Conan O’Brien: Bush Tax Return

Conan O’Brien Money Quote saying former president Bush attempted to claim Iraq as a dependent on his tax return. Conan O’Brien said:
 

 

“Earlier today, the White House released President Bush’s tax return. Not surprisingly, under dependents, the president listed Iraq” — Conan O’Brien

In this quote, Conan O’Brien seems to be making a political joke at the expense of President Bush. By suggesting Bush listed “Iraq” as a dependent on his tax return, O’Brien implies the country had become a financial burden on the U.S. due to the ongoing war and occupation.

The tone suggests O’Brien was satirizing Bush through absurdist, comedic hyperbole by personifying Iraq as a dependent child. Overall, the quote portrays O’Brien humorously criticizing the fiscal and human costs he associated with Bush’s foreign policy in the Middle East through a tongue-in-cheek tax-related quip.

Conan O’Brien: CVS Receipt Dems

Conan O’Brien Money Quote saying because there are so many democratic candidates for President in 2020, why not use those really long CVS receipts to print them all out? Conan O’Brien said:
 

 

“Million dollar idea: print the Democratic primary ballot on CVS receipts” — Conan O’Brien

In this quote, Conan O’Brien is making a joke about the notoriously long receipts printed at CVS pharmacy stores. The best interpretation is that he’s comically suggesting that if Democratic primary ballots were printed on the same overly detailed paper style as CVS receipts, they would be so long and convoluted as to resemble a million dollar idea.

By comparing the ballots to the often overly-itemized drug store printouts, O’Brien appears to be lightheartedly mocking the complexity of choices in a Democratic nomination contest.

His humor derives from the notion of taking the wordy receipts known for containing more information than needed and applying their format to something as important as a primary election ballot.

Million dollar idea: print the Democratic primary ballot on CVS receipts.

— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) April 9, 2019

Conan O’Brien: Happy Counting $

Conan O’Brien Money Quote saying he’d seen a study that claimed the Swiss were the most happy nation, but the Swiss couldn’t respond because they were occupied with money counting and eating chocolates. Conan O’Brien said:
 

 

“A U.N. study claims the happiest country in the world is Switzerland. When asked why they’re so happy, Swiss people couldn’t answer because their hands were counting money and their mouths were full of chocolate” — Conan O’Brien

This quote by Conan O’Brien is meant humorously. It suggests that the Swiss people, who according to a U.N. study are the happiest nation, are happy because they are too preoccupied with enjoying wealth and luxuries to answer why.

Specifically, their hands are busy counting money which implies affluence, and their mouths are full of chocolate which represents indulgence in fine foods and treats. The joke implies that the Swiss people are so happy simply because they are wealthy and able to focus on pleasures of life rather than deeper philosophical reasons for their happiness.

Overall, the quote uses exaggeration for comedic effect to poke fun at the idea that financial prosperity and access to luxuries may be significant contributing factors to a nation’s overall level of reported happiness.