President Donald Drumpf: “Despite the constant negative press covfefe”
There are too many idiotic Drumpf quotes to go through, so I promise, this will be the only one. Let’s start off something which epitomizes last year’s political environment—one of utter chaos, confusion, and attacks against the press. What can I say? This one practically speaks for itself.
Press Secretary Sean Spicer: “Just the other day, [Drumpf] sat down with Martin Luther King Jr.”
For the record, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May: “Me and my friends used to run through the fields of wheat.”
In response to the question, “What’s the naughtiest thing you ever did?” Mrs. May struggled to give an answer, eventually coming to that time when she ran through a wheat field. It turns out that Mrs. May must’ve lost track of the fact that she sold weapons to Saudi Arabia. This quickly became emblematic of Mrs. May’s cautious campaign in which she seemed uncomfortable in her own skin.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson: “The temple bells they say…”
On his foreign trip to Southeast Asia, Boris Johnson quoted Rudyard Kipling’s Mandalay. The British ambassador accompanying Mr. Johnson was quick to remind him that reading colonialist poetry in Myanmar was “not appropriate.”
NDP candidate Guy Caron: “I like that Guy.”
No. Personally, I like that Guy too, but just…no.
Kellyanne Conway: “Our press secretary gave alternative facts…”
Welcome to 1984.
Press Secretary Sean Spicer: “Hitler…didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.”
Six million Jews died in the Holocaust, many in gas chambers.
French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen: “I don’t think France is responsible for the Vel d’Hiv…”
Former French President Jacques Chirac had apologized in 1995 for France’s role in the roundup of Jews at the Vel d’Hiv during World War II, so when far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen denied that France was responsible, much of Europe was reasonably unhappy with her remarks.
UK Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron: “I don’t believe gay sex is a sin.”
A voter had confronted Mr. Farron about his Christian beliefs, but initially he refused to answer the question. Farron was later forced to appear on television to declare that, indeed, gay sex was a-OK. He resigned after the general election, citing the incompatibility of his beliefs with being Liberal Democrat leader.
UK Chancellor Philip Hammond: “There are no unemployed people.”
Just over 4% of the UK’s workforce is unemployed, but not according to Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) Philip Hammond.
Congresswoman Karen Handel: “I do not support a livable wage.”
Georgia’s 6th District special election pitted Democrat Jon Ossoff against Republican Karen Handel in a televised debate. Handel made sure to tell nothing but the truth, and she certainly did. Despite this being Handel’s “Dukakis 1988” moment, she defeated Ossoff in a tight race.
Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis: “…Fake news…”
With respect to the police brutality which marred the Catalan independence vote, the minister denied that Spanish police used force in spite of the fact that pictures clearly showed otherwise.
French presidential candidate Francois Fillon threatens to sue political opponent during debate
During a scathing attack by mechanic-turned-presidential-candidate Philippe Poutou, French center-right leader Francois Fillon threatened legal action against Poutou.
UKIP leader Paul Nuttall: “Natalie…”
During the debates, Mr. Nuttall kept referring to the leader of Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales) by her first name. The problem was that her first name was Leanne, not Natalie.
Almost every time a Conservative tried to speak French
The noises made varied from nails-on-chalkboard to cat-in-a-washing-machine. Deepak Obhrai and Kellie Leitch were probably the worst offenders.
Wife of Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore: “One of our attorneys is a Jew.”
In defending herself and her husband against allegations of antisemitism, Kayla Moore inadvertently did the exact opposite by ripping a page out of the Doug Ford playbook. It turns out that the Jew lawyer that Mrs. Moore was referring to is actually Christian by faith.
Some of the worst of 2016:
“What is Aleppo?” —Gary Johnson
“Please clap.” —Jeb Bush
“People in this country have had enough of experts.” —Michael Gove
“Liberals have a whole set of statistics which theoretically may be right…” —Newt Gingrich
