Showing posts with label Linguistics: "In My Great and Unmatched Wisdom ...”. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Linguistics: "In My Great and Unmatched Wisdom ...”. Show all posts

October 7, 2019

“In My Great and Unmatched Wisdom ...”

Whats on my mind? Words. 

The italicized words below are what US President Donald Trump tweeted this morning. It’s been all over the news. As political pundits and even several Republican politicians have commented, the sudden withdrawal of US troops from Syria opens the door to a Turkish slaughter of the Kurds and the revival of ISIS. Here’s the tweet: 

 “As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over…

“....the captured ISIS fighters and families. The U.S. has done far more than anyone could have ever expected, including the capture of 100% of the ISIS Caliphate. It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory. THE USA IS GREAT!

I am not a political pundit. I watch the news, and draw my own conclusions, but have neither the confidence nor expertise to express those views publicly. What I am, is someone who pays close attention to the words I hear and read. 

It’s widely known Trump’s tweets are sometimes written by staff attempting to imitate his style. “Stable genius” that he is, he didn’t pen the tweet above. I’m sure of it. 

My best guess is that either presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway or political advisor Stephen Miller wrote this tweet at his direction.

The clues? The phrase “As I have stated strongly before ... Too sophisticated for Trump’s limited use of the language. Try “just to reiterate ... Have you ever heard Trump use this word - or even spell it correctly? I doubt the man who refers to a “smocking gun is capable of spelling and using such a cosmopolitain word. 

“in my great and unmatched wisdom ... A phrase that panders to the President’s vanity, but which exceeds his limited and repetitious vocabulary. 

“obliterate ... Uh-uh. Four syllables. Beyond Trump’s intellectual grasp.

“They must, with Europe and others, watch over ... Trump doesn’t use grammatically correct compound sentences ... too difficult for him. “... the captured ISIS fighters and families.  When has he ever displayed empathy?

“... the ISIS Caliphate ...Again, a word too complicated for Trump to spell. 

“... It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory.A weak attempt to sound “Presidential.” 

“... THE USA IS GREAT! Nice try, but where are the multiple exclamation marks and the nasty slurs the President is so fond of using? 

Why do this? Were I a political pundit, my guess would be that Trump’s limited language and intellectual skills weren’t adequate to address this topic. 

My further guess would be that the Kurds are the sacrificial lambs intended to distract the media and the world from the multiple scandals swirling around this President’s feet. 


Am I right, or am I right?

©  Nicole Parton, 2019