I suspect that most of Gov. Sarah Palin’s critics oppose her simply because she’s a female.

Surely the same people who clown Palin for her few misquotes are familiar with Dan Quayle? Quayle was the vice-president under the senior George Bush from 1989 — 1993.

Quayle will forever be remembered as the VP who had to be corrected by a grade schooler when Quayle misspelled the word “potato” on a classroom blackboard — in full view of national media cameras. The media ate that story up for weeks!

Dan Quayle was so error-prone that national news networks often led off their nightly broadcasts with silly Dan Quayle-isms.

Media outlets sent crews to follow Quayle’s every move — hoping for their next headline.

Comedians regularly used Dan Quayle misquotes as material in their stand up routines.

In those days, we were in a better place. The mood of the country was more upbeat then. We had a sense of humor which is sadly lacking in today’s society.

No one seemed to worry too much that Dan Quayle was one heartbeat away from touching the nuclear codes.

I’ve compiled a list of Dan Quayle’s more famous misquotes that left most of America rolling with laughter. Compared to Quayle, Sarah Palin is a genius:

“If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.”

“I love California, I practically grew up in Phoenix.”

Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.”

“One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is ‘to be prepared’.”

“Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children.”

“It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.”

“What a waste it is to lose one’s mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.”



“Mars is essentially in the same orbit… Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If there is oxygen, that means we can breathe.”

“I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy – but that could change.”

“May our nation continue to be the beakon of hope to the world.”– The Quayles’ 1989 Christmas card.

“I have made good judgments in the Past. I have made good judgments in the future.”

“A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.”

“When I have been asked during these last weeks who caused the riots and the killing in L.A., my answer has been direct and simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame.”

“We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur.”

“I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican.”

“The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Dan Quayle may or may not make.”

“I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.”