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Dear Rahm Emanuel
Please avoid discussing ... politics ... using ... sports ... cliches.
Love, Elana
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Why not? Politics is a competitive event. Sports analogies are perfectly appropriate. And I might add, that a good share of the comments here and on other blogs are entirely parallel to the trash-talking that goes on between spectators.
January 16, 2009 12:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why not? Politics is widely seen in this country as a blood sport.
Besides, sports metaphors may be cliché, but they have an illustrative value that lends them to that overuse. What do you suggest?
January 16, 2009 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Technical foul. Sports cliches and metaphors are an essential part of political dialogue. This criticism is out of bounds. To the penalty box for you.
January 16, 2009 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dijamo, how'd you "hopify" your avatar? That's good stuff!
January 16, 2009 12:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
In honor of the inauguration... YAY! You can create your own at www.obamiconme.com :)
My smokey-pie has one too! http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/entries/7028-smokey.html
January 16, 2009 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Get with the program. Elana. Sports metaphors come with the territory.
January 16, 2009 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know, if I hear "take it to the next level" again, I swear that I'm going to jump into the ring with a freaking folding chair swinging.
January 16, 2009 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sheesh, it pregame time. The kickoff is four days away.
The House and Senate are going through they're pregame warmups as we type.
What's wrong with sports metaphors?
January 16, 2009 12:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it would be more apropos if he used ballet metaphors.
January 16, 2009 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me tutu!!!
NOT!!!
January 16, 2009 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't have a problem with it until he comes out and tries to compare a Katrina like disaster and lack of action to a punt to the other team, aka the next incoming Administration. At that point I'll probably say enough is enough.
January 16, 2009 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dear Elana,
Please avoid snarky opaque posts with mystifying links.
January 16, 2009 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you. I tried 2 links which didn't make any sense and decided not to waste my time. It was like trying to get to first base with a field goal.
January 16, 2009 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just read the things Emmanuel said, and you'll get it--ignore everything Blitzer says in the link, and scroll down to Emmanuel's name.
This was actually nice work on Elana's part to string them all together. I certainly didn't realize his tendency to use garbled sports metaphors . . .
My only quibble with the link that MSNBC has for the "80 yard pass" mention. Should have been Steve Young to Jerry Rice in the 95 Super Bowl...
January 16, 2009 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Geez, you people are putting on a full court press just because Elana objected to sports metaphors.
Chill out, or everyone gets sent to the penalty box. There's no crying in politics!
January 16, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Foul! Yerrrrrrrrrrrr OUT!
Ole Ole Ole Ole!
January 16, 2009 3:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
It beats using war cliches.
January 16, 2009 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
At least get them right. In the CNN Blitzer transcript linked he keeps saying "field goal" when he means "goalpost".
January 16, 2009 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I laughed at that one. Moving the field goals, eh?
January 16, 2009 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sex metaphors! a la Rude Pundit. That's what American political discourse needs - sex metaphors.
January 16, 2009 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
i think that it can be demystifying for some folks who might not understand politics- at least to the extent that rahm emanuel understand it- to analogize it with sports. of course, if you don't care for or understand sports, such comparisons do more harm than good.
i'd say in my experience with politics, sports analogies are common, but, i understand some criticisms of those comparisons as it can elevate sports, devalue politics and inject more (unnecessary) masculinity into a sector of society that is already very sexist.
however, i think this analogy provides a simple way for the "everyday" person to relate to overview of politics in washington.
January 16, 2009 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't 'nicks and cuts' from the first link a shaving reference?
January 16, 2009 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Probably comes from a Schick shaving cream commercial done by Mantle and Maris in '61.
January 16, 2009 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who was it who came up with this play on a sports cliche?
George Bush was born on third base and thought he'd hit a triple. Dan Quayle was born on third base and thought he'd kicked a field goal."
January 16, 2009 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jim Hightower.
Does that make me the MVP of the thread?
January 16, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. Love me some Jim Hightower. Never miss the Lowdown.
January 16, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
He evidently made those comments at the 1988 convention. Which also gave us, I believe, Ann Richards' memorable line about H.W. being born with a silver foot in his mouth...Too bad those were the highlights of that election year...
January 16, 2009 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, score tied 1-1, Elana's at the plate with a 3-2 count
It;s fourth down and goal from the 2 yard line, scored knotted at 21, 5 seconds on the clock, Elana's under center waiting for the snap
Double overtime, 2 seconds left score 142-140, Elana at the three point line....
Mighty Elana has struck out
Rahm can do whatever he wants
US: National Survey (USAToday-1/9-11)
By Eric Dienstfrey
USA Today / Gallup
1/9-11/08; 1,031 adults, 3% margin of error
Mode: Live Telephone Interviews
National
Congressional Job Approval:
19% Approve, 76% Disapprove
Barack Obama Transition Job Approval"
83% Approve, 12% Disapprove
Favorable / Unfavorable
Barack Obama: 78 / 18
January 16, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
He should only use ballet analogies.
January 16, 2009 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink