Posts tagged Campaign
Cognitive Dissonance
"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather boa!" -- Allen Ginsberg
DC Decoder Glossary: Under the Bus
By Meg Lanker-Simons
-Meg follows @DC_Decoder and is the writer of the popular political blog, Cognitive Dissonance. Find her on Twitter at @meglanker or email her at meglanker@gmail.comUSAGE: “President Obama has thrown allies like Israel under the bus even as he has relaxed sanctions on Castro’s Cuba.” -Mitt Romney’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, August 30, 2012
DC DECODER DEFINITION: The first use of the phrase “under the bus” can be traced to a 1984 article in the Washington Post headlined, “Pensive, With Orange Hair; Cyndi Lauper & Her Tunes on Tour.” Reporter David Remnick wrote: “In the rock ‘n’ roll business, you are either on the bus or under it.”
Originally, the phrase was used to describe someone in show business or athletics who was past their prime and was sacrificed, essentially thrown under the tour bus.
In a political context, the definition has shifted to describe a trusted ally or supporter who is undeservingly cut loose from a campaign or scapegoated out of spite, embarrassment, or personal gain.
The phrase certainly qualifies as a cliché. On an April 2008 edition of NPR’s Fresh Air, linguist Geoff Nunberg reported “under the bus” was used over, “400 times in the past six months” in news stories describing the primary and candidates.
That same election cycle, Washington Post writer David Segal pleaded for fellow correspondents to stop using the phrase, writing:
“Waiting on a sidewalk or already onboard — either way, ‘thrown under the bus’ fails to capture a key dimension of all this road rage. For the candidates, the point is not to inflict pain. It’s to ditch a problem that is a drag on momentum, to regain speed.”
Unfortunately for Nunberg, Segal, and the rest of us, the use of “under the bus” shows no sign of abating, but accelerated in the 2012 campaign season – much like a metaphorical campaign bus speeding away from its latest émigré.
See other terms in DC Decoder’s glossary of political vocabulary, jargon, and clichés.
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Check out my entry for The Christian Science Monitor’s DC Decoder project! “Under the bus” is one of the most irritating political clichés in existence. Hence, me choosing to define it. Thanks to DC Decoder for the opportunity!
I’m in a three-way primary for the US Senate. I’ve gone to people and asked for their support, their help, or their endorsement, and some people say yes. They write me a decent check. I remember that. The people that I thought were friends that tell me to go away because they are supporting someone else, I remember that. You know, I can remember back to 12 years ago. You remember who’s helping you. That’s one way that people get to know congressmen and senators.
Rep. Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin, answering a constituent’s question on the best way to get the congressman’s attention.
So… thanks for the honesty?
Mitt Romney’s campaign is charging $45 for a commemorative bumper sticker
It reads “Make Mitt #45!” If by #45, you mean my 45th choice, that’s accurate.
There’s a few others in line before him, like my neighbor’s weird rooster that only crows at noon, but sure – I guess he could be my 45th choice.
Oh, you mean 45th president of the United States?
LOL NOPE.
Dear Beyonce,
Actually, you’ve NEVER emailed me, much less often. Never a “Hey girl, playing a concert in Denver!” or “You should totes check out my semi-racist new hair dye advertisement lol!”
Just another ask for money on behalf of your friends, Barack and Michelle. At least you referred to them as the president and first lady, versus the other overly chipper celebrity-endorsed emails I’ve received.
*Sigh*
Tell you what – maybe I’ll chip in to hang out with you, Jay, Barack, and Michelle once my overdue rent and utilities are paid, and I can afford to buy my books for the semester. After I get some groceries, maybe we’ll see how much is left. I care less about meeting you and Jay than I do about keeping the electric on.
You must not know about me, or else you’d know that. Truth be told, the Barack Obama celebrity campaign asks are getting irritating – especially when there’s so many of us in the same boat that it’s in constant danger of capsizing.
Cheers,
Meg
Out canvassing…
and I think I’m going to start saying, “Hey, I just met you. And this is crazy. But here’s Anne’s flier. Vote for her maybe?”
I’m that punch drunk.
BREAKING: John Edwards jury reaches verdict.
According to CNN, the verdict is expected to be read shortly.
Update: The verdict is on only one of six counts. Edwards was charged with six felony counts related to alleged improper use and acceptance of campaign funds
Update 3:24 PM EST: The judge has instructed the jury to resume deliberations after denying the defense’s motion for a mistrial on counts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. The jury reached a unanimous verdict on count three, which pertains to whether Edwards illegally received more than $700,000 in donations from wealthy heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon to cover up an illicit affair and subsequent child with mistress Rielle Hunter. The verdict has not been read.
Crowd at Santorum Rally Horrified When Two Men Kiss
There’s nothing more patriotic than shrieking “USA! USA!” at two men who kissed in front of you:
Rick Santorum was well into his speech during a campaign rally in Arlington Heights, Ill., on Friday when two men in the crowd embraced in a rather passionate kiss, prompting a “mic check” and two guards to escort them from the rally.
The crowd reacted with audible screams, gasps and wagging fingers. Another man jumped up and followed the pair out as the audience began chanting “U-S-A” until they left the gym at Christian Liberty Academy where Santorum was speaking.
Kirsten Boyd Johnson brings the snark over at Wonkette:
What’s this, two men interrupting Rick Santorum’s banal rambling to lock lips in a simple act of protest against homophobia? ACTION TEAM FORCE PATRIOTISM TO THE RESCUE. Watch the excitable wingnuts spring into action and holler “U-S-A” over and over in a heroic attempt to ward off decency and tolerance from their midst. How about some finger pointing, would finger pointing help, too?
This lady is on it, oh boy is she:
Dear God no! Look at those men! Look at what they’re doing! It’s so, so, SINFUL!
(Source: cognitivedissonance)
