Peggy Noonan asks: Why does the pres. call the sec. of state "Condi"?

[kskiska]

A Few Questions

Why does the president call the secretary of state "Condi"? And what exactly is his philosophy?

Why does President Bush refer in public to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as "Condi"? Did Dwight Eisenhower call his Secretary of State "Johnny"? Did Jimmy Carter call his "Eddie," or Bill Clinton call his "Maddy," or Richard Nixon call his "Willie" or "Hank"? What are the implications of such informality?

I know it is small, but in a way such things are never small. To me it seems a part of the rhetorical childishness of the age, the faux egalitarianism of the era. It reminds me of how people in the administration and Congress--every politician, in fact--always refer to mothers as moms: We must help working moms." You're not allowed to say "mother" or "father" in politics anymore, it's all mom and dad and the kids. This is the buzzy soft-speak of a peaceless era; it is an attempt to try to establish in sound what you can't establish in fact.

(snip)

I have had reservations in this area since Mr. Bush's stunning inaugural speech last year, but Mr. Buckley's comments, in a television interview last weekend, had the sting of the definitional. I agree with Mr. Buckley's judgments but would add they raise the question of what Bush's political philosophy is--I mean what he thinks it is. It's not "everyone should be free." Everyone in America thinks everyone should be free, what we argue over is specific definitions of freedom and specific paths to the goal. He doesn't believe in smaller government. Or maybe he "believes" in small government but believes us to be in an era in which it is, with the current threat, unrealistic and unachievable? He believes in lower taxes. What else? I continually wonder, and have wondered for two years, what his philosophy is--what drives his actions.

Does he know? Is it a philosophy or a series of impulses held together by a particular personality? Can he say? It would be good if he did. People are not going to start feeling safe in the world tomorrow, but they feel safer with a sense that their leaders have aims that are intellectually coherent. It would be good for the president to demonstrate that his leadership is not just a situational hodgepodge, seemingly driven and yet essentially an inbox presidency, with a quirky tilt to the box. Sometimes words just can't help. But sometimes, especially in regard to the establishment or at least assertion of coherence, they can. And it's never too late. History doesn't hold a stopwatch, not on things like this.

more…
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110008707

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I was taught to show respect for people,

which means when I call them up to make pest treatment appointments, I call them "Mr." and "Mrs." or "Ms"-and you can be sure I've found out which title the woman prefers. It's called a matter of respect, and I show it.

[BillZBubb]

2. Because he can't use her private nickname "Hot Mama" in public.

Anyway who cares what Nooner thinks?

[yurbud]

17. he only has eyes for BULLDOG

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I think Nooner is jealous.

[Ilsa]

5. Heh heh heh. I had to look twice to see who penned this

observation and speculation. I think Jr likes putting everyone else into a subordinate position. I guess he wants to undermine her effectiveness. He doesn't really want peace.

How are ya, JpRad? :pals:

[Jackpine Radical]

12. Hi Ilsa--

Thanks for the hug. I just now got back to look at my posts & so just saw your reply.

I'm finer than fine. Yesterday was my last day of work as a Corrections psychologist. Free of the bureaucracy at last! Now I'll just be doing my private practice about 2-3 days a week.

So how's life treating you?

Hey, I just tried to PM you & it wouldn't let me.

[Ilsa]

14. Hmmm. Don't know why PMing didn't work.

Congrats on your completion of the bureaucratic work!

We're fine. Tweaked my son's meds recently with pretty good results, but still dealing with some subtly aggressive behaviors. Summer is passing by quickly, but it does wear on me having the kids around so much. I tend to drink a little more wine than I should!. Thanks for asking.

[panader0]

4. And how about when Condi called shrub her "husband" ???

[Captain Hilts]

18. The NYT obviously ordered MoDo NOT to use that one.

I'll bet that helped the liquor stores around Blessed Sacarment.

[Warpy]

6. Why, Peggy, they're just following the example set by her boss

and your little tin Jesus in the White House.

What, you're not happy with his leadership?

[Arkansas Granny]

7. I think Bush has been told by his handlers that using nicknames

for people endears him to his base since this makes them perceive him as "down to earth" and a "common man". To me, it shows lack of respect for the person and the position they hold. Of course, there is always the possibility that by using their nicknames instead of their titles he is sending a message that they rank below him in the order of things and he is reminding them of their place. That would fit in with his massive ego and sense of self-importance.

[EST]

8. Why is it that * , and most men, for that matter,

attempts to kiss the women and shake hands with the men?
What if they, as a general habit, kissed the men and shook hands with the women?

I think it's just a form of sexism, taken to a bit of a ridiculous extreme by this cretin.
His habit of nick-naming, usually with silly, disrespectful titles, is an indicator of his unwillingness to accord rules of protocol. Those rules are a form of human grease.

The gears of human relations are non too well fitting in the best of circumstances and throwing sand in those gears does not improve the machine at all, a fundamental truth that simply does not register with an idiotic pretender to the halls of thoughtful leadership.

"King Ralph" may be a cool notion to build a movie around, with its iconoclastic meme, but, in real life, only the habits of real ambassadors and the power represented by the United States gives him any credence or any respect, at all.

Bush has no "class."

[niyad]

10. the opening scene of "king ralph" is interesting.

[katty]

9. Candi, err, Condi is HIS home girl-he always hides behind his women

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Why does she call them "Jimmy" Carter and "Bill" Clinton?

Why was Eisenhower widely known as "Ike"? Truman as "Harry"? This is hardly a new development in politics. With a long name like 'Condoleezza', it's more likely to happen. Yes, Bush uses first names more than politicians used to, but we all do. I've seen a lot of people call her 'Condi', so as far as I know, it's not from him. It's when he seems to invents nicknames when there are names, first, last or short, by which people are already generally known, that it annoys me. "Pooty-Poot" sounds 2nd grade.

[calico1]

13. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton

referred to themselves as Jimmy and Bill. Which is different from a person having a nickname because someone else gives it to them. My name is Elizabeth and that's what I like being called. Not Liz or Lizzy or Betty, etc. although people have always taken liberties with my name which annoys the hell out of me.

I don't know if Rice goes herself by Condi or if people just call her that so I do get Ms. Noonan's point. However, Ms. Noonan took time off from her column so she could help get bush reelected. So what she should be asking herself is not why the president calls Condaleeza "Condi" but why she campaigned for this moron.

[gulliver]

15. It reduces the expectation of professionalism and results.

It personalizes the issue, reduces accountability, and places Bush above the formalisms of government. There is no mystery here. De-formalizing the government, eliminating accountability, fudging standards, using emotional, elliptical rhetoric... that's just this whole insane administration. Bush could not meet presidential standards, so he lowered them to Junior high school levels.

[alarimer]

16. How does he refer to Rumsfeld?

If he calls him Secretary Runsfeld and calls Rice "Condi", well, that is just sexist. But if he calls everyone by their first name or a nickname, that's just putting them down below him I guess, if that makes any sense.

[yorkiemommie1]

19. Maybe he thinks this is a step up

in showing respect.

A woman I know worked for him for years in TX and she says he NEVER bothered to learn the women's names, always referring to them as "GALS".

[savemefromdumbya]

20. At least Blair gets called "yo blair" not Tony

sh'e his bit on the side?

[The Sushi Bandit]

21. He is banging h... oh I cant say that!

got to keep it clean here!

[springhill]

22. A better question would be.......

Why is she secretary of state?