Comments on: Sometimes a Condi is Just a Condi

By: Kent G. Budge

Kent G. Budge — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:43:07 +0000

Did Dwight Eisenhower call his Secretary of State â��Johnnyâ��?

No, but Churchill was quoted saying, "Dull, Duller, Dulles."

(Couldn't resist.)

By: Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 02:12:32 +0000

The truth is: he's the freaking president of the United States!

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 01:53:48 +0000

Lets see here. Condi works for W, but W shouldn't say Condi because Ike, Jimmy, Bubba or tricky Dick might not approve of a nickname. I mean, what would Rudy or Hillary say about such informality?

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 22:03:22 +0000

I've read that the greatest sign of respect that anyone serving under Douglas MacArthur could hope for was to be called by their first name. A close second was for him to use your surname, although he generally just used a person's rank.

Bush is a nickname kind of guy, and I don't think it is any sort of disrespect or dismissiveness. I also agree that saying Condoleeza forty times a day would severely curtail productivity.

By: JKB

JKB — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 21:37:33 +0000

I believe Peggy is confused. Calling a subordinate by their first name does not represent a "faux egalitarianism." Rather it is a specific sign of rank. The superior uses first name familiarity while the subordinate always uses the title. Example: Admiral Top Dogg spoke to Captain Bob Risingstar, "Bob, we need to arrange for the fleet to have some liberty." "Yes Sir. I'll issue a directive to immediately, Admiral." Now if Secretary Rice were to start referring to the President as George in public, then we would have faux egalitarianism.