You’re Getting Warmer

Quote:  “I will follow him to the gates of Hell.”  Senator John McCain, referring to Osama bin Laden during the Republican presidential debate.

Figure of Speech: euche (YOO-kay), the vow.  From the Greek, meaning “vow.”

A bevy of ten GOP hopefuls revealed that they believe in evolution (except for a craven three who signaled they do not), and that they wouldn’t mind if the Supreme Court banned abortion.

John McCain, for his part, came locked and loaded.  When asked a dumb question about immigration, McCain dealt with it briskly and then recalled a previous dumb question about how hard we should try to get bin Laden.  The answer:  real hard.

The euche — a vow never to say die — is a classic figure of Ethos, persuasive language that enhances your image.  It makes your character seem reliable.  Even relentless.

Figaro especially loves McCain’s reference to Hell, which implies a struggle between good and evil.  Don’t examine examine a euche like that for logic, though.  One doubts that bin Laden would find refuge anywhere near the gates of Hell, unless he mistakes Hell for Pakistan.

Snappy Answer:  “Better start right now.”

For more Ethos enhancers, see page 86 of Figaro’s book.

Comments

[Jamo]

I'm tempted to point out a typo in "examine examine", but I fear the might of Figaro's wisdom that perhaps it was a form of speech far beyond what my meager mind could grasp. Maybe you made an error to make those of us with lesser capabilities feel smarter. If not, then what do you call it when you simply duplicate the word for emphasis?

[Figaro]

If you do it on purpose, it's a PALILOGIA. Which I didn't. Do it on purpose, I mean.