Said Marine Corps Gen. Pete Pace of Donald Rumsfeld at a Pentagon briefing:
"People can question my judgment or his judgment, but they should never question the dedication, the patriotism and the work ethic of Secretary Rumsfeld."
http://today.reuters.com/...
I'm quite intrigued by absolutist language, such as when I'm told I should "never" do something, or that something is always the case. Not just intrigued: mistrusting and oppositional as well.
I particularly loathe the word "absolutely" the way it is used these days, in politics and the media and on the street corner. Absolute is a word intended to convey perfection, completeness, a lack of any exception or qualification. Almost nothing in the universe is absolute, except in math and physics. So, when folks use the word "absolutely" to describe their certainty about Bush's morality or preference for a certain beer, I conclude they have serious doubts they don't want to admit to me, or themselves.
Being told "it's a no-brainer" is certain to rev up my cerebral cortex, and reign in any intuitive leanings I might have had in making a decision.
My sense of Rumsfeld is that he would tend to agree with me.
But, perhaps I'm just cynical - a pissed-off idealist? What do my fellow Kossaks think?