CAN WE HAVE A WORD? |
Donald J. Trump, America’s _________ president, today declared a “Freedom to Drive” program, the latest in a series of __________ proposals, programs and “ideas” announced since he took office. Under the --------- executive order, individual drivers will decide on which side of the road to drive, and whether or not to be guided by traffic signals and signage at intersections. Trump is considering imposing more ____________ tariffs on countries that penalize visiting American drivers who operate vehicles under ________________Freedom to Drive principles. |
I’M PARTIAL TO “CRACKPOT.”
CRACKPOT president.
CRACKPOT country.
But it’s not a winner. As one friend noted, CRACKPOT conveys a charm and zaniness that you might associate with a favorite uncle who invents things in his backyard shack. CRACKPOT lacks the serial-killer menace that infuses Trump’s activities.
Still, the word does imply danger. Who knows what the CRACKPOT uncle is actually up to in his shack. And it does convey silliness, stupidity and recklessness of a president and country, neither of which are firing on all cylinders.
It also works nicely in our test sentences.
CRACKPOT president.
CRACKPOT country.
But it’s not a winner. As one friend noted, CRACKPOT conveys a charm and zaniness that you might associate with a favorite uncle who invents things in his backyard shack. CRACKPOT lacks the serial-killer menace that infuses Trump’s activities.
Still, the word does imply danger. Who knows what the CRACKPOT uncle is actually up to in his shack. And it does convey silliness, stupidity and recklessness of a president and country, neither of which are firing on all cylinders.
It also works nicely in our test sentences.
the Donald J. Trump, America’s CRACKPOT president, today declared a “Freedom to Drive” program, the latest in a series of CRACKPOT proposals, programs and “ideas” announced since he took office. Under the CRACKPOT executive order, individual drivers will decide on which side of the road to drive, and whether or not to be guided by traffic signals and signage at intersections. Trump is considering imposing more CRACKPOT tariffs on countries that penalize visiting American drivers who operate vehicles under the CRACKPOT Freedom to Drive principles. |
Another favorite is BONKERS. While it lacks the fire of some of the others on the list, it does capture the ridiculousness of Trump and his presidency.
Strangely, it seems to me more judgmental than I would like, since I’m searching for word that’s objective and descriptive.
But BONKERS also works in the test case, and has a nice cumulative effect:
Strangely, it seems to me more judgmental than I would like, since I’m searching for word that’s objective and descriptive.
But BONKERS also works in the test case, and has a nice cumulative effect:
Donald J. Trump, America’s BONKERS president, today declared a “Freedom to Drive” program, the latest in a series of BONKERS proposals, programs and “ideas” announced since he took office. Under the BONKERS executive order, individual drivers will decide on which side of the road to drive, and whether or not to be guided by traffic signals and signage at intersections. Trump is considering imposing more BONKERS tariffs on countries that penalize visiting American drivers who operate vehicles under the BONKERS Freedom to Drive principles. |
I INVITE SUGGESTIONS.
As noted, my list is imperfect. It’s distressingly short, and there’s a problem with every word.
Some of the words stray into prohibited mental health area. For example, CRAZY, while not an approved medical term, implies discomfort with mental illness, although its meaning is broader than that.
Another favorite is ABSURD, but someone knocked that one down, because it lacks fire, and it seems a little too happy when there’s nothing happy about Donald Trump or the cloud smothering democracy and its citizens.
At one time, I hoped that TRUMP itself would the perfect word, that it would enter the language as its own universal pejorative, like Hitler, Stalin, Mao or any of the other monsters of history.
So far, however, TRUMP is a word that won the last election, has mesmerized the Republican Party, intimidated business leaders, frightened much of academia and so far seems to be holding its own in the polls.
If anyone has a nomination, I’d invite you – no, I beg you - to suggest it.
Proposals can be submitted to the comments section of the blog, or as replies to emails that alert readers to new blog posts.
If there are enough suggestions, I'll include them in a new post.
Should this treasure hunt be successful, the terrible times in which America finds itself will be closer to ending, heralding a day when we've written the last word on Donald Trump.
As noted, my list is imperfect. It’s distressingly short, and there’s a problem with every word.
Some of the words stray into prohibited mental health area. For example, CRAZY, while not an approved medical term, implies discomfort with mental illness, although its meaning is broader than that.
Another favorite is ABSURD, but someone knocked that one down, because it lacks fire, and it seems a little too happy when there’s nothing happy about Donald Trump or the cloud smothering democracy and its citizens.
At one time, I hoped that TRUMP itself would the perfect word, that it would enter the language as its own universal pejorative, like Hitler, Stalin, Mao or any of the other monsters of history.
So far, however, TRUMP is a word that won the last election, has mesmerized the Republican Party, intimidated business leaders, frightened much of academia and so far seems to be holding its own in the polls.
If anyone has a nomination, I’d invite you – no, I beg you - to suggest it.
Proposals can be submitted to the comments section of the blog, or as replies to emails that alert readers to new blog posts.
If there are enough suggestions, I'll include them in a new post.
Should this treasure hunt be successful, the terrible times in which America finds itself will be closer to ending, heralding a day when we've written the last word on Donald Trump.
3 Comments
Dianne Sprague
3/18/2025 07:04:12 pm
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BRIAN C. JONES
I'VE BEEN a reporter and writer for 60 years, long enough to have learned that journalists don't know very much, although I've met some smart ones.
Mainly, what reporters know comes from asking other people questions and fretting about their answers.
This blog is a successor to one inspired by our dog, Phoebe, who was smart, sweet and the antithesis of Donald Trump. She died Feb. 3, 2022, and I don't see getting over that very soon.
Occasionally, I think about trying to reach her via cell phone.
Mainly, what reporters know comes from asking other people questions and fretting about their answers.
This blog is a successor to one inspired by our dog, Phoebe, who was smart, sweet and the antithesis of Donald Trump. She died Feb. 3, 2022, and I don't see getting over that very soon.
Occasionally, I think about trying to reach her via cell phone.
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