Posts tagged as:

Obama

MUFTI: wearing civilian clothes

March 28, 2013

I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve heard someone say that “she went mufti.“  It’s not a mystery word.  I’ve always known that it meant that someone was “dressed down.”   But I’ve never taken the time to do any research to discover where the word comes from and what it really means [...]

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ARTICULATE [adj., n. ahr-TIK-yuh-lit; v. ahr-TIK-yuh-leyt]: expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness

February 12, 2013

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) has to have been one of the most articulate public speakers in our nation’s history.   His ability behind a microphone or on the back end of a campaign train was incomparable.  FDR’s ability to make a difficult point in words that could be understood by people with many levels of [...]

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VICTOR: a person who has overcome or defeated an adversary

November 7, 2012

The words “to the victor belong the spoils” races through my mind as I begin this posting.   It is usually employed to indicate that the winner of an event garners all kinds of wonderful prizes for having won.   I suppose there are situations where that applies, and … to some extent … there are prizes [...]

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MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: one who “coaches” a completed experience when it is safe… after it’s over

October 23, 2012

It’s always easier to prognosticate and speculate when you have the facts.  That’s true particularly when the event under scrutiny has already taken place. A Monday morning quarterback is one who tries to sound profound, but only comments after the event is over and the results are known.   It’s easy to say, “I think New [...]

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A TRUE PENULTIMATE: Debate #3

October 22, 2012

While there is no telling what could happen between now and November 6, one could say that tonight’s third debate between Mr. Romney and President Obama is a penultimate planned experience.   This is the last time the two are planning to be on the same stage at the same time exchanging comments.   The November 6 [...]

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REPRISE: to repeat

September 23, 2012

To reprise something is to repeat it.   As in the case of a serial murderer, who earns that title only by repeating (his) crime.   Or a dancer who reprises a step or action during a routine.  Then again, there is the friend who reprises a story ad infinitum. In a political campaign a candidate is [...]

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SILO: thinking that focuses on one issue at a time

June 18, 2012

A wise mentor and I were driving through farm country at one time several years ago on our way to an important meeting. “See that farm over there?” he said, pointing to a farm with five silos next to the cattle barn.  “That’s a prosperous farm.  You can always tell what farmers are doing well [...]

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MILITARISM: tending to prefer the use of military action over other alternatives

June 3, 2012

On Chris Hayes’ morning show, Up! with Chris Hayes, a very interesting and intelligent conversation was held regarding the increased use of military action by President Obama over the past couple of years.  Some are applauding the strength of his action against Al Qaeda, and some are deploring the shift from a more concilliatory position [...]

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NEWTISMS: not so profound comments from the Republican contender

January 18, 2012

    This won’t take long. The news this morning is full of reports about potential Republican Presidential Candide Newt Gingrich and his comments about the way the President is handling the Iran threat situation.   In strong, blatant criticism, Gingrich declares that the President is dangerous, the most dangerous President of the United States he [...]

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