Post turtle
Encyclopedia
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 George W Bush, Barack Obama
, Bill Clinton
, and Stephen Harper
.
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."
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."
Molly Ivins
is attributed to usage for George W. Bush.
At the 2010 CMAs
, Brad Paisley
used the phrase in his acceptance speech for Entertainer of the Year.
Steve Benen
, lead blogger for the liberal "The Political Animal" at Washington Monthly, refers to Eric Cantor
as a post turtle.
A list of old sources is here.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, based on an old joke. Various politicians have been referenced by the joke or used the joke, including George W Bush, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, and Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
.
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 J. Kennedy reviews the book The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton by Joe KleinJoe Klein
Joe Klein is a longtime Washington, D.C. and New York journalist and columnist, known for his novel Primary Colors, an anonymously written roman à clef portraying Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign. Klein is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is a former Guggenheim...
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."
Molly Ivins
Molly Ivins
Mary Tyler "Molly" Ivins was an American newspaper columnist, populist, political commentator, humorist and author.-Early life and education:Ivins was born in Monterey, California, and raised in Houston, Texas...
is attributed to usage for George W. Bush.
At the 2010 CMAs
Country Music Association Awards
The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards, or the CMAs, and not to be confused with the ACM Awards, are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967...
, Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....
used the phrase in his acceptance speech for Entertainer of the Year.
Steve Benen
Steve Benen
Steve Benen is an American political writer and blogger, and became the lead blogger for the Washington Monthly "Political Animal" blog in August 2008....
, lead blogger for the liberal "The Political Animal" at Washington Monthly, refers to Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
Eric Ivan Cantor is the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district, serving since 2001. A member of the Republican Party, he became House Majority Leader when the 112th Congress convened on January 3, 2011...
as a post turtle.
A list of old sources is here.