Thursday, June 14, 2007

inner dork: lame duck

Whoo-hoo! Is it really time for another inner dork? You bet our lame duck president, it is!

Speaking of lame ducks, let me tell you how that phrase came about. (I know you're just dying to find out and be able to use it in a sentence later today.)

Did you know...

The term is used to describe an elected official who has been defeated, or by law cannot run again, or plans to retire thus their power has been diminished. The phrase apparently originated as slang on the London stock exchange, where it was used to describe a stock jobber or broker who could not make good on his losses and would "waddle out of the alley like a lame duck." (Those Brits, so clever!)

Abe Lincoln is sometimes credited with introducing the phrase to America. (Oh, good 'ol Abe. He was so honest.) When a defeated senator called on Lincoln and asked for a job s commissioner of Indian affairs, Lincoln was quoted as saying afterward, "I usually find that a Senator or Representative out of business is sort of a lame duck." (And sometimes to those who are still in office.) (*cough* Bush.)

8 comments:

limpy99 said...

I'd be willing to bet our president on pretty much anything I knew I would lose. Anything to get rid of him.

Bre said...

Maybe we should send him hunting with Cheyney...

Appletini said...

I second you're *cough* Bush ;)

Anonymous said...

The lame duck in office was robbed of his watch while in Tirana this week and none of the US media reported it. I wonder if it was to avoid totally maiming an already lame waddler or simply because the american media is just as lame as the duck.

Party Girl said...

yeah, he's a dweebie.

I just keep going back to history. Why do empired fall? Poor leadership and militarys that are stretched too thin. Hmmmmmmm.


GG: Are you kidding? It was all over the news. Last night it was reported (and clearly shown) that he took the watch off himself and put it in his pocket so that no one would steal it. Irony.)

limpy99 said...

The Roman Empire's fall may have been helped by the Roman habit of flavoring their wine with lead. No shit.

Consider yourself dorked.

Jeff C. said...

Building on the lead comment: royalty would sprinkle lead on food as flavouring, as well as use lead plates and cups. That's why many went mad.

Also a lame duck council is when after an election, the majority of council is new, and therefore their powers are restricted since they may not know the full issue.

Party Girl said...

Women's make-up was also lead-based. Hence that lovely white color.