Irritating, confusing news demands clarity
It was confusing and even irritating, hearing the news Wednesday.
First, there was that situation about Attorney General Eric Holder, and I’d like to comment on that:
I went to a press conference once when an attorney general was being questioned. I heard a reporter ask, “General, what do you think about… (I forget the whole question.).” Afterward I heard the reporter say, “I called him general, which you’re supposed to do, and some of these guys, I could tell, didn’t even know that fact when they asked him a question.” He was feeling pretty good about it.
So if you ever get a chance to talk to Attorney General Holder, you should address him as general, because he really is a general. So far anyway.
Then I heard some Republican on MSNBC (You didn’t think it could find one, right?) say of President Obama, “He doesn’t explain how he’s going to jump start the economy. He really doesn’t.”
Sure he does. He has stated that he plans “to get rid of fossil fuels.” He has said he wants to do it within 10 years. Then with expensive and soon-to-expire coal, gas and oil no longer needed, we can go to free and limitless wind and sun power.
He has further stated he will begin immediately tightening regulations on fossil fuels and giving more funding to wind and sun power, hastening the good times.
He has also made it clear he will “fundamentally change America,” which means no more hogging the wealth, but sharing the wealth by changing capitalism to communism. Or maybe he means socialism; that point is hazy, but according to the common definition of socialism (communism with shorter lines), it’s a moot economic point.
Then there was this continuing talk about how the government is going to make us quit eating a large amount of the things we like; or, well, maybe we could have more of the highly taxed ones, but just a little more. Very worrisome, especially regarding ice cream they put strawberries in. I think we all realize that should it come to that, we must be ready to act.
But just my luck…People should use that phrase about good things as well as bad. Be appreciative…I got a telephone call last night. Came out of the blue. I won a free home alarm system. I told my benefactor, “Thanks. I needed that.”
Phil Cardarella
11 months, 1 week agoCalling an AG “general” is just plain dumb. “General” in “Attorney General” is a modifying adjective. It would be like calling a Major General “Major”. Or calling Secretary of State Clinton “Madam State” instead of “Madam Secretary”.
Just because some fools starting doing that “general” routine doesn’t make it less dumb.
The correct way to address him is “Mr. Attorney General”.