Weird Word of the Week: Politician

Madame L loves the Urban Dictionary's definitions of this word, which include the following (and more, which you can read by following the link):

     1. A person who practices politics.

          "Politics" is derived from the words "poly" meaning "many", and "tics" meaning "blood-sucking parasites."

     2. One who was perfected the art of lying.

     3. A highly paid yes-man.

 Even the Free Online Dictionary's definition includes a rather disparaging remark:

     1.a. One who is actively involved in politics, especially party politics.

     1.b. One who holds or seeks a political office.

     2. One who seeks personal or partisan gain, often by scheming and maneuvering: "Mothers may still want their favorite sons to grow up to be President, but . . . they do not want them to become politicians in the process" (John F. Kennedy).

     3. One who is skilled or experienced in the science or administration of government.

 

Madame L is thinking of this word lately because of the switcheroo that Republican politicians are pulling in their remarks about Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

 

Madame L remembers when Rick Santorum said, "He is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama.” 

 

Later, Santorum wrote in an email to supporters, "I am also comfortable with Gov. Romney on [every issue].”

 

Madame L remembers when Newt Gingrich said, "”We are not going to beat Barack Obama with some guy who has Swiss bank accounts, Cayman Island accounts, owns shares of Goldman Sachs while it forecloses on Florida and is himself a stockholder in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while he tries to think the rest of us are too stupid to put the dots together and understand what this is all about.” 

After Ginrich dropped out of the race, he said, "”I’m going to campaign for him, I favor him over Obama... I’ll do everything I can to help elect Romney...."

 

Madame L remembers when Michele Bachmann said, "He’s been very inconsistent on his positions. He’s been on both sides of the abortion issue, on both sides of the issue with same-sex marriage … he was for the TARP bill, the $700 billion bailout and the global warming initiatives.”

 

Later, Bachmann endorsed Romney, saying, "He’s very smart. He has a very optimistic message. Women trust him because they see, this is a man who started a business from scratch, for heaven’s sake.”

 

What about Ron Paul? Asked if or when he was going to endorse Romney, he said, "Not soon."