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STRATEGY FOR THE DAY: start a buzz

This entry isn't really about politics, it's about word definitions. This is usually Donald Rumsfeld's private territory (''What is the exact meaning of 'deploy'?") but Pat Robertson, the Christian evangelical preacher, has offered up a golden opportunity for word buffs. Yesterday, Pat suggested on his 700 Club TV show that the U.S. should send in a special ops force to "take out" Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. It really did sound like he was advocating the assasination of a democratically elected head-of-state, honest it did. But today Pat has thoughtfully cleared this up for us. He informs us that, in fact, "take out" has any number of meanings; he didn't necessarily mean kill the guy. Well, Pat, I've been thinking about that and you're right - "take out" does have other meanings. It could mean "take out" as a pizza ("It's not delivery, it's DiChavez), or "take out" as in the garbage (Hugo Chavez stinks!), or "take out" your checkbooks and send Pat another $100 (No comment.). It could mean "take out" as in "take out on a date" but somehow I just can't picture those special ops guys holding hands with Hugo in the back of a theater, watching "Sleepless In Seattle." Personally, I think Pat has been reading way too many Tom Clancy novels. Stick to the Bible, Pat, and leave the Tom Clancy stuff to Dick Cheney. And let Don field the dictionary questions.

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Read A Brief History Of Love Songs by Robin Frederick at the Sound Experience Music web site.

Copyright 2005 Robin Frederick. All rights reserved.