Thursday, October 07, 2004
1st debate
Jukebox:Freezepop
I've now watched the first of the presidential debates, and broadly agreed with the analysis that Kerry won, thanks to Bush appearing lost and slow a lot of the time. Bush notably spelled out all the advantages he saw from a democratic Iraq, seemingly pre-empting its foreign policy somewhat: "A free Iraq will be an ally in the war on terror.... A free Iraq will help secure Israel." A non-Saddam Iraq is probably better for Israel, his donations to suicide-bombers' families, while seemingly politically rather than ideologically motivated, probably changed some minds on the margin; but the idea that the Iraqi populace will want to vote "to secure Israel" is strange. Kerry didn't pick him up on it, but it adds fuel to any sceptical that, when Bush calls for democracy in the Middle East, he means democracy with freedom to choose whichever p[olicies prove popular.
Kerry was generally good, dealt well with the questions, and strove to point out differences; but what I suspect may endear him most to people over here (apart from not being Bush), was that he called Colin Powell Colin, and not Coe-Lin. That does make a refreshing change.
Perhaps someone in the town hall debate could give the candidates a list of words to pronounce, especially while Bush still seems worried about "nuke-you-lar" proliferation...
I've now watched the first of the presidential debates, and broadly agreed with the analysis that Kerry won, thanks to Bush appearing lost and slow a lot of the time. Bush notably spelled out all the advantages he saw from a democratic Iraq, seemingly pre-empting its foreign policy somewhat: "A free Iraq will be an ally in the war on terror.... A free Iraq will help secure Israel." A non-Saddam Iraq is probably better for Israel, his donations to suicide-bombers' families, while seemingly politically rather than ideologically motivated, probably changed some minds on the margin; but the idea that the Iraqi populace will want to vote "to secure Israel" is strange. Kerry didn't pick him up on it, but it adds fuel to any sceptical that, when Bush calls for democracy in the Middle East, he means democracy with freedom to choose whichever p[olicies prove popular.
Kerry was generally good, dealt well with the questions, and strove to point out differences; but what I suspect may endear him most to people over here (apart from not being Bush), was that he called Colin Powell Colin, and not Coe-Lin. That does make a refreshing change.
Perhaps someone in the town hall debate could give the candidates a list of words to pronounce, especially while Bush still seems worried about "nuke-you-lar" proliferation...
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Always reminds me of an old maths teacher who'd say 'cum-you-lative frequencies'. Not that maths was memorable in any other respect.
Colin Powell can pronounce his name whatever way he wants, and it's pointless and illiberal to say he must pronounce it the way we'd think most natural. I don't tell people who pronounce their name Sarah in odd ways to change their pronunciations, because names are an entirely chosen affair anyway. There isn't a right or wrong way to do it, though when it comes to people calling their children Sindy I'm often tempted to change my mind...
Colin Powell can pronounce his name whatever way he wants, and it's pointless and illiberal to say he must pronounce it the way we'd think most natural. I don't tell people who pronounce their name Sarah in odd ways to change their pronunciations, because names are an entirely chosen affair anyway. There isn't a right or wrong way to do it, though when it comes to people calling their children Sindy I'm often tempted to change my mind...
Sarah, you are of course right that any Colin can pronounce it however they like, but taking the piss out of what is, after all, his choice, is surely permissible. I think the main reason that people tend to thnk it silly is that they think it's an affectation. I've no idea why he pronounces it how he does, maybe his parents said it like that, but it does always sound bizarre to hear what, to my knowledge, is a unique variant on the pronunciation.
Broadly yes, he has the right to call himself whatever he likes, but can the rest of us not laugh at it if he chooses to pronounce it in a rather bizarre way? There may be a good reason for it, that it's Powell tradition or somesuch, but if he just thinks it sounds cooler -as I assume in the absence of suggestions to the contrary- then I'd say that it's open to comment.
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