Extraordinary Rendition, Neologisms, Newspeak
Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 03:10 PM
Responding to today's interview with Jane Mayer on the practice of extraordinary rendition, MH in the East Village writes:
What exactly is the semantic origin of the term "extraordinary rendition"? On the face of it, one might imagine a rapturous piano sonata, but the actual meaning re: torture/interrogation is so obscure.
It got us to thinking about some other recent government and punditocracy-issued coinages:
Homeland Security: a stock certificate or bond issued by any of the former "bantustans" of Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei or Venda
nuclear option: actually dropping the bomb, rather than making sure the Dems can't stymie Scalia
grandfathered in: to be left with one's social security benefits intact
clawback: to get old-fashioned bathtub "claws" installed in your tub, rather than having to "mortgage" your social security benefits (in the words of Paul Krugman)
What's your faux neologism? Tell us!
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