We are now 2 and a half weeks into either the "post-partisan" or "neo-partisan" Obama era. In an act reminiscent of trying to divine the entire history of the East India Trading Company from a small pile of tea leaves, many members of the "pundit-ocracy" are proclaiming this new age either the City of Blinding Light or the biggest Catastra-fuck since two and a half weeks ago.
As I watch the talking heads duke it out on MSNBC (the home team), Fox News (the away team), or CNN (the crazy team), one thing has struck me as being noteworthy.
A lot of people use the word "sir" when they mean "you dick."
It's a phenomenon clearly started by Keith Olberman, and as with most media phenomena started by Keith, everyone else is trying to ride his coattails.
By way of example, consider this "Special Comment." As you listen, replace every occurance of the word "sir" with the word "Dick."
There are many guilty parties:
Sean Hannity
Do you like besmirching our troops, sir?
Glenn Beck:
I have been nervous about this interview with you because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.’
Even Joan Walsh on Hardball:
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I'm not saying that this is a problem, mind you. For polite discouse you just can't beat it. I'm just saying of all the things we're focusing on, the only thing I see as lasting past the first 100 days is the "dick" form of "sir."
Just remember you heard it here first.