"Apparently Arnold was inspired by President Bush, who proved you can be a successful politician in this country even if English is your second language"

This quote by Conan O'Brien carries an amusing and somewhat satirical tone, often characteristic of late-night funny. At its core, the declaration juxtaposes the interaction styles of 2 notable public figures: Arnold Schwarzenegger and President George W. Bush.

To start with, the joke highlights Arnold Schwarzenegger, who emigrated from Austria and notoriously became an action film star and eventually the Governor of California. Schwarzenegger's thick Austrian accent and occasional grammatical slip-ups in English were popular and frequently mimicked or referenced in pop culture. English, in Arnold's case, is quite actually his 2nd language, and he successfully browsed the shift from star to a political figure regardless of any viewed language barriers.

Conan O'Brien contrasts this with President George W. Bush, a native English speaker, thereby using irony since Bush's periodic verbal blunders underwent satire and ridicule during his presidency. These included mispronunciations, malapropisms, and other gaffes that comedians and critics seized upon as proof of his supposed absence of eloquence or command over the English language.

O'Brien's joke thus operates on two levels: it playfully jabs both at Schwarzenegger's and Bush's public personalities. On one hand, it underscores Schwarzenegger's amazing political ascent despite linguistic difficulties. On the other, it buffoons President Bush by suggesting, humorously, that his widely known spoken mistakes made him seem as though English might not be his mother tongue-- highlighting the disconnect in between his training and his public speaking abilities.

The broader commentary may be on the nature of political interaction itself, suggesting, with a touch of sarcasm, that political success in America does not always depend upon linguistic precision or eloquence. Rather, it hinges upon other qualities like charm, public appeal, and determination. This reflects a subtle critique of the political landscape, where compound and design frequently link in unanticipated ways.