WBBM news-reader just called Dems "The Loyal Opposition"...WTF??

[BiggJawn]

The Democratic Party's response to the First Idiot's weekly blitherings is coming up in a few minutes, and the the reader on WBBM referenced an excerpt from Dim-Son's address and said "The response from the Loyal Opposition will be coming up after CBS news...."

"Loyal Opposition" ?

Loyal to WHOM????

[OnionPatch]

1. Maybe it's

loyalty to being the steadfast opposition. (In which case a few of our reps need a little more practice.)

[noamnety]

2. I think I'm okay with that phrase

Loyal to our principles, and we clearly are the opposition party. Maybe it appeals to my sense of rebellion, or my desire to see our politicians oppose the administration rather than become more centrist.

[firebee]

9. I'm okay with that phrase.

"Loyal Opposition" - as in... we're people who're loyal to our country and our countrymen, but we're in opposition to the policies of our Government. In my personal opinion; This is just exemplary of the old saying.... "Love your country, fear your government." Yes, I'm "Loyal Opposition" if that's what they want to call me.

[Coventina]

3. It's a very old term, and may be a British holdover.

I'm not sure about its origins, though.

Anyway, it just referring to the party not currently in power. It "opposes" the current government, but is loyal to the country and the form of government. No threat of civil war.

I wish there was more "opposition" in our loyal opposition.
:-(

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. In Britain, it's "Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition"

ie still loyal to the (non-party political) head of state, although opposed to the government. Not so easy to use the term when the head of state is a politician. I suppose you can say 'loyal to the country'.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. its just another term for minority party

its not anything bad.

[snoochie]

5. The Loyal Opposition

oppose the government but would not overthrow it.

[BiggJawn]

6. Well, OK, but it has a subservient tone for me.

Like they could say "Lapdog" and still hold the same meaning.

But it looks like at least a 5:1 margin doesn't feel that way, so Perhaps I'm nuts...

[alfredo]

8. Loyal opposition as opposed to how the repubs

like to portray us. We are not traitors, we are the loyal opposition. We should use that phrase to blunt Anne the man and pillhead rush.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. It is a time honored term

the party out of power is the loyal opposition ..... loyal to the country but opposed to the party in power.