September 01, 2004
Arnold's Catchphrase Counter...
Posted by The Editors | 07:00 AM
No one really expected California's governor to deliver a primetime address without falling back on the bad quips and puns he used on the campaign trail last year. And he didn't disappoint. In fact, Gov. Schwarzenegger unleashed multiple movie-character references designed to whip the GOP crowd into a frenzy. Among them:
- "Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called 'True Lies.' It's what the Democrats should have called their convention."
- "And, ladies and gentlemen, if you believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism, then you are a Republican!"
- "In one of the military hospitals I visited, I met a young guy who was in bad shape. He'd lost a leg had a hole in his stomach, his shoulder had been shot through.... He said he was going to get a new leg, and get some therapy, and then he was going back to Iraq to serve alongside his buddies! He grinned at me and said, 'Arnold, I'll be back!' Ladies and gentlemen, America is back!"
- And of course, Arnold pulled out his latest catchphrase, which didn't originate in one of his films but in a Saturday Night Live parody of him from a decade ago: "To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don't be economic girlie men!"
To be fair, the ratio of movie-inspired lines to political talking points and platitudes (as delivered by any non-former-pretend action hero) actually was rather low. And Schwarzenegger certainly energized and captivated the crowd with his Reaganesque speech... -- From Jason Thompson, NationalJournal.com
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Some one-liners that were thankfully cut from the final draft:
"...and with all the extra coins in their pockets from the Bush tax cuts, voters can 'Jingle All The Way' to the bank."
"Remember, Kerry, when I told you I'd attack your record last? I lied."
"With the strength of the Republican Party behind him Thursday night, the President will feel like 'Hercules in New York'."
and finally
"I can't believe their putting the Bush 'Twins' on AFTER me tonight."
