The 'R' Word

There certainly seems to be a lot of of people flinging the words 'retard' and 'retarded' at one another and calling for each other to be fired for it.

Political Carnival on the latest case, Perry v Hutchison:

Le mot du jour seems to be making the rounds in the "more politically correct than thou" circles.

Andrew Sullivan on Palin v Rahmbo:

Did she really just call for Rahm Emanuel to be fired because he allegedly used the term "fucking retarded" to refer to fellow Democrats in a private meeting? Last summer? Did she really?

I don't like the term myself. I think it is offensive. I think Rahm Emanuel is offensive. But at least he's real. And he has now apologized. And at least he used the term metaphorically.

On naming her latest baby:

The medical term for Down Syndrome is Trisomy-21 or Trisomy-g. It is often shortened in medical slang to Tri-g.

Now that's retarded.

Since apologies for the use of a very valid and useful word meaning basically 'slow' or 'slow down' but hijacked and co-opted to mean only one thing, sorta like 'gay', seem to be in order, I hereby apologize to the thousands of ignition systems I've set to 'full retard'. I was just trying to get the engines to start easily and idle correctly and in my ignorance had no idea I was insulting them.

As one Political Carnival commenter said,

...this whole pseudo-controversy is retarded.

I would never use the word to refer to people with "moderate cognitive disabilities", but I sure as shit will to describe wingnuts and Repugs in general. Fuckin' retards, the whole backwards lot of 'em. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Yeesh.

Update:

P.M. Carpenter wasn't writing about this subject but he hit its nail right on the head:

Saying the GOP is the party of no is one thing – and technically correct – but more so it’s the party of antediluvian cluelessness

Shorter: Fuckin' retards, the lot of 'em.

Update II:

Think Progress

[...] Claiming Emanuel’s regrettable remarks gave him permission, hate radio talker Rush Limbaugh endorsed the language and said the liberal activists truly are “retards”:

Palin has called into Limbaugh’s show at least twice. Will she now call on him to apologize for his slur?

Hell no. IOKIYAR.