Secretary "Condi"

Parent Cafe
21

<p>

</p>

<p>That’s not what we said, driver. It’s about what degree of formality a given context calls for from the nation’s highest official. I could care less if the President calls Rice “Condi,” “Leeza,” “Ricey” or “Hey, Babe” in casual contexts. A high-level official (much less the President) should recognize the gravity of certain situations (i.e. Katrina, war in Middle East) and be able to respond with appropriate formality and dignity. The fact that he sometimes does not is not the end of the world, yet the various theories expressed here about why he doesn’t are interesting. The criticism is apt and not obsessive at all. It would be even more interesting to learn if this casualness was there from the start of his presidency or if it’s a more recent development (and what that might imply about his perception of his role as a 2nd termer). </p>

<p>It’s just linguistics, but I’ve always found that field fairly intriguing.</p>

22

<p>FS must have gotten an advance copy!</p>

<p>

[quote]
The poems reveal a sensitive, literate side of the Commander-in- Chief not usually shown to the public. </p>

<p>The first of the three poems is titled Ode to Karl Rove: </p>

<p>Rove, Rove, row your boat Forcefully through choppy Washington seas,
Oh, and thanks for taking so much time
To help my friends the Saudis. </p>

<p>One fascinating part of the book deals with how Bush makes major political decisions, as in It’s Tough Being the Most Powerful Man Who Ever Lived: </p>

<p>Dick and Don and Condi Rice And sometimes a throw of dice.
Having so much help at hand certainly is nice.
Mom and Dad and mostly God,
If I ever had to think things out myself it would certainly feel odd. </p>

<p>Touchingly, an entire section of the book is devoted to love poems written to the First Lady, such as Each Night With Laura: </p>

<p>When our busy day is done and the D.C. sun has set,
We close the bedroom door and turn on Tammy Wynette.
We love to share such private things, a snuggle and a kiss.
Oh, and also Larry King whose show I never like to miss. </p>

<p>George W. Bush – Poet-in-Chief will be published in two versions – a regular edition, and a deluxe edition which will feature a recording of Bush reading the poems. </p>

<p>“The recording is amazing,” stated Berg. “He’s reading the poems to Afghanistan’s President Karzai and Iraq’s Prime Minister Jaafari. You can really feel the energy in the room.” <a href=“Its%20from%20weekly%20world%20news”>/quote</a></p>

23

<p>“I don’t think he means any intentional disrespect by it. It’s just another example of his folksy cluelessness – the same sort of cluelessness that led him to give German Chancellor Angela Merkel a public back rub.”</p>

<p>A fact that ONLY seemed to irritate the KOS-cloning morons who flock to the garbage pits aka political blogs. How much traction did THAT story get in the german press–that is not known to have much love for Bush? </p>

<p>Don’t people have anything else to do but scrutinizing the most minute words of actions of George Bush. Some of the stories are funny, but most are just plain silly.</p>

24

<p>Way to go, “xiggster”, “xiggirino”, “the xigmeister”…</p>

25

<p>Well, Nixon used to call Henry K “My Jew”. Whay could be worse.</p>

26

<p>He did it, in public? Behind closed doors, I think.</p>

27

<p><a href=“http://www.nndb.com/group/750/000091477/[/url]”>http://www.nndb.com/group/750/000091477/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Could be worse? He might have been referring to Karl “Turd Blossom” Rove.</p>

<p>But seriously, how you address people in public settings is important. In court I always address a judge as “your honor”. In a public meeting I always address a public official by their title: “Commissioner Jones” instead of “Bob” - even if we’re good friends and on a first name or nickname basis. In the rare instances where I’m interviewed by the local newspaper I always refer to officials by their title and last name, not their first name. I think it demonstrates awareness of, and respect for, the position that person is representing. Failing to do that tends to make things personal rather than institutional, which can trivialize both the situation and the people charged with dealing with it. </p>

<p>A lot of what “the President” does and says carries symbolic weight which is significant and worthy of comment, regardless of whatever political party the President comes from. And I think the symbolism of referring to a high government official by a nickname, when that official is a woman, while not doing the same with similarly-situated men in similar circumstances is a gesture that carries a symbolism that the President probably doesn’t want or need to be supporting right now - particularly given the international significance and venue for her job. I think Bullwinkle’s point is valid and I suspect that the President’s advisors have probably spoken with him about it by now.</p>

<p>(Typical political thread here - substantive comment which is (mildly) critical of GWB, a few comments on same, a couple of jokes, and then attacks on the motivations of anyone who questions the fearless leader. When lacking anything substantive to say, attack the messenger, the messenger’s fellow party-members, and anyone who might ever have had anything in common with the messenger.)</p>

