Political Phrases I'm Ready to Hear Retired

So I don't want to talk (much) about Palin, mostly because she seems placed as just about the worst part of every form of conservatism that's out there, wrapped up in a neat package. It seems to me, honestly, that there's not much she could have done wrong tonight - it was an introductory speech and as long as she didn't say anything openly inflammatory, spit on anyone, or have her pants come down, it would be viewed as a success.

But I would like to call time-out on a few phrases that have been overused in the recent political memory, the first one having just crossed the threshold for me tonight:
  • "hockey moms"
  • "NASCAR dads"
  • "red meat"
And while we're at it, let's stop mentioning the importance of the women vote. If people can't figure out that 50 percent of the population is an important group to appeal to, nothing a commentator can say is going to make them realize it. That was, as I understand it, one of the outcomes of that whole suffrage thing.

Okay? Okay.

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mindy said...

YES! oh. my. yes.

I agree so vehemently that...jeez, i dunno, but YES.

September 4, 2008 at 7:50 PM
Dr. Curmudgeon said...

Apologies to Lesley, whose comments I messed up. I'm with you, Lesley: let's get rid of the drilling chants.

What's killing me is the notion that we'd somehow want someone who could run into at the bar to be our President. Usually when I run into someone at the bar they sucker me for a drink and then never turn up again.

Which, now that I think about it, is a sort of nice metaphor for the last several years of federal governance.

September 4, 2008 at 11:27 PM
LY said...

Dr. C,
Thanks for your lovely apology. I had just assumed that you got sick of my typos and banished me altogether. :)

I know what you mean about the bar deal. And can I add another one (again)?? Either "gun-totin'" or "pistol-packin'" -- take your pick. WHY IS THIS BEING PROMOTED AS A *GOOD* THING FOR A VP?! (umm, hello, Dicky C.?!) And why/how have these phrases become synonymous with "VP preparedness"?!? Major head-scratcher. Not to mention disheartening.
I actually wrote about it on my blog as well:
http://layoder.wordpress.com

Happy Friday,
Lesley

September 5, 2008 at 12:42 AM
Dr. Curmudgeon said...

Oh, no. Typos aren't such a problem here. I figure if I get to treat it like a space for something closer to free-writing, than everyone else does, too. I was trying to triple-task when I was approving comments and wound up confusing myself.

I suppose for a subset of America those are good things. I kept hearing Old West comparisons last night. It's odd what metaphors we unpack in these moments. And how we mix and match them a la "A Four Star Warrior."

September 5, 2008 at 9:48 AM
Notorious Ph.D. said...

I'm with you: why would we want an ordinary person in high office? I'd like someone extraordinary.

September 5, 2008 at 12:34 PM