Comments on: Titles for Former Officials

By: pylon

pylon — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:45:34 +0000

Gingrich was honored by the politicians in his party to be Speaker

Was he honoured to be unceremoniously ejected from that position?

By: Boyd

Boyd — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:47:01 +0000

By that standard, Bill, only military retirees would retain their titles.

Yes, there are probably others as well, but this illustrates my point.

By: serfer62

serfer62 — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:44:56 +0000

Its like doctors who call you by your first name and yet expect to be called "Doctor". F%$kem, I use their first name.

As to that fat pompus ass I think The Lizard should do nicely...just stay out of GOP politics.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 26 May 2009 17:01:01 +0000

The title applies to the office and not to the man, and it is not properly applied once the man leaves office.

That's true as a matter of formal entitlement but not of custom and courtesy. Former officials are routinely addressed by their highest previous title both by the media and by just about everyone in day-to-day interaction.

By: Bill H

Bill H — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:40:30 +0000

"President-For-Life" Clinton and "Vice-President-For-Life" Cheney, are they? Notwithstanding Barack Obama's claim that, "This nation only has one President at a time" prior to his inauguration? How very odd. Either Obama was wrong, or you are. Hint. It's you. The title applies to the office and not to the man, and it is not properly applied once the man leaves office. It should be "Former President Clinton" or "Ex-President Clinton."

By: PD Shaw

PD Shaw — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:38:46 +0000

There was a former office holder in Congress and a high executive position, who was recently asked what title he goes by. I can't remember his name, but his response was that being elected to the legislature from his home was the highest honor he had ever received.

Gingrich was honored by the politicians in his party to be Speaker, he was honored by the people to be a Representative.

By: JKB

JKB — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:21:59 +0000

I was always struck by the odd fact that the high officials who by custom should be referred to as "The Honorable..." were generally those we least associate with that trait.

By: Boyd

Boyd — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:04:22 +0000

I recently heard a reference to "former President Reagan" on the radio, and I recall thinking, "shouldn't that be 'the late President Reagan?'" Which really isn't your point, but I'm upholding the time-honored Intarwebs standard of comments barely related to the original post.

By: Dave Schuler

Dave Schuler — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:45:20 +0000

Here in Illinois the honorific we've started using for former high-ranking officials is “Prisoner”.

By: G.A.Phillips

G.A.Phillips — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:20:12 +0000

How about, semi Golden parachute recipients for life?