28

<p>I certainly appreciate that there are far greater issues for which the President should be taken to task, but this caught my attention in that there was some significant “gravity” to this situation and to the extent that the President rarely “formally” speaks from Crawford. Given the nature of the subject at hand and the circumstances it just struck me as so odd that he repeatedly made the reference to Secretary Rice as “Condi”, especially as he did not engage with such informality with others (No Hey “Rummy” you’re doing a great job). </p>

<p>The situation struck me as especially sensitive given that (as I noted in my op) middle-eastern countries/cultures are not known for affording women the highest respect and with Secretary Rice having been chosen to be our envoy there (a decision that presents another subject for discussion) it would seem incumbent on the President to afford her the utmost respect and present her in that light, which reference to her as “Condi” does not seem to afford. Again, the gravity of the situation and the public setting called for certain decorum IMO.</p>

29

<p>bullwinkle: Could you imagine his pronunciation if he attempted to call her by her given name “Condoleezza”???</p>

<p>Heck he completely butcher’s words left and right. </p>

<p>He’s a bozo. It’s that simple. </p>

<p>Whatever familial relationship they have, SOMEONE in his group should tell him to address her by her given name. Sheesh! Let’s go back to basics, shall we?</p>

<p>Yo, Condi, how’s it hangin’??</p>

<p>I can’t stand it.</p>

<p>Ok, I vowed I would NEVER show my political colors on a bulletin board, and now I have. I feel a sense of relief! :)</p>

<p>Soapbox being put away.</p>

30

<p>When a person uses knicknames, folksy talk, etc in a situation where people are dying, I wonder if that person 'gets" the severity of the situation and appreciates it</p>

<p>if a leader can’t tell the difference between situations and handles them all pretty much the same, eh, not much respect from the rest of the world, and Bush doesn’t have much respect, nor is he really feared for that matter, if that was his goal</p>

<p>A person’s style IS important- and Bush’s style is getting old, unless you are part of the bush fan club who can never say just maybe rubbing a world leaders back was a bit much</p>

31

<p>When you are in privat4e using cutesy knicknames is fine, but in the PUBLIC arena where you want that person to be taken seriouslly and listened to at a minimum it should be last name, like everybody else, or with her title, to do less for HER is a sign of disrespect for her postion, title and job. </p>

<p>But Bush doessn’t have much respect for anyone anyway…so whatever</p>

32

<p>Some people have first name recognition that puts them in a different category. Rudy. Hillary. Condi. Mikhail. I don’t think it’s a big deal, particularly at an informal location like the ranch to use those names, regardless of the event. Given the posting record of some in this thread, it seems to me that the concept is another in a long string of insults directed at the president, rather than concern for Sec. Rice or perceptions of her (or the president) in the world.</p>

<p>I am concerned though, given Bono’s high profile in world affairs, what the protocol should be if the U2 singer is appointed to high office. Should the president call him Mr. Bono? Secretary Bono? Just Bono? Bon? (which means “good” in French, you know). I don’t know. I just don’t know. I’m glad that some among us are worried about such things, though.</p>

33

<p>“Way to go, “xiggster”, “xiggirino”, “the xigmeister”…”</p>

<p>Dadguy, can I use some of them for the right venue? They have quite a nice ring.</p>

34

<p>Secretary Bono-what a great addition he would be to this administration. “Hey Bonnie you’re doin’ a heck of a job - Did you know that Bon means good in some foreign language. Golly”.</p>

<p>Given the erudite group they are though, some would probably wonder what happened to his dad Sonny and want Cher over for a BBQ.</p>

35

<p>Way to make the point. Now that we’ve established the bona fides of the OP, I think we can move on.</p>

36

<p>Driver is right. Some ppl’s first name has special meanings and so easy to roll off the tongue. Much adu about nothing. Move on.</p>

37

<p>driver and edvest1 thanks so much for your presumption and instruction. Your both doing “a heck of a job”. BTW, if as you both say it is much to do about nothing, why don’t you take your own advice and… I believe it is Moveon.org to be precise.</p>

38

<p>This whole problem would be solved immediately if (as I suggested in an earlier thread) Ms. Rice would simply change her name to “Debbie.” </p>

<p>GWB wouldn’t have any trouble with that. Or alternatively, he might be able to handle “Karen” as well. “Condoleezza” is a big word - too many syllables.</p>

39

<p>You people hate bush so much, that you pooke at the smallest and most unimportant ****. Why dont u put ur partisinship aside and understand that the president called someone by a nickname that the press and toher politicians use all the time. This isnt the first time a politican here or abroad has used a nickname for a person. Just take israel for example (i am israeli so i know there politics too) benjamin netanyahu- often called bibi by other politicians, ariel sharon- often called arik. This is really a non-issue, just another attempt by liberal scum to make our president look bad</p>

40

<p>skirossignol89- “liberal scum” is your response? How appropriate on a thread addressing an issue of respect for others. BTW, President Bush doesn’t need anyone’s help to make him look bad, although you are providing quite an assist.</p>