Not to beat a dead horse, but Robert Gibbs' recent gaffe(s), self-diagnosed as frustration, which have both offended beyond the pale and been pardoned with other cheek turning, bring to mind the whole idea of gaffes, their nature, bugaboos, and merits.
A gaffe is generally a remark or action which is understood to be inappropriate in some way.
"I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it." (John Kerry)
"I'm not a maverick." (John McCain)
"I'm the decider." (George W. Bush)
Perhaps a closer look?
They play with the truth, gaffes do. Michael Kingsley, journalist and pundit, has stated that a gaffe in Washington simply is the truth. Well, not always.
John Kerry told the truth in his flip-flop statement, but the sad truth of it was that the statement was hard to reconcile.
John McCain has blatantly lied about not being a maverick. It was his undeniable brand for a long time.
George W. Bush revealed his pomposity and arrogance in claiming turf for being "the decider". The inference was that nobody else counted, that he had all the power.
What is noticeable about gaffes is that along with their various amounts of truthfulness, they are often couched in language that is exaggerated, hyperbolic, or downright sarcastic.
Such was Gibb's case. Getting rid of the Pentagon is a sarcastic exaggeration. Drug testing the professional left-- sarcasm. Dennis Kucinich as president? Wishful thinking on my part, but nonetheless an attempt at sardonic wit by Gibbs.
Let's add a cliffhanger gaffe: On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said, "I don't know how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican, okay. Do I need to say more?"
Many on the left take this as a true statement. I do. The right is incensed, especially Marco Rubio, a Hispanic running as a Republican for the senate in Florida.
Fair analysis: Reid's statement is also an exaggeration. There are and will be Hispanic Republicans, even though we would claim it's against their better judgment.
The crux of gaffes is that they exist in sharp contrast to the bland leading the bland comments of politicians, journalists, commentators, and pundits in our lives. The praters of politics know well that they must survive to write and speak another day. Check out David Broder, for example. Talk about massaged language.
I remember reading a diary on here that was titled something like "Let me tell you how much I don't care." (I've searched, but I don't remember who wrote it.) It was so honest, so direct, so personally true for the writer that I read it several times.
You just don't find that often (hardly at all) with politicians and pundits. Consequently, the beauty of the gaffe. Whether a great gaffe incenses you (Gibbs, perhaps) or turns you on in a positive direction (Harry Reid, surely), for me they live in that wonderful after dinner world of dessert-- something gooey, sticky, and with chocolate.
And, speaking of desserts, I'm curious about any favorites. Mine is George W. Bush, the leader of the free world (hah!) struggling to open a locked door while trying to make an exit. Perfect.