Monday, September 15, 2003
Appropriate term of abuse for "Republican"
In the long-term project of developing the lexicon of liberal invective, I've been trying to come up with the right term of abuse for "Republican," but I don't think I've had success.
Of course, we could turn "Republican" itself into a term of abuse (though the ... "Republicans" seem to be doing a fine job of that all on their own), but that isn't fair to the good "Republicans", like Olympia Snowe or Susan Chaffee (or Abraham Lincon, for that matter). Although, of course, we are still waiting for the good "Republicans" to purge their party of choice of the neo-confederates, the chickenhawks, etc., etc., etc...
"Rethuglican" (or "thug") has gained some traction, but (un)fortunately, not all "Republicans" are thugs. Though why the "good" "Republicans" don't purge the thugs ....
I've tried "Booblican" for awhile, inspired by Mencken's booboisie, but it hasn't caught on. It does capture the combination of invincible stupidity and self-righteousness at the core of the party of Rove and Atwater, but it seems to lack that, I don't know, je ne sais quoi...
"Pubican" has the advantages of playing off "Republican" while having that slightly slurred and over-rapid quality common to winger talk radio. Leaving out syllables infantilizes it and them, which is always good with invective. Additionally, there is the subliminal "pubic," for the sex that the "Republicans" so fear and desire.
Recently I've been trying "Rovelican"—since the poltical wing of the White House (there's another?) has responsibility for the viciousness and brutality of today's "Republican" party. Perhaps this one will catch on. "Rovelican" has, at least, the advantage of allowing the "good" "Republicans" to open up some space between themselves and the White House political operation.
Do any of our alert readers have thoughts on this?
UPDATE: Alert reader Gabe suggests "Repugnican," which has also gotten some traction, but I think it's just too hard to pronounce.
Of course, we could turn "Republican" itself into a term of abuse (though the ... "Republicans" seem to be doing a fine job of that all on their own), but that isn't fair to the good "Republicans", like Olympia Snowe or Susan Chaffee (or Abraham Lincon, for that matter). Although, of course, we are still waiting for the good "Republicans" to purge their party of choice of the neo-confederates, the chickenhawks, etc., etc., etc...
"Rethuglican" (or "thug") has gained some traction, but (un)fortunately, not all "Republicans" are thugs. Though why the "good" "Republicans" don't purge the thugs ....
I've tried "Booblican" for awhile, inspired by Mencken's booboisie, but it hasn't caught on. It does capture the combination of invincible stupidity and self-righteousness at the core of the party of Rove and Atwater, but it seems to lack that, I don't know, je ne sais quoi...
"Pubican" has the advantages of playing off "Republican" while having that slightly slurred and over-rapid quality common to winger talk radio. Leaving out syllables infantilizes it and them, which is always good with invective. Additionally, there is the subliminal "pubic," for the sex that the "Republicans" so fear and desire.
Recently I've been trying "Rovelican"—since the poltical wing of the White House (there's another?) has responsibility for the viciousness and brutality of today's "Republican" party. Perhaps this one will catch on. "Rovelican" has, at least, the advantage of allowing the "good" "Republicans" to open up some space between themselves and the White House political operation.
Do any of our alert readers have thoughts on this?
UPDATE: Alert reader Gabe suggests "Repugnican," which has also gotten some traction, but I think it's just too hard to pronounce.
