Post turtle

Post turtle

Post turtle is a phrase that has been used in political discussion of various countries, including the U.S. and Canada, based on an old joke. Various politicians have been referenced by the joke or used the joke, including Bill Clinton, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E4D91039F937A15750C0A9649C8B63 New York Times] , George W. Bush [http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljokebushpostturtle.htm] , Stephen Harper [http://www.canadaka.net/modules.php?name=jokes&op=ViewItems&vid=81] , and Sarah Palin [http://www.ieatgravel.com/?p=1128] .

The Joke

An old rancher is talking about politics with a young man from the city. He compares a politician to a "post turtle". The young man doesn't understand and asks him what a post turtle is.

The old man says, "When you're driving down a country road and you see a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle. You know he didn't get up there by himself. He doesn't belong there; he can't get anything done while he's up there; and you just want to help the poor, dumb thing down."

Notable usage

William Kennedy reviews the book THE NATURAL The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton by Joe Klein who quotes Clinton on his own achievement: "If you see a turtle sitting on top of a fence post, it didn't get there by accident"cite web |author=William Kennedy |publisher=New York Times |date=2002-03-24 |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E4D91039F937A15750C0A9649C8B63 |title=The Turtle on the Fence Post |accessdate=2008-09-30 |format=html ] .

Molly Ivinscite web |author=Molly Ivins |publisher=CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC |date=2003 |url=http://www.democrats.us/editorial/ivins042304.shtml |title=Turtle on a Fence Post |accessdate=2008-09-23 |format=html ] is attributed to usage for George W. Bush.

A list of old sources is herecite web |author=Barry Popik |publisher=Copyright 2004-2006 Barry Popik, New York City |date=2006 |url=http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/if_you_see_a_turtle_on_a_fence_he_had_help_getting_there |title=The Big Apple: If you see a turtle on a fence, he had help getting there |accessdate=2008-09-30 |format=html ] .

References


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