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I'm interested to see the British and Australian perspectives on this, especially.

One of my pet peeves is when an American politician is referred to with their former office as a title. For example, President Clinton, Governor Palin, Speaker Gingrich. I think it's inappropriate to refer to them in this way because they no longer hold these title, and I think giving them "titles for life" is a pretty damn un-american thing to do.

I'd have a lot more respect for a politician if they, when referred to as such, said "Actually, it's just Mr. Clinton now". (fill in with Mrs. Palin or Mr. Romney, whatever).

/grindsmygears

It kinda does but mainly because it makes it sound like they're currently in office...

Annoys me too. In Canada, we specifically add the "former" prefix. As an outsider, the American media practice of keeping the title make sit very difficult to figure out who actually is still in office (state level, mostly. I generally know who's currently president -it's Harrison, right?).

In Australia ex-pollies always get called "Former PM or Former Prime Minister". i.e Former PM John Howard. Or "Former Shadow Minister of Education Such n' such". An added bonus of being an Australian Politician is that if you make any sort of name for yourself (for example stabbing your party leader in the back or for being slightly insane) you get lumped with an awesome nick name! One of the many perks of being part of the Aussie political system.

My pet peeve is the term women politicians or women "title". FFs the term is FEMALE!
FE-MALE!
I'm not normally a grammar nazi but for some reason this really gaks me off.
i mean if i ran round saying men politicians it'd be all kinds of ridonculous.

The titles for life thing is pretty standard ettiquette, military ranks and diplomatic ranks work that way too as well as MDs/PhDs whether or not they're still practicing.

So no, doesn't really bother me.

I find it annoying. They dont have the power anymore so dont use it. Use either Ex-President, Then-President For as many have said the more appropriate "Former"

I think president is the only one that should stick from elected officials. Either way in regards to the OP it is not a title of nobility.

The taint of political office should follow them forever....

Should be easy for our current POTUS though, majority of people in Oklahoma seem to refuse to call him President Obama while he is still in office.

Wait, Oklahoma is still a state? When did that happen?

Melissia wrote:Wait, Oklahoma is still a state? When did that happen?

The rest of the states decided they needed a buffer zone between Texas and the rest of the US, Oklahoma drew the short straw.

Didn't you notice us kicking two Texas NBA teams out of the playoffs?

That would require me to pay attention to the NBA.\

Or any organized sport for that matter.

NBA is nice, but nothing brings out the pitchforks between our states like college football.

College football? Is that where mechanical titans use college buildings as footballs?

Melissia wrote:College football? Is that where mechanical titans use college buildings as footballs?

No, that is the sport where thousands of adult men project their hopes and dreams on teenagers that carry around a leather egg and then use that game to make fun of the other state while pretending that they had anything to do with the actual victory. The loosing state also screams for the head of the coach on a platter.

Oh, so it's like politics without the permanent legal consequences.

Kinda

On a related note, coaches seem to retain their title for life as well. 90 year old guys still get called "coach".

I always assumed the US were presidants for life. It's confusing as hell hearing them talk about "presidant clinton/bush".
But in the UK it's "ex-Prime Minister Blair", or just "that witch".


Automatically Appended Next Post:

d-usa wrote:Kinda

On a related note, coaches seem to retain their title for life as well. 90 year old guys still get called "coach".

That sounds more like a sign of respect as a paternal figure.

d-usa wrote:No, that is the sport where thousands of adult men project their hopes and dreams on teenagers that carry around a leather egg and then use that game to make fun of the other state while pretending that they had anything to do with the actual victory. The loosing state also screams for the head of the coach on a platter.

Wow. I now fully understand the game of American football. It was so confusing to me before but now it totally makes sense.

Snrub wrote:

d-usa wrote:No, that is the sport where thousands of adult men project their hopes and dreams on teenagers that carry around a leather egg and then use that game to make fun of the other state while pretending that they had anything to do with the actual victory. The loosing state also screams for the head of the coach on a platter.

Wow. I now fully understand the game of American football. It was so confusing to me before but now it totally makes sense.

There is also the professional American Football league. But instead of states making fun of each other it is cities, instead of teenagers carrying the egg it is overpaid adults who still act like teenagers. The coach still lives under constant threads for his head though.

Actually in the US a former President holds the rank of 'Mr President' for life.

Orlanth wrote:Actually in the US a former President holds the rank of 'Mr President' for life.

It's a rank now?

Keeping the title of "Mr Pres" for life almost seems like some childish last ditch attempt at holding onto some semblance of power even though their reign of power/terror is over.

Almost...

d-usa wrote:There is also the professional American Football league. But instead of states making fun of each other it is cities, instead of teenagers carrying the egg it is overpaid adults who still act like teenagers. The coach still lives under constant threads for his head though.

Isnt being a responsible, respectable, mature adult fun?

Orlanth wrote:Actually in the US a former President holds the rank of 'Mr President' for life.

[citation needed]

Former President's in person are usually referred to as "President X" as an honorary title out of respect for the office in face to face conversations, but it isn't anything legal. In media they are still referred to as ex-President or former President.

They certainly don't retain the rank of Commander-in-Chief.

Orlanth wrote:Actually in the US a former President holds the rank of 'Mr President' for life.

No, he doesn't. That's just a nicety bestowed on former presidents because people like being really respectful to presidents.

The actual tradition started with George Washington was for the former President to take the name of his highest office prior to being President (George Washington's logic was that there can be only President at a time, but plenty of Generals, so he ought to be known from then on as General Washington). As such, it should be Governor Bush, Governor Clinton, Ambassador Bush and Governor Carter for the current living presidents.

Whoa buddy, what happened with that quote there.

Ouze wrote:Whoa buddy, what happened with that quote there.

Sorry, my bad, fixed now. I quoted your response rather than the original post so I didn't have to go up and find it, I thought I cut the right bits out but obviously not.

We cool, ese.

Snrub wrote:Keeping the title of "Mr Pres" for life almost seems like some childish last ditch attempt at holding onto some semblance of power even though their reign of power/terror is over.

Almost...

Of course, when one realizes that most of the power in the government is in the legislature, you also tend to realize that the whining about overactive judiciary and executive branches is probably just because the legislature is both so lazy and so self-conflicting that it can't get anything done anyway, leaving the other two branches to get things done.