--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: President Bush says we've turned the…" description: "\"President Bush says we've turned the corner in Iraq. What is that, about 16 corners we've turned? I think they call that running in circles.\" — Will Durst" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/will-durst-25738_circles_president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-cor_1015388.png" --- # President Bush says we've turned the corner in Iraq. What… ![“President Bush says we've turned the corner in Iraq. What is that, about 16 corners we've turned? I think they call that running in circles.” quote by Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/will-durst-25738_circles_president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-cor_1015388.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/will-durst-25738_circles_president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-cor_1015388.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/will-durst-25738_circles_president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-cor_1015388.png) > “President Bush says we've turned the corner in Iraq. What is that, about 16 corners we've turned? I think they call that running in circles.” [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote mocks the claim of progress by highlighting contradictory statements about turning corners, implying a lack of real advancement. **In simple terms:** It points out that saying many corners have been turned suggests going in circles. Key Takeaway Questionify claims of progress. Themes sarcasm politics critique Mood skeptical ironic critical Type satire political commentary humor When to use this quote - political analysis - media critique - public discourse - policy evaluation Key Concepts political rhetoric progress illusion Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports true progress? - How does rhetoric shape public perception? A Different Perspective It may overlook genuine improvements that occurred. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [16 Corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/16-corners-2230256/) [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Corner Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corner-iraq-2230255/) [Corners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corners/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-bush/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Running Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-circles-495092/) [Running in circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-in-circles/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Turned Corner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-corner-1368511/) ## Related quotes > [She will chase you around for awhile; but there is going to be a day when she is gonna stop running in circles around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-will-chase-you-around-for-awhile-but-there-is-going-to-be-a-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He knew my African tendency to approach things by running in circles around them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-lungu/he-knew-my-african-tendency-to-approach-things-by-running-in-circles/) [Stephen Lungu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-lungu/) > [Night falls and I'm running in circles I'm being chased by my imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alesana/night-falls-and-i-m-running-in-circles-i-m-being-chased-by-my/) [Alesana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alesana/) > [Dad told me to stop running in circles, I couldn't, so he nailed down my other foot!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/dad-told-me-to-stop-running-in-circles-i-couldn-t-so-he-nailed-down/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [She will chase you around for a while, but there's going to be a day when she's gona stop running in circles around you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-will-chase-you-around-for-a-while-but-there-s-going-to-be-a-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She'll chase you around for a while, but there's going to be a day when she's going to stop running in circles for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/she-ll-chase-you-around-for-a-while-but-there-s-going-to-be-a-day-2/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [She'll chase you around for a while, but there's going to be a day when she's going to stop running in circles around you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/she-ll-chase-you-around-for-a-while-but-there-s-going-to-be-a-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He had felt that a moment before his making the turn, someone had been there. The air seemed charged with a special calm as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/he-had-felt-that-a-moment-before-his-making-the-turn-someone-had-been/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Having made a ton of mistakes early on in my life, I hope people can look at me now and say that a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/having-made-a-ton-of-mistakes-early-on-in-my-life-i-hope-people-can/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [There was that sense of we had turned the corner. All of that time, all of that work, all of that effort – we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mangini/there-was-that-sense-of-we-had-turned-the-corner-all-of-that-time-all/) [Eric Mangini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mangini/) > [I thought we’d turned a corner. Maybe we did, but we hit a brick wall anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-thought-we-d-turned-a-corner-maybe-we-did-but-we-hit-a-brick-wall/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [Even before the discovery of copper South Australia had turned the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/even-before-the-discovery-of-copper-south-australia-had-turned-the/) [Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/) > [“She walked a ways down the concourse, and looked back and waved and then turned a corner and was out of sight. I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/she-walked-a-ways-down-the-concourse-and-looked-back-and-waved-and/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [I want to look at life - at the commonplaces of existence - as if we had just turned a corner and run into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/i-want-to-look-at-life-at-the-commonplaces-of-existence-as-if-we-had/) [Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/) > [“He turned the corner and flipped me off at the same time. See? Men could multitask. I was so proud of him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/he-turned-the-corner-and-flipped-me-off-at-the-same-time-see-men/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) ## More by Will Durst > [Voters want a fraud they can believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/voters-want-a-fraud-they-can-believe-in/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [It's okay to laugh in the bedroom so long as you don't point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/it-s-okay-to-laugh-in-the-bedroom-so-long-as-you-don-t-point/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [You