Coffee Shop
This repeat offense features Dubya using and reusing, with no apparent end in sight, the concept of coffee shops being a critical hotbed of local grassroots politics and place of expression for common folk. ("As we say in Texas, it's coffee shop chatter that helps somebody get elected." - Apr. 29, 2002) Dubya also enjoys playing on his self-proclaimed rapport with all coffee shop patrons throughout the heartland (and Crawford), by suggesting that Ted Kennedy and 2004 Democratic presidential opponent John Kerry don't enjoy that same rapport. The implied explanation for this is that these Massachusetts liberals are out of touch with America. Another facet of this repeat offense is the frequency with which Dubya refers to Americans having a duty to vote in elections.

1. And of course, some of the folks in Crawford Coffee Shop will be amazed to hear me say that I like Ted Kennedy. (Jan. 8, 2002)
2. And then, of course, there's Senator Edward Kennedy. And the folks at the Crawford Coffee Shop — would be somewhat shocked when I told them I actually like the fellow. (Jan. 8, 2002)
3. Thank you all very much. You know, I told the folks at the Coffee Shop in Crawford, Texas, that Ted Kennedy was all right. They nearly fell out. (Jan. 8, 2002)
4. I jested with Ted Kennedy when I told him that the folks at the coffee shop in Crawford, Texas will be amazed when they see me standing up there saying nice things about him. (Jan. 9, 2002)
5. I stood up in front of the American people there on this trip and I said, you all may not believe this — certainly the people in the Crawford, Texas coffee shop may not believe it when I say it — but Ted Kennedy did a fine job on this bill. (Jan. 14, 2002)
6. And one of my traveling mates was Ted Kennedy, the Senator from Massachusetts. I've said good things about him. He nearly fell out. So did the boys at the Crawford Coffee Shop. (Jan. 15, 2002)
7. I had the honor of signing a very good piece of education legislation, sponsored by, of all people, in the Senate, Ted Kennedy. Now, look, I traveled the country saying the guy is not a bad guy. I think I put him in shock. I know I put the people in Crawford, Texas coffee shop in shock. (Jan. 22, 2002)
8. I even had nice things to say about my friend, Ted Kennedy. I know the folks at the Crawford coffee shop couldn't believe I'd say such a thing — but our work on this bill shows what is possible if we set aside posturing and focus on results. (Jan. 29, 2002)
9. I said in my State of the Union that I stand in awe of the American people, and you know what I'm talking about. You've seen it in your communities when you go back home. You've seen it in your coffee shops, you've seen it in your different clubs, you've seen it when you've seen your neighbors. (Feb. 1, 2002)
10. Like you all, I like to — I used to like to go down and sit around the coffee shop. They don't let me go down to the coffee shop anymore. (Apr. 24, 2002)
11. As we say in Texas, it's coffee shop chatter that helps somebody get elected. (Apr. 29, 2002)
12. I recently spent some time with some of my neighbors at the coffee shop in Crawford, Texas. I know how hard many struggle. (May 13, 2002)
13. I was — and I must confess, it did confuse some of the folks at the Crawford, Texas coffee shop, when I was traveling around the country with Theodore Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, thanking him for working on this bill. But we put it all aside, all the typical Washington, D.C. bickering and name-calling, and decided to do something right for the children, and passed a great piece of education reform. (May 13, 2002)
14. I know people in the Crawford coffee shop are wondering, what the heck's he doing? That guy gets up there and — must've drank the water or something. (Jun. 28, 2002)
15. I want to thank you for what you're fixing to do, which is to start dialing phones and putting up signs and knocking on doors and going to coffee shops and going to your churches and synagogues to remind people that with Bob Riley you've got a good, honest politician who's going to bring integrity to Montgomery, Alabama, and he's going to reform the state on behalf of all the people of this great state. (Jul. 15, 2002)
16. I especially want to thank you for what you're fixing to do, which is to man the phones, go to the coffee shops, and turn out the vote. (Aug. 14, 2002)
17. We want to thank you all very much from the bottom of our heart for helping make our transitions to — back to home as smoothly as they have gone. We want you to know that one of these days, we'll be joining you in the coffee shop on a regular basis or eating lunch. (Aug. 16, 2002)
18. I want to thank you for what you've done, and I want to thank you for what you're fixing to do. Which is to turn out the vote, which is to go to your coffee shops — if you live in rural Oregon — go to your places of worship, go to your community centers, and remind the people of this state that you've got a good, honorable, decent man in Gordon Smith. But, unfortunately, the law is such that it all comes back after 10 years. It's kind of hard for me to explain to people in the Crawford Coffee Shop, but that's just the way it is. That's just the way it is. (Aug. 22, 2002)
