And another thing ...

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Robert Lieblich - 29 Jan 2004 11:13 GMT

Seen in today's *Washington Post*, op-ed page: "If Karl Rove thinks
he can take down John Kerry the way his mentor, Lee Atwater, took
down Michael Dukakis, he's got another thing coming." See it for
yourself at:
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58512-2004Jan28.html>.

Apologies to those of you who think "thing" is correct, or at least
an acceptable alternative, but to me this editorial tin-earedness at
at its most naked.

Not that there was any reason to expect better.

Signature

Bob Lieblich
Who reads the *Post* anyay

Reply to this Message

Christopher Johnson - 29 Jan 2004 14:42 GMT

[..]

> Apologies to those of you who think "thing" is correct, or at least
> an acceptable alternative, but to me this editorial tin-earedness at
> at its most naked.

Perhaps this is another variant of 'Skitt's Law'?

> Not that there was any reason to expect better.

My sentiments exactly.

Signature

Christopher

(Change 3032 to 3232 to reply by private e-mail)

Reply to this Message

John O'Flaherty - 29 Jan 2004 16:28 GMT

>Seen in today's *Washington Post*, op-ed page: "If Karl Rove thinks
>he can take down John Kerry the way his mentor, Lee Atwater, took
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Not that there was any reason to expect better.

It's misspelled:

If Karl Rove things he can take down...

--
john

Reply to this Message

Mickwick - 29 Jan 2004 19:28 GMT

In alt.usage.english, Robert Lieblich wrote:

[...]

>Apologies to those of you who think "thing" is correct, or at least
>an acceptable alternative, but to me this editorial tin-earedness at
>at its most naked.

I can't make up my mind whether the following is a true example of this
particular solecism. It's by the Abominable Taki, a semi-literate social
climber who writes a highly mannered (and ill-mannered) weekly column in
_The Spectator_. Taki certainly has a tin ear but, in this instance,
does he know the correct formula or does he not?

Although I don't agree with her, I'm afraid she's quite
right.[*] Most boxers I know are racists, as are football
players (American football) and karatekas. These are sports
dominated by young black and brown people, and if the beautiful
Mary Wakefield thinks her 90-year-old granny was a racist she's
got a thing or two coming when she meets some of my fellow
martial artists.

>Not that there was any reason to expect better.

Ditto. Even if Taki knew the real formula and was just piling archness
upon archness as usual.

[*]: Context wouldn't help resolve that paradox. The first quoted
sentence is a typical Taki cleverism: glib, showy and totally
meaningless.

Signature

Mickwick

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2004

And another thing ...