Tuesday, October 21, 2008

"[T]hey're in charge of the United States Senate"

I'd say that the push to accept the use of they, their, and them with singular nouns just had a setback, in the form of Sarah Palin's reply today to a third-grader's question about the job of vice president:

"That's a great question, Brandon, and a vice president has a really great job, because not only are they there to support the president's agenda; they're like a team member, the team-mate to that president. But also, they're in charge of the United States Senate, so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom, and it's a great job, and I look forward to having that job."

comments: 6

Elaine Fine said...

If we were to take Sarah Palin at her (grammatically uninformed) word, she might be advocating not only an extension of power of the office of the vice president into the legislative branch, but might be suggesting that the position should be held by more than one person.

Slywy said...

She uses "get in there" quite a bit. I'm not quite sure what that reveals.

Anonymous said...

Just reading this hurts my eyes. I cannot fathom what hearing it would do to me.

The O'Sheas said...

She's found her constituency.

macon d said...

Yeah, boy oh boy, I can't wait for Sarah Palin to get in there and make lotsa good policy changes. Maybe she'll put more food on our families and make the pie higher! Mooseburgers and freedom fries on EVERY child's lunch tray!

Did you see the "Family Guy" blip on the McCain/Palin ticket? Whoa.

Michael Leddy said...

Elaine, maybe she's planning to bring family members to the Senate with her.

Slywy, I think "get in there" is a synonym for "fire the librarian."

Rachel, you can find the clip online if you dare.

Greg and Kris, good one. Though I've known some very smart third-graders.

Macon, yes, I saw that clip. There are indeed frightening elements in the McCain campaign, and it's amazing that as in Shakespeare, it's the fool (i.e., fake Daily Show reporters, SNL, cartoons) that provides some of the most incisive comment.