“Bailout And “Change” Named Words Of The Year For 2008
The economic crisis has led to ”bailout” being the most looked-up word according to Merriam-Webster. Global Language Monitor lists “change” at the top of its list.
[Merrriam-Webster publisher John Morse] said the presidential campaign also produced voluminous hits for words like “vet,” which ranked second in the 2008 list, “bipartisan,” “misogyny,” and the word used to describe both candidates on the Republican ticket, “maverick.”
“Socialism” was an often-searched-for word (thanks to how conservatives misrepresented it during the presidential campaign), as were the words ”trepidation,” “precipice,” “rogue,” and “turmoil.”
Global Language Monitor uses an algorithm to track words and phrases on the Internet and in the media, tags “Obamamania,” “greenwashing,” “surge,” “derivative,” “subprime,” and “foreclosure,” as being the most popular, followed by “Phelpsian,” referring to swimmer Michael Phelps.
What are your favorite words of the year?
The radical right had to look up socialism since they used it without knowing what it meant. That tradition goes back to Tail Gunner Joe…he loved to use words and accusations without knowing their meaning or validity.
My favorite words…”President Barack Obama”
Great sounding words….hope filled words….and finally, they speak of leadership!
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 am
landslide, as in obama’s landslide victory over mccain.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 am
This actually encourages me to the hope that the human race might actually one day begin working to avoid its own extinction.
People are actually looking up words in dictionaries rather than just shooting off their big fat mouths like a bunch of know-it-alls?
Astounding.
My least favorite word of the year: Adjustment.
This is a term people use when they want to make a calamity sound like chiropractic. It’s like looking at thousands of foreclosures, and families thrown into the street, and hundreds of thousands of lost jobs, and millions and billions in losses in the Wall Street meltdown, and equating all that to a shave and a haircut. In other words, it’s an unmitigated lie.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:37 am
I know you agreed to stay on the show, but I cannot wait until you leave. Your comments are so stupid. It appears that you just cannot see the big picture. You see images and go with it. You ignore the panorama. Anyone who went along with “change”, “hope” and was not willing to look into what that meant is shallow.
All you ever said in response to that was that Obama did make his plans known. Now that he has run in the opposite direction you keep saying, well, give the guy a chance.
Shallow, just like the people who voted for Obama.
Real journalists should have been trying to pin down Obama. No one wanted to because they preferred the fairy tale of hope and change and did not want to know the truth.
You cannot get off the air fast enough for me. All you do is distract people who have something to say.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 am
Oh, and why don’t you interview people from moveon.org, ACORN, Huffington, and Salon, along with the other liberal backers who broke laws to get Obama into this place? How about interviewing Soros, Bill Ayers, and Obama’s other friends who benefited by Obama getting money into their personal accounts on his way to the Presidency.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:43 am
Libby….the radical right talking points you spew are delightful comedy….
Why would a person with your political philosophy even come to a site titled, “Liberaland” to spout your tripe?
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:48 am
Quit trying to back your guy off. He is a guilty of forcing this economic situation thanks to Soros and Acorn.
After you retire how about doing some real research. It embarrassing that those who are intelligent enough to do research on their own, know more than the great number of people who are paid to research, such as you and do not have a clue about what is going on.
William Bennett should have been a big hint to you…you and Tina Fey, and the big media companies will look very bad in the history books written about this election. Just in case you are hoping that no one will be reading books, well they are doing quite well. Our library has bought more than 15 books about Lincoln just this year and they are widely circulated.
Ironically, people began to read books about Obama, AFTER the election. Too bad people were not paying attention to those books before the election.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:50 am
Libby, I strongly suggest you learn to research the facts before you regurgetate talking points spewed by Hannity and other radical right robots.
Thank God we liberals have a brain and can research facts …. try it, you might like it.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:57 am
Tell me, Libby…how did ACORN break any laws? Be careful, the proof is in the results of investigations already completed by the FBI. Are you sure of the results? Careful…..
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 am
More favorite words…
Radical Right, Ridiculous, Competency, Election, Landslide, Electorial Landslide, 22.6% of total population…second highest vote percentage ever…first? Reagon at 23%…., Mandate
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:04 am
Politics is the word of the year.
