One of the few perks of working in the salt mines called “Academia” is free online access to the Oxford English Dictionary. The OED — like most dictionaries — has a word of the day feature and while I don’t always like the word they choose I do like the concept of a word of the day. As an experiment I will try out this new feature of a “Word for the Day” for Threedonia and then use an example to highlight the word.
Today’s word: Blather, n. “Voluble talk void of sense.” OED, 2d ed. 1989
Our example (blather in italics) comes from this report from The Baltimore Sun:
But Obama, in Florida, defended the review and told sailors Obama said the nation’s military deserved a “clear mission” and clearly defined goals.
“I will never rush the solemn decision of sending you into harm’s way. I won’t risk your lives unless it is absolutely necessary,” Obama said. “And if it is necessary, we will back you up to the hilt.”
This is the very example of blather… it’s glib, well-spoken, but empty. Troops are already in “harm’s way”. He’s already called Afghanistan a “war of necessity”. General Stanley McChrystal — the commanding general in Afghanistan — has already asked for 40,000 more troops or the war will most likely be lost. How many talk shows, golf games and games of hoops has Obama played while troops are dying in Afghanistan? Unfair? If it’s a solemn decision then act solemnly and get your ass on the phone with your General. Quit waging wars of opportunity on FOX News, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Humana Health Care and start waging your war of necessity.
Blather — voluble talk, void of sense.
He thinks the troops are stupid to. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR……………
The decision to send you into harms way? Solemn.
The decision to leave your comrades in harms way? Reprehensible.
That’s it in a nutshell.
It is clear that BO lacks experience on foreign policy and defense issues. The normal response in that situation would be to defer to the expertise of your generals. BO, however, thinks that he can arrive at the perfect solution if only people will give him time to think.
I’m no Bush groupie, I was angered by a lot of things he did, and frankly he seemed like he was asleep at the wheel sometimes, but BO is drunk and driving in reverse with the parking break on.
I heard that quote on the radio. It sounded like the troops didn’t respond too warmly to it, but the audio was clipped tightly to really get a read on it.
I guess the MSM will have to splice in one of the crowds of Obamabots applauding wildly.
Man, is this guy really screwing up! I thought he’d at least level out of the freefall, ala Clinton.
To paraphrase John Paul Jones, I imagine most service members would say that, “I wish to have no connection with any politician that does not decide fast; for I intend to go in harm’s way.”
blackhawk, that description is priceless and, sadly, far too appropriate. I know they don’t have the votes to even come close to passing it, but can the GOP Reps and Senators at least propose impeachment hearings?
With such a hostile media even proposing impeachment or mentioning it would cause the Republican party to get absolutely skewered and it would galvanize the left just as it did with Clinton. Barring a miracle turnaround I think he is a one and done and I’m sure the GOP knows that too. Besides leaving this nitwit in office (barring he doesn’t completely destroy us) should completely kill off Liberalism or at least damage it to the point of irrelevance.
Yeah, you’re absolutely right, Veruckt, but damned if it isn’t fun to consider. More genuine cause than all the BLATHERing from the leftards re. impeaching President Bush, too.
Blather would be a step up for Obama.