19. In Texas — at least in the Crawford area — we call that coffee shop talk. You've probably got a few of them around here. Makes sense when you get into that coffee shop to extol the virtues. When you find a good candidate, you've got to support that candidate. (Aug. 23, 2002)
20. Do the mailings, and go to the coffee shops all around the state of New Mexico, and tell the people what a great slate we've got — look the people in the eye and tell them the values that these people bring to the office when they win. That's important. (Aug. 25, 2002)
21. Thank you for what you've done, and what you're going to do, which is turn out the vote, which is to go to your coffee shops and your churches and your community centers and tell the people of Oklahoma you've got two good ones in these candidates. (Aug. 29, 2002)
22. But here's the problem, here's the problem — because of the Senate rules, all the tax relief that we passed, which both Republicans and Democrats voted for, goes away after 10 years. Now, that's a hard one to explain at the coffee shop there in Crawford. (Sep. 5, 2002)
23. But the most important thing is to turn out the vote, is to find your neighbors, when you go to your coffee shops or your churches, or your community centers, you've got to pass the word — pass the word that people need to participate in the process. And as they start to head to participate, tell them about the qualities of the man that we're supporting here today. (Sep. 16, 2002)
24. It is really important that you go back to your coffee shops, your houses of worship, your community centers, and remind the good people of Tennessee what a fine leader Lamar Alexander has been, is, and will be on behalf of the people of Tennessee. (Sep. 17, 2002)
25. I want to thank you for going to your coffee shops, your community centers, your churches and your synagogues and your mosques to talk about a good man who has decided to serve the people of New Jersey. (Sep. 23, 2002)
26. I want to thank all of you all who care about your community, and all of you all who are what we call grassroots politics — the people who turn out the vote. The people who make the phone calls, the people who go to the coffee shops and tell people the truth about the candidates running for office. (Sep. 27, 2002)
27. I'm thanking you for going to your community centers and your coffee shops. (Oct. 2, 2002)
28. And in order for Van [Hilleary] to win, he needs you going to the coffee shops and the community centers and talking it up. (Oct. 8, 2002)
29. And I want to tell you all something, and you need to tell your friends at the coffee shops and at your community centers that when it came to writing one of the most comprehensive pieces of education reform ever in the history of our country, Van Hilleary played a significant role. (Oct. 8, 2002)
30. I'm here to ask you to go to your coffee shops or your houses of worship or your neighborhood community centers and talk it up about this good man, to tell the people in your community — whether they be Republican, Democrat, independent — don't care — that when it comes to running the state of Michigan, he's got what it takes. He's got the character, he's got the leadership capacity. I want to — let me share with you some thoughts, a serious, serious, subject. It's one that's got a lot of folks debating in the coffee shops or in the homes about Iraq. I want to remind you of a couple of things. (Oct. 14, 2002)
31. And what you need to do is go to your coffee shops, your places of worship, the community centers, and let good people of Georgia understand that when you find two good ones, two good candidates like these two, they've got to work and vote on their behalf. (Oct. 17, 2002)
32. I want to thank you for what you're going to do. And that is man the phones — go to your coffee shops, go to your houses of worship, remind the people of our community — whether they be Republicans or Democrats or couldn't care less — that when you find a good one, you ought to support him. And you found some good ones in these candidates here in Minnesota. (Oct. 18, 2002)
33. No, I want to thank you all for coming today, to give me a chance to tout these candidates. Again, I urge you to make sure you work hard to turn out the vote. They're counting on you. They're counting on you to go to the coffee shops, they're counting on you to go to the community centers, they're counting on you to talk it up. (Oct. 22, 2002)
34. You go to your community centers, your houses of worship, your — wherever you go to hang out — your coffee shops, and you tell your neighbors about their responsibility. (Oct. 22, 2002)
35. It's important that you go to your coffee shops and houses of worship and your community centers, and remind your fellow South Carolinians they have a duty, they've got a duty to this country, they've got a duty to democracy to participate. (Oct. 24, 2002)
36. And what I hope you do, and I think you're going to do, is go to your coffee shops and your places of worship and your community centers, and remind people that in America they have a duty to vote, that in this country — that in this country there is a responsibility that comes with being a United States citizen. (Oct. 24, 2002)
