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'Under the Bus' and Other Offenses
One of the many negative aspects of an especially long campaign season is the endless repetition of phrases and clichés that spring forth from the mouths of candidates and the pundits who cover them. After an entire year of political sparring, during which our prospective leaders winnow complex policy questions down into catchy sound-bite phrases, it sometimes feels like the whole country has contracted the virus that reduces language into bumper-sticker mantras. Here, then, is a top five list of the most annoying turns of phrase of our current campaign season:
1. "Under the bus." This, of course, is the place where you throw those people or ideas or whole countries whose use you have outgrown. Reverend Wright threw Barack Obama under the bus, so Obama had to crawl back out and throw Reverend Wright under his own bus.
2. "Wake up, America!" This frequent taunt is most often found in the comment section of blogs. Those righteous few who have woken up from their nap in the Matrix are quite fond of letting you know that you, America, are still sleeping.
3. "The American people want change!" Maddeningly vague, this sentiment can be expressed, and has, by the supporters of any of the candidates currently running. In a year in which an incumbent is not seeking re-election everybody's blabbing on and on about change.
4. "It's 3 a.m." Ever since Hillary Clinton released her famous 3 a.m. ad, it feels like this campaign has been one long, sleepless night. McCain and Obama quickly fired up their own versions of sugar plumb ferries dancing in dreams of cute white kids while insomniac presidents fielded phone calls about imminent terrorist attacks. But the 3 a.m madness didn't end there. No, then came the endless YouTube parodies. Everybody, please, back to bed.
5. "Time for a little straight talk." This catch-phrase has been around for almost ten years. Maybe it even meant something once. Now, whenever you hear it, you have to brace yourself for just the opposite. It's also an odd construction that implies that whenever the user does not presage remarks with that qualifier, he or she is probably lying.
Think of any other overused phrases? Drop them in the comments below...
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 5)Diane Diamond10:32AMApr 30th 2008
Overused Phrases: Hillary Clinton, Muslim, Terrorist, Racist and Mr Wright.
You can be gone a month from here and nothing changes, same old gang saying the same old gang-bang crap. Phoney names and phoney people saying phoney things that they expect educated people to believe. HOW PATHETIC. I have seen better posts on a shit-house wall. The few intelligent posts contain truth and reasonable substance, deal with real economic issues and other vital elements that have a direct bearing on our country's survival. They are the exception. Alarming to think they calls themselves Americans. They do not stand for what America is all about. Thank God they do not represent the majority. Unrespectable people need to examine their own life first.
Mary Parker10:37AMApr 30th 2008
I am an admitted Hillary lover but I must admit to shivering everytime I hear "The path to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue goes through Pennsylvania " and it's variants depending on the next primary.
Katherine10:38AMApr 30th 2008
This is a defining moment. GD America US of KKK A. Yes We Can. Change. Believe. We are the ones we have been waiting for. Washington special interests. Uniter not divider. Bring people together. Old politics. He's my uncle. Typical white person. Denounce and Reject. Guilt by association. Conspiracy. I was not in church that day. I won't wear that pin on my chest. For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country. uh, ah uh, ahh. Leaves 15 million uninsured. I don't take oil company money or lobbyist money. No pac money. Just words? Solutions not just speeches. cling. bitter. white people. black people. polls.
DontThinkSo10:38AMApr 30th 2008
Put Obama ON the bus............
"Put another way, if voters believe that Obama fundamentally rejects Wright’s views, they might question Obama’s judgment in remaining close to Wright for 20 years. But if voters believe that Obama secretly agrees with Wright but is putting on another face to win an election, then all is lost. “People could ask why somebody with good judgment would take so long to do this,”
Another slow day in the news department for the Obama Love Machine?
Mary Parker10:40AMApr 30th 2008
HAHAHAHA!! Right on Katherine!!! Great examples!
tzada10:41AMApr 30th 2008
Not on your list is Obama. Put a check by it for me.
Once more Barack Obama is shown to be a liar. But once more he finds someone else to blame. This time it is the PRESS. He is blaming the MSM for identifying Reverend Wright as his spiritual mentor or spiritual adviser:
OBAMA: I know that one thing that [Wright] said was true, was that he wasn't — you know, he was never my, quote-unquote, "spiritual adviser."
