Bringing back the political-cultural lexicon - J is for junior senator.

J

junior senator • ^lmak-ē  ə-^lvĕl-lē

     noun

     1. government official elected by the people and for himself; must be thin-skinned, good at holding a grudge.

ex.

another man of the people
educated at two Ivies

The pundrity is aghast: It's plagiarism, but . . .

. . . can you steal a cliché?

Melania Trump, National Convention, 2016:

     “From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise; that you treat people with respect. They taught and showed me values and morals in their daily life.

     “That is a lesson that I continue to pass along to our son, and we need to pass those lessons on to the many generations to follow," she said. "Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.”

*Bartlett's Familiar Quotations

Michelle Obama, Democratic National Convention, 2004:

     “Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them.

     “Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children — and all children in this nation — to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."

My mother when she dropped me off at prep school, 1961:

     “Here’s what you need to know, what the Nashes believe. Work hard. Your word is your bond, so when you make promises keep them. Treat your teachers and your fellow students with respect even when you disagree with them. Dream big. Work hard. You’ll get where you want to go, whether you know where that is yet or not.

     I know: I’m not the first to say this and I won’t be the last.”

You've seen the first of these. Have you seen the second?

Paul Ryan selfie with young Republicans.

Paul Ryan selfie with old Republicans

Budweiser's new can for the Republican Convention

InBev didn’t ask, but lack of corporate sponsorship has never stopped us before. We asked Go Around Back and The Ambiguities’ artso-fartso melchior ball to design Budweiser cans for the Republican and Democratic conventions. Here, in honor of Independence Day, or really because it’s exactly two weeks out, is mel’s tribute to the Republican nominee Donald Trump.

The quotation from Ovid, because Trump knows Ovid – he tweeted about the Roman poet recently: “Ovid. Yeah. Great guy. Raw deal by the king there.” – from The Metamorphoses’ description of Narcissus, might be translated:

he admires all that he finds admirable in himself

he longs for himself, and he approves what he approves in himself.

He seeks himself sought, he kindles and he burns.

Inquiring minds . . .

want to know: