Because this is something I couldn't make up.
Word of the Day for Monday, June 6, 2011
pecksniffian \pek-SNIF-ee-uhn\, adjective:
Hypocritically and smugly affecting benevolence or high moral principles.
Quotes:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/fri-june-3-2011/recap---week-of-5-31-11?xrs=share_copy
With such departing words, did this strong minded female paralyze the Pecksniffian energies; and so she swept out of the room, and out of the house, attended her daughters, who, as with one accord, elevated their three noses in the air, and joined in a contemptuous titter.
-- Charles Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, Volume 1
The men who do things in the world, the men worthy of admiration and imitation, are men constitutionally incapable of any such pecksniffian stupidity.
-- H. L. Mencken, Damn! A Book of Calumny
Origin:
Pecksniffian is named after Seth Pecksniff, a character in "Martin Chuzzlewit, a novel" (1843), by Charles Dickens.
When one learns a new word, it is important to use it, promptly, in a sentence:
Andrew Breitbart and the entire Right that has been trying to create a story out of this joke are utterly PECKSNIFFIAN bastards.
(sorry, I had trouble getting the actual video to load for some reason from the Comedy Central web site.)
But it's alright when a Republican "steps on it" and Democrats are on them like "stink on shite?" Kind of a double standard, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteMike G.
It's not all right for either side, Mike G. Not a bit of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm utterly disgusted with Weiner for having lied, as well as his other bad behavior.
I have utter contempt for Spitzer for having made a big deal about cleaning up crime while paying prostitutes for sex as well.
Breitbart has made his career and his money however by faking what people do. He's a professional long-range long-term sleaze too.
It is people like Gingrich and Ensign who do the big family values double standard in their behavior even more.
Whichever side does that while themselves doing the exact behavior they condemn, I disapprove.
Look for a post later today expressing that previous thought further, btw.
ReplyDelete("Steps on it?" seriously, Mike G?, LOL)
Mr. G,
ReplyDeleteI wrote something yesterday which I'll post today which speaks directly to your question.
In short, by no means, in NO WAY, do we (I or DG), nor the VAST VAST VAST majority of Democrats excuse Weiner, or John Edwards or Elliot Spitzer. It is a fiction to say they do.
Conversely, and perhaps not you Mr. G, but many of my conservative friends freely excuse folks like Gingrich or Limbaugh or Palin, etc.. for major ethical lapses using language like, "well everyone does it." First of course, NO, they don't and second, since when does that make it right?
Furthermore, and probably more importantly, I don't like politicians who lie, but by the same token I don't much care about their sexual lives, nor do I think it should EVER be public unless it violates the law (to wit Elliott Spitzer). I do think it's an issue when a President lies about the threats we face (Lyndon Johnson and George W Bush come to mind), and really more than an issue, it's contemptible. Even worse is when they attempt to intrude on the electoral process and destroy the credibility of their office, Nixon. Nixon did more harm to the office than anyone since Buchanon (James not Pat).
So, Mr. G, No, it is only excused when it's 'our guy' (in my experience) by conservatives. They may not internally (inside the party) excuse it, but they do not publicly condemn it much either.
HELP !
ReplyDeleteIn order for the Word of the Day to gain relevance, it must be used in a sentence.
So your assignment, how can "Pecksniffian" be used in a sentence describing people’s reaction to the leaked passages of the new Palin book : Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far … in which Bristol Palin has revealed how she lied to her parents about where she was going ... and then lost her virginity to ex-fiancé Levi Johnston on a camping trip after getting drunk for the first time on too many wine coolers.
I gotta think that there must be one ... but I am stuck ... I can think of plenty of other comments but none that properly use Pecksniffian ... here are mine …
1.) Where was Paul Revere and why wasn’t he ringing the bell and screaming “Levi’s coming” ?
2. ) If Levi got her drunk and took her virginity, then why would she continue to date ?
3. ) The Palin Principle is inheritated … Palin is always innocent and every else is to blame.
4. ) Rape isn’t a crime in Alaska … nor is underage drinking.
5. ) After Bristol called the couple's relationship one of “deception and disappointment” .. which is how many voters feel about Mama Palin.
6. ) The Candie's Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to raise awareness of teen pregnancy and parenting issues including paying Ms. Palin in excess of $260,000, should try to get Levi to reimburse them. (Note: Candie’s Foundation officials sent only $35,000 to teen pregnancy clinics as they thought it was better to pay for a “famous” spokes-teen.)
7.) Will “Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far” be in the Fiction or Non-fiction section ?
8.) Will Ms. Palin get “glittered” during her book tour … or is the rumor that Bristol told Sarah that she is thinking of supporting gay marriage and doesn’t believe religion should have anything to do with equal rights for all, is True ?
9. ) Will Levi appear in the first episode of Bristol’s new reality show or be the “cliff-hanger” in the tenth episode ?
10. ) Now the child’s name is understood … Bristol was “Tripp”ed-up by Levi.
It would be pecksniffian of Bristol to claim she's against teen sex, if she continued to have sex that she remembers with Levi, as has been alleged.
ReplyDeleteIf she doesn't remember it, how can she be sure it was Levi?
If Bristol was drunk, how does she know she didn't come on to him, and that he wasn't equally intoxicated and therefore unable to refuse? Or does she subscribe to the pecksniffian notion that only female human beings have the problem of not consenting?
Bristol Palin is even more ill-educated as her mother, but seems to have the same flare for capitalizing on celebrity.
THANKS !
ReplyDeletePutting words into use can be a challenge ... especially when it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between fiction and reality.
Until you realize that Fiction has to make sense ... and when the discussion involves the Palin clan it never makes sense.