News Munchies
Confusing DePower of Words with DeWords of Power
Originally Posted
Updated
Japan's money markets took U.S. President George W. Bush at his word as he made a news conference comment on economics while visiting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Confusing the words "devaluation" and "deflation," the fumble-tongued U.S. leader breathed excitement into the foreign exchange markets. Even though most reasonably awake observers immediately knew Bush meant "deflation" when he inadvertently said "devaluation," traders took an "act first-think later" approach.
Of course, the White House issued an immediate mea culpa/retraction/clarification/correction/improvement/adjustment/straightening out, and all was well, unless you happened to be invested in the currency market at the time the remarks were reported.
Japan's traders obviously hadn't done their homework. Reading any of Molly Ivins' columns on Bushonics should have been mandatory preparation for his visit.