Strategery
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The word "strategery" (pronounced [stɹəˡti:dʒə.ɹi], struh-TEEJ-er-ee) came into being when it was used in a Saturday Night Live sketch, written by James Downey, airing October 7, 2000, which satirized the performances of George W. Bush and Al Gore, two candidates for President of the United States, during the first presidential debate for election year 2000.[1] Comedian Will Ferrell played Bush and used the word "strategery" (a mock-Bushism playing on the words "strategy" and "strategic"), when asked by a mock debate moderator to summarize "the best argument for his campaign", thus satirizing Bush's reputation for mispronouncing words. The episode was later released as part of a video tape titled Presidential Bash 2000.
After the 2000 presidential election, people inside the Bush White House reportedly began using the term as a joke, and it later grew to become a term of art among them meaning oversight of any activity by Bush's political consultants. Bush's strategists also came to be known within the White House as "The Department of Strategery" or the "Strategery Group."[2]
A February 9, 2001, transcript of a CNN interview attributes George Bush using the term, presumably as an intentional nod to the comedy sketch. [3] Affectionately embracing satirical portrayals has been a Bush tactic at other times as well, such as when he presented a slide show at the May 2004 Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner about looking for weapons of mass destruction in the Oval Office [4] after the political comic strip Doonesbury satirically portrayed him on a similar bizarre search.
The term is now widely used in popular discourse, often by Bush's critics to ridicule his oratory skills. However, many supporters of Bush also use the term to reflect their fondness for Bush's quirky speech patterns. Rush Limbaugh picked up the usage soon after the SNL airing and has been instrumental in popularizing the word, using it in an ironic sense in support of President Bush. A trial exhibit from the 2007 "Scooter" Libby trial included the term, in Libby's daily schedule for June 10, 2003, which showed that Libby had a 6:00 pm "Strategery Meeting" scheduled to last 90 minutes.[5]
A book by political reporter Bill Sammon titled "Strategery" was published by the conservative publishing group Regnery in February 2006, and is the author's third book on the inner workings of the Bush presidency.
[edit] References
- ^ Dana Milbank (April 22, 2001). Serious 'Strategery' As Rove Launches Elaborate Political Effort, Some See a Nascent Clintonian 'War Room'. Washington Post . Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ "See, Why Are These Men Laughing?" (Jan 1, 2003). Esquire.
- ^ Military Puts President Bush on Defensive; How Should the New Administration Handle the Conflict in the Middle East?. CNN (February 9, 2001). Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Bush takes heat for WMD jokes. CNN (May 6, 2004). Retrieved on 2008-03-06.
- ^ Defense Exhibit DX1030 - Scooter Libby's Schedule, June 10, 2003
‘SNL’ Writer Narrows the Gap Between Politics and Farce, By DAVE ITZKOFF; Published: March 3, 2008