I’m what they call a political junkie but this time around I didn’t need to remind anyone to vote or if I started talking shop with someone more often than not they actually knew what I was talking about. Don’t know much about America outside the Bay Area but around here the kids are checked in to poltics. That’s new; it used to be very lonely being less than gray and talking world affairs.
December 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 am
President-elect, Transition Team, and Governor Palin are my favorite words. I’m so happy that she’s not the Vice-President in waiting. Don’t forget “You Betcha”, “My Friends”, and “That One.”
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:11 am
“My friends”
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:57 am
Robert,
There you go again. Why do you attact Libby on coming to this site with his views? You did the same to me. Are we not supposed to have an opinion that differs from yours? What kind of America do you want? One that only spouts the liberal point of view? Is your definition of free speech only speech that agrees with your views? Don’t you believe in an open and honest discussion of ideas?
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:06 am
“let’s be clear here”, “you betcha”. least favorite: bailout
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 am
“Why do you attack Libby on coming to this site with his views? You did the same to me. Are we not supposed to have an opinion that differs from yours? What kind of America do you want? One that only spouts the liberal point of view? Is your definition of free speech only speech that agrees with your views?”
The guy can type any damn thing he wants.
But after reading a few hundred posts with remarks similar to this dazzling bit of analysis, “Your comments are so stupid,” followed by the accusation that Alan and/or all liberals are “Shallow,” it gets boring and old.
It’s like listening to people accuse others of having no common sense. What’s “common sense”? It’s one of the greater arrogances of our age, because with two little words you proclaim that anyone who doesn’t agree with you, or take the same view as you, must be a mental defective. And that’s just breath-taking.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
“Why do you attact Libby on coming to this site with his views? You did the same to me. Are we not supposed to have an opinion that differs from yours? What kind of America do you want? One that only spouts the liberal point of view? Is your definition of free speech only speech that agrees with your views? Don’t you believe in an open and honest discussion of ideas?”
I attack the argument, not the person.
I will do the same to your arguments if they are talking points from the radical right.
I actually wanted to understand the motives of someone who would walk voluntarily into a lion’s den.
I will defend with my life your right to have your own opinion…..and I have.
I want an America where we are free to disagree, but without the vitriole that the radical right seems to feel entitiled to…like physically killing the opposition as they used the FBI to do in the early 70’s, the police using guns and dogs on liberals working for voting rights in the 60’s, KKK lynchings.
I believe in open and honest debate…but, the Hannity/Limbaugh/Coultergist/Ingrahm type folks make it rather difficult at times. The radical right also has used patriotism as a weapon…McCarthy, Bush, Chaney “if you disagree, you hate the troops and are unpatriotic” line of crappola.
Now, that is what fires up this liberal….and I had eight years of it…it reminded me of the Nixon days….and that jerk didn’t go to prison as he should have because someone issued him a pardon……and the radical right hates the Rich pardon…doesn’t hold a candle to pardoning Nixon….
Now, there….I hope that answers your questions.
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 am
Alan, I hear you are leaving Fox? Going to PMSNBC? They need another lib over there,,, glad to say we won’t miss you. Truth will prevail !
Casey
December 3rd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
The word of the year wasn’t a word at all – it was John McCain’s air quotes around “women’s health”. Just about summed up the Republican Party’s attitude towards women, individual rights and govt. interference in personal affairs – without uttering a single syllable.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
God, the mental midgets of the right. I’d laugh if it weren’t so pathetic.
ANYWAY! “Kool-aid” is rapidly becoming my least favorite word, but my favorite word (phrase?) as pertains to politics is “no drama.” That’s an optimistic sign of future improvement.
My favorite words in everyday life will always be either “onomatopoeia” or “schadenfreude.”
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Oh, and place name? “Beaver Springs.” You can’t say it without smiling, ’cause of the “ee” sounds.
You have the soft “v” in “beaver” and the explosive “p” in “springs,” and it drums up all kinds of Walt Disney images of furry, bucktoothed, and industrious woodland creatures (unless you have a really dirty mind, and even then, the images are still a little entertaining).