He was never my "spiritual mentor." He was — he was my pastor. And so to some extent, how, you know, the — the press characterized in the past that relationship, I think, wasn't accurate.
On April 5, 2004, Barack Obama told a reporter from the Chicago Sun-Times that he had three spiritual mentors or counselors: Jeremiah Wright, James Meeks, and Father Michael Pfleger.
"That problem comes with lying. Funny thing, the truth has its own consistency, and the people who stick to it rarely have to back track and spin. That's how you trip up a lying witness." See Wellman, Cross Examination of the Perjured Witness, page 66.
John10:42AMApr 30th 2008
More for your list:
1. "The race card."
2. "Flag pins" and "Lapels."
3. He or she is "Unpatriotic."
4. "Clintons Hit List."
5. "Obama's 50 Lies."
John in Philadelphia
OBAMA '08
DUDE10:55AMApr 30th 2008
KATHERINE'S KAT WALLERINGS.
Shirley10:59AMApr 30th 2008
Katherine,
I was typing really fast, but you about covered everything.
You Go Girl!
Hillary'08
Pauline11:01AMApr 30th 2008
DUDE, :-) Least felines have sense enough cover up their crap.
Mary Parker11:09AMApr 30th 2008
haha pauline
tzada11:09AMApr 30th 2008
From: Diane Diamond10:32AMApr 30th 2008
Overused Phrases: Hillary Clinton, Muslim, Terrorist, Racist and Mr Wright.
You can be gone a month from here and nothing changes, same old gang saying the same old gang-bang crap. Phoney names and phoney people saying phoney things that they expect educated people to believe. HOW PATHETIC.
_________________________________________________
From me:
Ridicule won’t work when the truth is available. The eradication of knowledge is the first step in gaining power. Which is what you want. You don't want people learning the truth about Obama. But you cannot put the genie back in the bottle.
As far as the bathroom wall posts, you ought to know since they got your name all over them.
tzada11:10AMApr 30th 2008
From: Diane Diamond10:32AMApr 30th 2008
Overused Phrases: Hillary Clinton, Muslim, Terrorist, Racist and Mr Wright.
You can be gone a month from here and nothing changes, same old gang saying the same old gang-bang crap. Phoney names and phoney people saying phoney things that they expect educated people to believe. HOW PATHETIC.
_________________________________________________
From me:
Ridicule won’t work when the truth is available. The eradication of knowledge is the first step in gaining power. Which is what you want. You don't want people learning the truth about Obama. But you cannot put the genie back in the bottle.
As far as the bathroom wall posts, you ought to know since they got your name all over them.
Mary Parker11:11AMApr 30th 2008
talk about a bunch of bitches
Shirley11:13AMApr 30th 2008
Mary:
Very classy! You must be an Obama supporter!
Hillary '08
Mary Parker11:17AMApr 30th 2008
Shirley et al,
classy?? hmmm, you are the ones as bad as the obama supporter freaks. You blindly follow your gal but can't admit when she does something mean or nasty. Bully and gang up all you want.
Mary Parker11:21AMApr 30th 2008
I support Hillary and will vote for her but Reynolds feline instinct apparently didn't kick in because she left a pile for all to see.
Katherine11:21AMApr 30th 2008
How could I forget: Hope! Hope. Hope. Dope.
Yeah and, She'll do ANYTHING to win. She'll say ANYTHING to win. Steal the election. Vince Foster. Liar. Blue Dress. Bosnia. Sniper Fire...control her husband...RACIST. Racism. Racial. Race. Race. Race. Needs to drop out. Can't win. super delegates. Judas.
blah blah blah
Shirley11:27AMApr 30th 2008
Yes, Mary, but the difference is....I know I live in a country that has individuals of different opinions. A country where everyone has the right to choose. To stoop to name calling on the principle another human being does not share your point of view, is very low
class!
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New Voter10:29AMApr 30th 2008
Let's throw Hillary under the bus. There is enough dirt out there to do it if Obama will use it.