37. I think you have a duty to go to your coffee shops and your community centers and your houses of worship and ask others to go to the polls. It doesn't matter whether they're Republican or Democrat or don't give a hoot about politics. (Oct. 24, 2002)
38. Turning out that vote, getting on the telephones and putting up the signs, going to your coffee shops or your houses of worship or your community centers to put out the word that when you've got a good one like Wayne, you've got to do everything you can to help him get back to Washington. (Oct. 28, 2002)
39. So I'm here to urge you all to do your duty and to go to your coffee shops and your houses of worship, community centers, and urge your fellow citizens to do their duty, as well. (Oct. 28, 2002)
40. So when you go to your houses of worship or your coffee shops or your community centers, put out the word. (Oct. 31, 2002)
41. I want to thank you for what you have done in the past. I want to thank you for what you are going to do during the next couple of days, which is to man the phones — which is to go to your coffee shops and remind the people there that when you find good, honorable, decent, honest people, they ought to vote for them. (Oct. 31, 2002)
42. So over the next couple of days, when you're going to your coffee shops or your houses of worship, or your community centers, tell your fellow citizens they have an obligation to go to the polls. (Oct. 31, 2002)
43. And that is to turn out the vote, to get your friends to vote, to go to your houses of worship, your community centers, the coffee shops and tell people they have an obligation to vote and they have the obligation to support somebody who's honest and decent, somebody who's represented this district since 1982, somebody who stands squarely with the President on key issues, and that somebody is George W. Gekas. (Nov. 1, 2002)
44. You need to go to your coffee shops and your houses of worship and your community centers and tell the people they need to go and vote, and tell the people that we've got some fine candidates. (Nov. 1, 2002)
45. I want you to go to your houses of worship tomorrow, go to your coffee shops on Monday — go to your coffee shops, go to your community centers. Tell anybody who will listen what a good man you've got in your governor. (Nov. 2, 2002)
46. If you're the grassroots types, people that understand politics, you know that turning to your neighbor and saying, let's go out and vote, is an important way to help these people get elected. You understand what I understand. Coffee shop chatter is just as effective as all those endless ads you see on TV. So when you go to your coffee shops, or your houses of worship over the next couple of days, or your community centers, tell your neighbors it's not only important to vote, but tell them to support these good candidates up here on the stage. (Nov. 2, 2002)
47. You need to go to your coffee shops and tell people they've got to vote, and talk up these good candidates. (Nov. 2, 2002)
48. Go to your houses of worship, go to your coffee shops, when you get there Monday morning, instead of sitting around worrying about the weather, worry about who the next governor is going to be. (Nov. 2, 2002)
49. I will promise you this, when you go to your coffee shops, or your community centers and urge your fellow Minnesota citizens to go to the polls, you can make a huge impact on this election. You can decide who your next United States Senator and Governor and members of Congress will be. And when you go to those coffee shops and community centers, make sure you reach out to discerning Democrats and independent voters. (Nov. 3, 2002)
50. They're counting on you starting tomorrow morning when you go to your coffee shops — and they've got some coffee shops here in South Dakota, I'm certain of that. Sit around those tables and remind the people they have a duty in America to vote. (Nov. 3, 2002)
51. You need over the next couple of days to go to your coffee shops, community centers and tell the people that you've got a good one running for the United States Senate. (Dec. 3, 2002)
52. I thank all the mayors that have come out, the state and local officials. I like to tease the mayors and tell them they've got a pretty darn tough job. After all, if the pothole isn't filled, they're going to hear from somebody firsthand at the coffee shop. That doesn't happen to the President much. I thank the mayors for coming. Just keep the garbage picked up. (Aug. 22, 2003)
53. I need you to tell your neighbors, and for those of you who go to coffee shops, you be telling them in the coffee shops that this President and this administration will continue to work for a positive and hopeful vision for every single American. (Aug. 26, 2003)
54. I'm going to count on you for energizing the grass roots, for putting up the signs and mailing out the mailers and making the phone calls, for going to the coffee shops, and reminding your fellow citizens that ours is a vision that includes everybody. (Sep. 5, 2003)
55. When you go to the coffee shop, make sure you talk it up. (Sep. 8, 2003)
56. And when you go to the coffee shop, you tell them that this administration is committed to making sure that our country is positive and hopeful and optimistic for every single citizen who lives in America. (Sep. 9, 2003)
