We’ll have several definitions on today’s test, mostly for words that, in the vein of Inigo Montoya, do not mean what the users want them to mean, but are fun to see nonetheless.
For instance, the recent indictment of former FBI Director James Comey would be almost a textbook definition of irony. It certainly defines comeuppance.
Born from another word that has crept into out zeitgeist — lawfare — Comey’s indictment on charges of lying to Congress is the rightful result of, well, lying to Congress. See, in the former administrations’ (plural, since more than one sitting president was trying to derail Trump’s election) zeal to stick it to President Trump, they pulled out all the stops to put the man back in a box.
Then, as it happens, the Uno Reverse Card of Fate slams down on the table, catching up Mr. Comey in the very web of deceit he attempted to use to catch up Trump (in case it wasn’t obvious, does “Russian Collusion” sound familiar?).
Another word I’m becoming enamored of is turnabout, as in turnabout is fair play.
Just like in Comey’s case, other folks who used their unmitigated disgust with Trump to win elections, are now finding out that when the courts and law enforcement are used to “get” someone, it helps to make sure that your ducks are in a row. Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff are finding out that the very laws they are hoping will dethrone a man they have openly despised are coming back on them. I guess that just because you feel that you have some sort of moral high ground, the law doesn’t or shouldn’t apply to you.
(The difference here, as I understand it, is that what Trump was tried for was not a crime, but what the charges against James and Schiff allege actually are crimes.)(Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.)
The last word is hypocrisy. Many of you understand what that is — the proverbial “Do as I say, not as I do” mindset that adults use with precocious children.
We’re facing yet another government shutdown, mostly because left and right sides of the aisle (surprise!) can’t get along on a funding resolution. The House passed another (surprise!) continuing resolution to keep government funded for a bit, but when the bill hit the Senate, the Dems hit the brakes.
Seems that certain things brought out in the One Big, Beautiful Bill, such as funding for tougher immigration work, paring down Medicaid and food stamps, and ending the money pipeline that funds foreign aid and public media.
This isn’t the first time a shutdown has loomed over the country, but in the past, the Democrats have used the tired and untrue lines that Grandma won’t get her Social Security check and that health insurance will dry up, etc., etc., ad nauseum.
Now, however, Democrats are completely OK with shutting down the government, meaning they want to hold hostage tax dollars for their pet projects, all because Trump has made them look bad by actually winning at most of his plans.
It’s hypocritical to be against something, then be for it, just as a matter of forcing a result. If you notice, though, the lawmakers, many of whom have become millionaires simply by being elected, won’t be the ones who suffer. Yet the common person — you know, the ones these folks were elected to represent — end up footing the bill for their grandstanding.
If government is no better than schoolyard tussling, then let’s do shut it down, is my way of thinking.
We all should probably stop listening to these folks’ words, and maybe try to find out what they actually mean.
Tony Farkas is editor of the Trinity County News-Standard and the San Jacinto News-Times. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.
