You Put the Right Wing In, You Put the Left Wing Out…

Quote:  "As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." George W. Bush, in a speech to American troops in South Korea.

Figure of speech:  paromoiosis (pa ro moy OH sis), the side-by-side figure.

The president uses a figure so elegant that we’re loath to make fun of it. His paromoiosis (Greek for "assimilation") creates parallel sounds between two clauses of equal size.  It makes for a neat antithesis, the us-or-them, right-or-wrong kind of argument that Bush especially favors.

One question, though:  Did Bush leave out "the" before "Iraqis" for the sake of rhythm?  Or is he revealing something about Iraq’s state of unity?

Snappy Answer:  "You mean, as Iraq blows up, we’ll blow out."