You can be ‘bold,’ OR you can be ‘conservative.’ Choose.

Just caught Catherine Templeton’s latest ad. At the end, she says:

It’s time for a governor as bold and conservative as the people of South Carolina.

Um… you can’t be both of those things at the same time. You can be bold if you choose. Or you can be conservative instead. You have to choose.

Otherwise, words have no meaning. And who wants to live in a world like that?

“Bold and conservative” is as nonsensical as, well, “conservative buzzsaw.” Again, you can be one of those things, but not both…

Cath

6 thoughts on “You can be ‘bold,’ OR you can be ‘conservative.’ Choose.

  1. Karen Pearson

    Ms. Templeton is not interested in making sense, much less using English accurately.
    She is interested in buzz words and dog whistles.

    1. Juan Caruso

      And, should she be elected, she will still be interested in in familiar lawerly dodges such as foot-dragging and collegiality.

  2. Doug Ross

    As opposed to self described maverick conservative John McCain… Who ended up being neither.

    1. Brad Warthen Post author

      What on EARTH are you talking about? Do you think saying “white is black and black is white” makes it so? Is there some other John McCain you’re referring to, other than the conservative senator who is known by EVERYONE across the political spectrum as someone who will, time and again, think and act independently, in accord with his own conscience? That’s the only one I know (although I did meet his Dad once).

      I know you don’t like him. But Doug, the man is dying — do you have to malign him? Can you grant him nothing?

      1. Doug Ross

        Why would my opinion of him change based on his current health? He was never a maverick. He was just a grumpy old guy. I made the mistake of thinking he would be a good candidate in 2000 and he let me down more than any candidate before or since. He backed down when Karl Rove and George Bush smeared him and his family. He was exactly the opposite of a maverick.

        1. Brad Warthen Post author

          I see. So you have a personal, private definition of the word that is not the one the rest of us use. OK…

          (At this point, Bud jumps in to say he has the SAME definition…)

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