Say it with me: Beeeaver Spriiiings. Don’t you feel better?
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
“Alan, I hear you are leaving Fox? Going to PMSNBC? They need another lib over there,,, glad to say we won’t miss you. Truth will prevail ! Casey”
Another proof that people “hear” things but never pause for one instant to consider the veracity of what blows out of other people’s mouths.
No, Alan isn’t leaving Fox. He’s only said it about four thousand trillion times. It’s only been repeated on practically every news and media outlet on the planet.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Robert,
I know your comment wasn’t directed to me, but I want to answer anyway (smiling)
I don’t consider this a lion’s den at all. More of a playground. I love to argue about anything and everything that I am passionate about. hearing from the other side can be infuriating, comical, revealing, and entertaining.
I can appreciate (sometimes) why you (the lefties) feel the way you do, even if I disagree with it wholeheartedly.
It is just a shame that so many on this board revert to name calling, personal attacks, and shameful displays of egocentricity. Then again I am sure that is how many far lefties feel when they visit conservative boards.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm
T Mason, if I call you a nasty name, other than part of the radical right, let me apologize before hand.
As for answering my questions, thanks….I did actually wonder of the motives…and as to yours…I respect them and you for believing your philosophy. We may disagree on some solutions, but one thing I have learned is to aim for the common ground we can establish and build a path from there.
And, I smile too….some of my chiding is with a tongue jammed earnestly in my cheek. I am glad someone else can use that superglue in the cheek,too.
I am presently a member of one group that isn’t too hot on too many rules. One time, some years ago, a branch of the group got to making rules…and it got away from them. They sent a long list of rules to the central office for approval. The list contained 61 rules to be followed. The central office sent back the list and added one rule…it is widely known by members of the group as “Rule 62″….It says, “Don’t take yourself so Damned seriously.”….
Even now, I need to remind myself of that rule….and I believe we can all share of it’s wisdom.
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Libby: Have you considered admitting your self to a Psy ward for evaluation? Your delusional nonsense fits the criteria for being admitted: Danger to yourself and others. Get some help professional help before it’s too late!
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Paling around with the right wingers with a PALIN frame of mind. No wonder they lost in a landslide.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Heard the folks up in Alaska are not happy with Palin continuing her ongoing “campaign.” Guess she hasn’t been around much lately.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
How could anyone forget the word “maverick”?
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
“first dude”
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:25 pm
“abomination”
December 4th, 2008 at 5:03 am
TRANSFORM VS. REFORM! Hey and how about that shot with Palin and the Turkey beheading. She just kept on talking while those little Turkey feet struggled in panic. Awareness??? Thank God she won’t be involved in keeping America safe!!!! Yet the Republicans may want to run her against Hillary in eight years. Awareness…A word the Republicans may want to look up in the coming year.
December 4th, 2008 at 6:11 am
How about Biden asking the guy to stand up? Or thinking there were tv’s during the great depression, or even knowing who the president was during the great depression. Now that’s being aware.
How many on here who were offended by that clip passed on the turkey this thanksgiving?
December 4th, 2008 at 9:04 am
SCRANTON. Son we are gonna have to move. You to go to a new school. Their is no more work in SCRANTON. My fellow AMERICANS my friends my friends. Can i get a hood wink. Bush wants to give the wheel to McCAIN to accelerate our economy over the cliff. We can,t afford 4 more years of a Bush McCAIN economy. It,s time for a change. You betcha he pals around with terrorist. My friends like Joe the plumber,OBAMA wants to redistrubte the wealth. I called that socialism. Town hall meetings! I miss all of that pre election stuff. MSNBC,FOX and CNN pundits and the poll masters. Battleground OH,PA,FL,VA,NC and MIZZO. Tying BUSH to McCAIN. AYERS,ACORN and the REV WRIGHT. COUNTDOWN,HANNITY and COLBEMS. HARDBALL,RACHEL M SHOW,NO SPIN ZONE,SITUATION ROOM.
December 4th, 2008 at 11:48 am