Attorney General, Surgeon General, why do Rep.s call them "General?"

[patcox2]

Okay, its trivial, but it drives me absolutely crazy. Why do conservatives always call the attorney general and the surgeon general "General" as if they hold military rank? It makes me scream when I hear them say "General Ashcroft" or "General Gonzalez."

Its not the proper usage; its downright illiterate. And it seems to be deliberate on the part of conservatives in their love for all things military to use the term incorrectly.

The Attorney General is not a general. Thats why the plural is "attornies general," not "attorney generals." "General" as used in the phrase "Attorney General" is an adjective; it is placed after the noun it describes because the term "attorney general" is an old bit of law-french, and the adjective general is placed in the usual place for an adjective in sentence in french, after the noun it modifies.

I hate illiteracy, and I hate militarism, and I hate stupid fucking republicans.

That is all.

[fishwax]

1. i don't ever recollect anyone calling them general

but I would chuckle if they did :rofl:

[BOSSHOG]

2. Because fake patriot chickenhawks

feel all manly when they say "General" and "Colonel" and "Master Sergeant." They live vicariously through military figures because the cowardly motherfuckers sure ain't gonna find out what military life is on their own. The success of the gop has been driven by the ignorance and hate of their base. But its fading just a little.

An informed and knowledgeable electorate is the last thing a republican wants in his congressional district.

[AngryAmish]

3. Surgeon general is a military position of some sort

According to wikipedia he is the head of the Public Health Service Commission Corps, one ofthe seven branches of the uniformed services.

on edit (took out military and put in uniformed services which I believe are: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine and PHSCC, tho marines may be part of navy and I am missing someone).