can't kill America. We're more than a nation. We're a notion. We're an idea. The American Dream. You never heard of the Afghanistani…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/you-can-t-kill-america-we-re-more-than-a-nation-we-re-a-notion-we-re/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [The problem is, we have yet to convince the Taliban they are fellow passengers on spaceship Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/the-problem-is-we-have-yet-to-convince-the-taliban-they-are-fellow/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [There is humor in the specter of the worst disaster in our nation's history. All I have to do is sweep away the debris…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/there-is-humor-in-the-specter-of-the-worst-disaster-in-our-nation-s/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [I'm glad Reagan is president. Of course, I'm a professional comedian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/i-m-glad-reagan-is-president-of-course-i-m-a-professional-comedian/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [When people talk about how in America, anybody can grow up to be President, I'm not sure George Bush is exactly what they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/when-people-talk-about-how-in-america-anybody-can-grow-up-to-be/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [Comedy is defiance. It's a snort of contempt in the face of fear and anxiety. And it's the laughter that allows hope to creep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/comedy-is-defiance-it-s-a-snort-of-contempt-in-the-face-of-fear-and/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [Well, we won the war. You know what that means. In twenty years, we'll all be driving Iraqi cars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/well-we-won-the-war-you-know-what-that-means-in-twenty-years-we-ll/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [Men are superior to women, for one thing they can urinate from a speeding car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/men-are-superior-to-women-for-one-thing-they-can-urinate-from-a/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [Men are superior to women. For one thing, men can urinate from a speeding car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/men-are-superior-to-women-for-one-thing-men-can-urinate-from-a/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [Walter Mondale has all the charisma of a speed bump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/walter-mondale-has-all-the-charisma-of-a-speed-bump/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [It is my experience that the best way to deal with American politics is 50 milligrams of Zoloft 3 times a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/it-is-my-experience-that-the-best-way-to-deal-with-american-politics/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [In San Francisco, Haloween is redundant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/in-san-francisco-haloween-is-redundant/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) > [How did sex come to be thought of as dirty in the first place? God must have been a Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/how-did-sex-come-to-be-thought-of-as-dirty-in-the-first-place-god/) [Will Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) [Explore all 22 Will Durst quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/) ## More Circles quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [Gambling has held human beings in thrall for millennia. It has been engaged in everywhere, from the dregs of society to the most respectable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-bernstein/gambling-has-held-human-beings-in-thrall-for-millennia-it-has-been/) [Peter L. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-bernstein/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Maybe this is a way of gaslighting myself, but I think of it this way: In certain circles, my grandpa was considered to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/maybe-this-is-a-way-of-gaslighting-myself-but-i-think-of-it-this-way/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [All my life's a circle; But I can't tell you why; Season's spinning round again; The years keep rollin' by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/all-my-life-s-a-circle-but-i-can-t-tell-you-why-season-s-spinning/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [There's when a phrase circles in my head in a number of ways for any number of days, weeks, or months, and then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/there-s-when-a-phrase-circles-in-my-head-in-a-number-of-ways-for-any/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [I have no name for what circles so perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-have-no-name-for-what-circles-so-perfectly/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-fight-against-syphilis-demands-a-fight-against-prostitution/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Tell them you came, and saw, and looked into my eyes and saw the shadow of the guard receding. Thoughts in time and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/tell-them-you-came-and-saw-and-looked-into-my-eyes-and-saw-the-shadow/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [ \[Wise men\] have tried to understand our state of being, by grasping at its stars, or its arts, or its economics. But, if there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/wise-men-have-tried-to-understand-our-state-of-being-by-grasping-at/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The Brick House was one of the toughest joints I ever played in ... Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) [Browse all 1,860 Circles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "President Bush says we've turned the corner in Iraq. What is that, about 16 corners we've turned? I think they call that running in circles.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Will Durst" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-corner-in-iraq-what-is-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-corner-in-iraq-what-is-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/will-durst-25738_circles_president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-cor_1015388.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/will-durst-25738_circles_president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-cor_1015388.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/105/will-durst-25738_circles_president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-cor_1015388.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“President Bush says we've turned the corner in Iraq. What is that, about 16 corners we've turned? I think…” — Will Durst", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Will Durst", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-durst/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "President Bush says we've turned the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-corner-in-iraq-what-is-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-durst/president-bush-says-we-ve-turned-the-corner-in-iraq-what-is-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```