TFL BULLY PULPIT: POLL RESULTS: TFL creates Expansion Draft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_pulpit

A bully pulpit is a public office of sufficiently high rank that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter. The bully pulpit can bring issues to the forefront that were not initially in debate, due to the office's stature and publicity.

This term was coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to the American presidency as a "bully pulpit," by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda. Roosevelt famously used the word bully as an adjective meaning "superb" or "wonderful" (a more common expression in his time than it is today); the term has no relationship to the noun bully, i.e. a harasser or someone who intimidates.

Unfortunately, due to the archaic nature of the adjective "bully" and the religious symbolism of the word pulpit (the elevated platform used by a preacher), this phrase is often misunderstood as a pejorative. This misinterpretation implies intimidation and, possibly, an abuse of authority. An example of this would be the sentence: "He uses his job as a bully pulpit, regaling his subordinates with his political opinions as part of their morning meetings."

TFL BULLY PULPIT

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

POLL RESULTS: TFL creates Expansion Draft

No comments:

Post a Comment

TFL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bully_pulpit

Blog Archive

Followers