Comments on: It’s in the rhetoric…

By: acline

acline — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 10:59:02 +0000

R- Are you wondering if my post is merely political? Bush is the only president I have to work with If Kerry had been elected, I’d be working with him. And if you’ll look back over my archives, you see that it’s been a long time since I specifically criticized Bush about anything.

I think Kerry used the quote to poke fun at Bush. Since he hasn’t called into question his own use of it, as Bush has, I haven’t seen any need to visit it based on intention.

By: rgrafton

rgrafton — Mon, 17 Jan 2005 10:04:41 +0000

I wonder what John Kerry’s “intention” was when he used “Bring It On” as a campaign slogan? Was it “politically uncomfortable” for him to have to say afterward, “Make It Stop” when the Swift Boat Vet ads began?

By: acline

acline — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 20:01:51 +0000

MWS– Re: much ado… I would agree except that Bush brought it up.

Re: not the first… Certainly.

By: MWS

MWS — Sun, 16 Jan 2005 18:29:49 +0000

I think the specific example is much ado about nothing. Whatever Bush meant when he said “bring them on” is probably irrelevant. I doubt that the the insurgents decided to start the insurgency based on Bush’s words. It’s sort of like a football player making a comment about the other team prior to a game. Does this really make any difference as to the outcome? Probably not.

Still, Bush is not the first president that has made comments for political purposes without considering their wider context. It’s sort of endemic to American politics to to seek short-term political gain that creates problems in the long-term.

By: acline

acline — Fri, 14 Jan 2005 10:25:46 +0000

Three guys are standing on a street corner. A pretty woman walks by. Guy #1: She looks nice. Guy #2: She looks nice. Guy #3: She looks nice. Same F(p) and context. Different rhetoric (in this case inflection). Three different meanings. All three understand. Yes, TDS was good last night. I especially liked: Sept. 11 + X = Shut Up!

By: Sven

Sven — Fri, 14 Jan 2005 09:11:47 +0000

Mmmmm inflection. Pardon me while I dumb things down, but that reminded me of Steven Colbert’s terrific exchange with Stewart after reporting on the “See B.S.” scandal.

“You don’t need the right facts if you’ve got the right … inflection?”

“I see your inflection and the way you move your head with it, but, that’s just innuendo and that can’t be the only thing in a news story.”

“Can’t it? I ask you: Does Jon Stewart orally pleasure Teamsters for pocket change?