Yes, yes, I know, the bully in the phrase “Bully Pulpit” means “good” or “wonderful”, as in “bully for you.” But I’m a YUGE fan (believe me, I have no problems in that area) of words and phrases that have taken on new meanings in the lexicon. And believe me (there’s that believe me thing again), IMHO, there is no word or phrase that has experienced a more rapid or dramatic change in meaning than the phrase “Bully Pulpit.” Freaking overnight!
A short history lesson, for those wondering, and with my apologies to my 7th grade teacher, Mr. Thomas, who I should have listened to more closely all those years ago, and to Doris Kearns Goodwin (read her books, this stuff has been going on for ever). Theodore Roosevelt was credited with describing the office of President of the United States as a bully pulpit, meaning a wonderful dais upon which to advocate for one’s agenda.
"I suppose my critics will call that preaching, but I have got such a bully pulpit!"
Can you feel the original sense of the phrase? A great place to speak from? I thought so. A place from which to be heard, and from which to influence people and their opinions. The office of the POTUS is a powerful megaphone! One that can be used for evil, as well as for good.
Fast forward to now. We’ve kept the phrase, but I’ve never heard preaching like this from the bully pulpit.
Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn't know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes. She is a.....
Or have I? Notice the penchant for letting the baser elements of the base complete the sentence? Right out of the campaign playbook. That way you can deny ever saying it! Brilliant!
I swear I heard the entire base scream at their mobile devices when they read his tweet, at the top of their lungs, in unison, “B***H!” Or worse! If you didn’t hear it, just read some of the reactions. You’ll get the drift. They are are so tired of being politically correct. All that hate, pent up for all those years. It’s a wonder they didn’t explode.
That’s our preznit. We got Shrub back. In spades. With Twitter. The bully, in the bully pulpit, tweeting to the bullies in his base, to bully those who disagree with him. The President of the United States. Tweeting high school insults. Nice.
Okay, I bought a used turtle shell from Mitch McConnell on eBay. He got too big for it. I’m retreating into it until January 20, 2020. Smells funny, but I’ll spray some Febreeze, it’ll be fine. Text me when it’s over. If we still have that by then. ttfn