just as a matter of curiousity, how can one "restore" something that did not, and does not, exist?

[niyad]

referring, of course, to mitten's super-pac "restore america's future".

does this irritate anyone else, or is it just me?

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. All of the teabagging "Restore" nonsense bugs me.

I know they will deny it, but every time I see or hear it, it comes across as a completely racist dog whistle.

"Restore it" to what? The last balanced budget of the Clinton Administration and the time before tax cuts for the top 2% and 2+ unfunded wars? Something tells me that isn't what they are going for...

[niyad]

5. I know what you are saying--but "restore the future"???? makes no sense to me.

[Ruby the Liberal]

21. That would be the one they had in mind that never involved

a black President, IMO.

[aikoaiko]

2. Effective rhetoric doesn't have to make sense.

[niyad]

3. it does to me. must be the editor in me, but I insist that these people actually have a decent

command of what is supposed to be their native language.

[aikoaiko]

8. I'm sure its not effective with you, but you are likely not the intended target.

Sad truth, this stuff plays we'll in certain places.

[Quantess]

13. I am America and so can you!

[Warren DeMontague]

4. return to tomorrow!

People are used to language meaning whatever the fuck they want it to mean, and tossing around things like bullshit psychobabble dog whistles as though they actually are concrete concepts... so no, I'm not surprised.

[Crankie Avalon]

9. Future events such as these will affect you in the future...

...for the future is where we will all spend the rest of our lives!

[Warren DeMontague]

16. the future is just like the present

only longer

[niyad]

18. I am not surprised, just irritated.

[cthulu2016]

6. I think he means this >>>

[Nye Bevan]

7. About as meaningless as "yes, we can". I just tune this stuff out (nt)

[bigtree]

14. actually, 'yes we can' was successful

. . . in encouraging folks who had previously shied away from the political process to believe that this relatively young African American could achieve the presidency. Beyond that, it's whatever you choose to make of it. I choose a positive interpretation.

[Quantess]

17. "Yes we can" is semantically correct, at least.

It's also just a slogan but at least it makes sense. What's Romney gonna do, hop into a time machine?

[niyad]

19. exactly. at least "yes we can" did not make me reach for my little red pen.

[DirkGently]

10. Conservative rhetoric leans heavily on non-existent Past Greatness.

[Quantess]

11. "restoring the future"

Yes, that is really inane! Our future is imminent, like it or not, no matter what we do or don't do.

Notice he doesn't promise a good future, so we can't call him a liar or cry false advertising when his recipe turns out to be a disaster for America. He might be consciously aiming for a shitty future for us, for all we know.

[bigtree]

12. it's just another of his dog whistles

those silly executives and their dog whistles . . .

[JI7]

15. because what he wants to restore is not what you would want

[niyad]

20. no, you are missing the point. logically, one cannot restore what has not yet existed. this isn't

about what one does, or does not, want. it is about logic and accurate use of language.