[hughvane]

Did anyone hear Obama's new word? I think I'm quoting him accurately, but I was driving at the time and couldn't write it down. It was to do with his decision to freeze govt executive salaries, and he said something like "economal" ... in context "we have to ensure that economal decisions are made in support of the American people who are struggling at this time ...". I thought only the previous President came out with verbal inventions like that.

A speechwriter using cute words, or a genuine and original Obama-nism?

[CrimsonRequiem]

Are you sure it isn't just the word economical with an accent?

[Kash]

I'm with Crimson, sounds more like he just said economical really quickly.

[cwa107]

That was my take as well. I know if I'm nervous or speaking quickly, I occasionally do the same.

[hughvane]

President Obama is renowned for his oratory. If it weren't for the fact that he used the word twice, I wouldn't have given it a second thought, assuming, as you've stated, that it was a verbal stumble or a rushed word. I've used Google to search for the expression, but nothing. It'll be in a news clip or sound byte somewhere. Not that it matters, it's not a world shaker, just an interesting invention and use of language.

[Kash]

He is an excellent speaker, though if nobody picked up on it except for you, then it's very likely that it's just his particular accent that's throwing you off. As the saying goes, when you hear hooves, don't assume that it's a zebra.

[eric]

if it is made up, or mis-stated, that would make the score something like

obama 1 / bush jr 163

[fleurya]

I think if stumbles like that (and eventually he will because nobody is 100% perfect) that it will be a headline because everyone was down on Bush for his speaking and regard Obama as an amazing speaker.

At the very least, Fox News would probably make a 30 minute discussion out of it with several remarks about it for weeks and weeks.

[Aptmunich]

As long as he doesn't start referring to himself as "the economer", then I think we're okay

[hughvane]

Originally Posted by eric

if it is made up, or mis-stated, that would make the score something like obama 1 / bush jr 163