, the peace of his region, the security of the world.The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government -- a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its people. Bringing change in Baghdad will take time and effort. We will strengthen our engagement with the full range of Iraqi opposition forces and work with them effectively and prudently."

all quotes by bill clinton, was he "lying" too?

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: Shad0hawK
all quotes by bill clinton, was he "lying" too?

Yes. He was trying to distract the Republicans from Monica Lewinsky. Three or four days of bombing Iraq seemed to do the trick.

 

[nCred]

.

 

[Fencer128]

It's a joke award. I'm sure if you try hard enough you can glean the meaning from the words - but honestly - it's pretty funny and could have been put much clearer.

Let's not have a sense of humour failure over it. I'm sure Rumsfeld would see the fun in it.

Cheers,

Andy