57. Jeb is right — I'm going to need your help. I'm going to need your help in putting up the signs. I'm going to need your help when you go to those coffee shops, to talk it up, put out the mailers. I want you to remind people that the vision I have for America is optimistic and hopeful for every single citizen who lives in this country. (Sep. 9, 2003)
58. You've got to turn out the vote. You've got to go to your coffee shops and tell the people that may not be quite as interested in politics as you are that there's a lot at stake for Mississippi. When they're just about to sip that coffee, you tell them that Haley Barbour has got a clear vision for the future of this state. He's not going to win it on his looks alone. (Sep. 12, 2003)
59. When you go to the coffee shop, you look them in the eye and you tell them this administration has got a hopeful and optimistic vision for every single American. (Sep. 15, 2003)
60. I thank you for your contributions, but I'm going to call on you to do more. I'm going to ask you to go to your coffee shops and drug stores and community centers and remind the people that this administration has got a message that is positive and hopeful and optimistic for every single American. (Sep. 30, 2003)
61. The message to the grassroots folks is it's one thing to come to a fundraiser — and that's important, don't get me wrong — but you need to go to your coffee shops. (Oct. 9, 2003)
62. I want you to know that your contributions are important, but so is your grass-roots support. And by that I mean, when you go to the coffee shop — and I know there are a lot of farmers here who go to the coffee shops — tell everybody, or when you go to community centers or your places of worship, you tell them that this administration is dedicating its efforts to making sure our country is hopeful for every citizen, that our message is optimistic, because we believe in the future of this country. That's what I'm counting on you to do. (Oct. 15, 2003)
63. As your Governor said, and my Chairman of the campaign here said, we need more than just financial contributions, we need you talking up the campaign. We need you going to your coffee shops and your houses of worship and your community centers, and reminding everybody that this administration has got an optimistic, positive, hopeful agenda for everybody who lives in America. (Oct. 24, 2003)
64. And those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in my administration. When you're sitting around your coffee shops and community centers, you're talking up the campaign — which I hope you do — remind the people that I put together a great team on behalf of the American people — people from all walks of life, people who have come to our nation's capital to serve their country, people like Dick Cheney, our country's greatest Vice President we've ever had. (Oct. 30, 2003)
65. When you guys are driving your cycles, make sure when you see another cycler that you get them to go vote. When you farmers are going to your coffee shops, make sure you tell your people that work the land with you to get out the vote. (Nov. 1, 2003)
66. It's one thing to be listening to the speeches, it's another thing to be doing the work. I'm asking you to go out and turn out the vote. I'm asking you to go to your coffee shops, your farm implement dealers, your community centers, your houses of worship and remind people they have a duty to vote. (Nov. 1, 2003)
67. And so when you start laying the grassroots organization, and you go to your coffee shops and your houses of worship and your farm implementation dealership, you tell them the President is doing the job. He's doing the job for every single American. I will keep America strong and secure and prosperous and free. (Nov. 3, 2003)
68. We've got a lot on the agenda, and so when you go to your coffee shops, your houses of worship, or your community centers, please tell them — Republican, Democrat, or independent alike — that the President is focused on the people's business and he will keep this nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. (Nov. 7, 2003)
69. And when you go to your coffee shops and your farm implementation dealers or your places of worship, you tell them that George W. Bush is working hard for everybody. Working hard to make sure this country remains strong and secure and prosperous and free. (Nov. 10, 2003)
70. And as you work the phones and go to the coffee shops and houses of worship, I want you to remind the people that I'm going to work hard to keep America strong, to keep America secure. I'll work hard to make sure we're prosperous and free. (Nov. 13, 2003)
71. And as you circulate around this important state, when you go to your coffee shops or your community centers or your houses of worship, you tell them President Bush and his administration is focused on the people's business. (Nov. 25, 2003)
72. So when you go to your coffee shops and your community centers, you tell them the politics will come, but right now, the President is working hard to make sure America is secure and strong and prosperous and free. (Dec. 1, 2003)
73. And I want to thank all the grassroots politicians who are here, the people who are turning out the vote. I'm counting on you. I'm counting on you to go to your coffee shops and community centers, and I'm counting on you to put the signs and to make the phone calls and to mail the letters. (Dec. 2, 2003)
