Who Has “the Best Words”: Democrats or Republicans?

When “Bigger” is Decidedly Not “Better”

[Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary of Berkshire.]

“The dictum that it’s better to beat Trump at the polls than lose a Senate vote probably doesn’t hold up if you talk yourself into looking permanently supine in the face of indubitable corruption.”

–Ross Douthat, “Does Donald Trump Want to Be Impeached?”; The NYT (9/24/19).

“Impeachment may be the only remedy that is coequal to the evil that [President Trump’s] conduct represents. 

–Adam Schiff, House Intelligence Committee Chairman.

“Supine?” Indubitable?” “Dictum??”

OK, so Donald Trump may not — as he’s famously crowed — have “the best words.”

But, Democrats (and their supporters) suffer from their own, shall we say . . . linguistic challenges.

War of Words

Namely, they apparently believe that you should never use a small word when a bigger one will suffice do, or state things in a simple, declarative sentence instead of a twisted, passive one.

Assuming that the looming battle to impeach Donald Trump is likely to be waged using emotional — not intellectual — arguments, Democratic leaders had better figure out how to burnish their rhetorical skills.

I mean, “Get their sh*t together . . .”

P.S.: for the literary-minded, think, “more Hemingway, less Steinbeck.”