Sprinting to the Finish
As in so many instances, you can often figure out what Dubya is trying to say, even if he isn't effectively conveying that message with things like correct grammar or accurate, unambiguous expressions and the like. This is a whole set of such instances. This repeat offense features Dubya talking about sprinting to the finish of his term as President, which taken at face value, would seem to indicate he is trying to get to the end of it as soon as possible, as opposed to the likely meaning, that he is going to do as much as he can (instead of rushing his way through, i.e. sprinting) in the time he has left.

1. REPORTER: Will you be disappointed if he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] stays in power after you're gone?
   DUBYA: I have no idea what he's going to do. He — I asked him when I saw him in Australia, I tried to get it out of him, who's going to be his successor, what he intends to do, and he was wily. He wouldn't tip his hand. I'll tip mine: I'm going to finish — I'm going to work hard to the finish. I'm going to sprint to the finish line, and then you'll find me in Crawford. (Oct. 17, 2007)
2. Thank you. Ed, thanks. Thanks for the kind introduction. I'm looking forward to working with you for the next 14 months — but you better put on your running shoes, because my spirits are high, my energy level is good and I'm sprinting to the finish line. (Nov. 1, 2007)
3. REPORTER: Was there anything that you could accomplish on issues like missile defense? And also, besides his intellect, what else did you see in the new [Russian] President?
   DUBYA: I reminded him that, yes, I'm leaving, but not until six months and I'm sprinting to the finish. So we can get a lot done together and, you know, a lot of important issues. (Jul. 7, 2008)
4. I'm looking forward to it, I'm excited to go. Relations with the three nations that I have just described are good, strong. My trip will help advance them, the relations. And I'll also be giving a speech in Thailand about our foreign policy in the Far East, where I will be leaving this foreign policy in six months. I will also remind people that I will be sprinting to the finish, that I will finish this job strong. (Jul. 31, 2008)
5. I'm proud to be here with you. I'm proud to call you friend. This is not a farewell address. I'm sprinting to the finish. (Jul. 31, 2008)
6. I told people that I'm almost through, but I'm sprinting to the finish. This is the not the farewell dinner. (Aug. 20, 2008)
7. This is a part of our country that was flat on its back and is now standing up and headed for the future. I have been so honored to work with you. As I told you, I'm sprinting to the finish, and so I'm not through, but I thought around this third anniversary of a tragic event, it makes sense to come by and say, here's what's happened, here's where you're headed. (Aug. 20, 2008)
8. In all these ways, the Ocean Action Plan is helping to protect our planet's most essential natural resource. Yet we're going to do more. And so I've asked — I told people I'm sprinting to the finish. I mean, four months, you can actually get a lot done. (Sep. 26, 2008)
9. In recent weeks, I've talked a lot about sprinting to the finish. Yet I've assured these turkeys they will not be trotting to their finish. That's because in keeping with a longstanding tradition, Pumpkin and Pecan are hereby granted a full and unconditional — unconditional presidential pardon. (Nov. 26, 2008)