74. I'm loosening up. I'm getting ready. But I got a job to do for everybody who lives in this country. When you're going to your coffee shops and your community centers that say, what is George W. up to, you tell them this, that I'm doing the people's business in Washington, D.C., that I'm working hard to earn the confidence of every single American by keeping this nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. (Jan. 15, 2004)
75. I want to thank all the grassroots activists. These are the people who put up the signs, get on the phones, turn out the vote. These are the people who go to the community centers, places of worship, your coffee shops. (Jan. 29, 2004)
76. Listen, I need you to go to your coffee shops and your community centers and your places of worship, and you tell the people, George W. Bush has a positive, hopeful vision for everybody in this country. (May 3, 2004)
77. Those are legitimate questions that I hope people ask as this election approaches. I'd like to hear those questions debated on talk radio, I'd like it debated in community centers, in the coffee shops. (Jul. 23, 2004)
78. You know, I don't know if they talk that way in the coffee shops here in Sedalia, Missouri. (Sep. 7, 2004)
79. Not only am I here to ask for your vote, I'm here to ask for your help. I'd like for you to go out and register your friends and neighbors. Remind them they have a duty to do in this democracy of ours to participate in the process. So go to your coffee shops and your community centers and register people. (Sep. 10, 2004)
80. Listen, we have a duty in our country to vote. And I'm asking you to turn to your friends and neighbors, go to your coffee shops, your houses of worship, your community centers, and tell people that we have a duty. (Oct. 21, 2004)
81. They asked him about that vote. He said, I actually did vote for the 87 billion right before I voted against it. You know — I bet you don't hear many people talking like that around the coffee shops here. (Oct. 23, 2004)
82. Tell your friends and neighbors in the coffee shops and community centers and places of worship, we have a duty to vote in the United States. (Oct. 24, 2004)
83. They asked him why, and he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion. right before I voted against it." I haven't been in any coffee shops in this part of the world. I suspect not a lot of people talk like that. (Oct. 26, 2004)
84. You might remember perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign, when they asked my opponent about his vote, he said, I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it. You know, I spent some time here in New Hampshire. I've been to the coffee shops, I've been to the community centers. I haven't heard anybody talk that way. (Oct. 29, 2004)
85. They kept asking [John Kerry] why he made the vote he did. And he uttered perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign, when he said, I actually did vote for the $87 billion right before I voted against it. Now, I haven't spent a lot of time in the coffee shops here in Green Bay, but I suspect I'm not going to find many people who talk that way. (Oct. 30, 2004)
86. I haven't spent a lot of time in the coffee shops in this great state, but I doubt I'm going to find hardly anybody who talks that way in Minnesota. (Oct. 30, 2004)
87. And then — and then he entered the flip-flop hall of fame. And he entered — and he entered the flip-flop hall of fame by saying this: "I actually did vote for the 87 billion right before I voted against it." I haven't spent much time in the coffee shops around here, but I feel pretty comfortable in predicting that not many people talk like that in Sioux land. (Nov. 1, 2004)
88. And then he entered the flip-flop hall of fame by saying this. "I actually did vote for the 87 billion right before I voted against it." I haven't spent a lot of time in the coffee shops around here, but I bet you a lot of people don't talk that way. (Nov. 1, 2004)
89. And then — and then he entered the flip-flop hall of fame. And as he entered that hall of fame, he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion before I voted against it." I have spent hours in the coffee shops of Texas. I have never heard anybody in this great state talk that way. (Nov. 2, 2004)
90. This is one of those debates where I do my job and get people to focus on it and talk about and go to the coffee shops, and try to figure out what they're all saying up there, people are going to say — they're going to come to the realization, we have a problem. (Mar. 10, 2005)
91. Yes, it's an interesting — obviously, you've got — you share concerns about whether or not Lindsey is going to have a Social Security system. I mean that's — that's getting out there, I hope. People understand it. When you're sitting around the coffee shop, are they saying, I'm okay, but my granddaughter is not? (Mar. 10, 2005)
92. You got a great senator in Jim Talent. I thank you for recognizing his talents. I thank you for contributing to his campaign. I thank you for talking up his good work in the coffee shops all around the state of Missouri. (Jun. 2, 2005)