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Usenet Posted 17 years ago
Usage
Pocket-veto?
An American text has: Lincoln pocket-vetoed the Wade-Davis Bill (by not signing it), which angered his congressional critics and left the Ten-Percent Plan as the official, if vague, blueprint for Reconstruction.
Two questions: what is the different between pocket-veto and a 'normal' veto? Why "pocket-"?
Why use the word blueprint instead of just the word 'plan'? is there a kind of a subtle meaning of this in English?
Any comments are welcome which contribute to the understanding of the questions.
Two questions: what is the different between pocket-veto and a 'normal' veto? Why "pocket-"?
Why use the word blueprint instead of just the word 'plan'? is there a kind of a subtle meaning of this in English?
Any comments are welcome which contribute to the understanding of the questions.
Top answer
[nq:1]Two questions: what is the different between pocket-veto and a 'normal' veto? [/nq] A pocket veto is implicit rather than explicit: The President simply does nothing with a bill that is sent to him less than ten days before Congress adjourns. It's as if he just stuck it in his pocket.
- [nq:1]Two questions: what is the different between pocket-veto and a 'normal' veto?
- [/nq] A pocket veto is implicit rather than explicit: The President simply does nothing with a bill that is sent to him less than ten days before Congress adjourns.
- It's as if he just stuck it in his pocket.
- [/nq] It suggests completeness and precision.
- ¬R / Darla: Leftovers aren't the mark of a man.
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]Two questions: what is the different between pocket-veto and a 'normal' veto? Why "pocket-"?[/nq]
A pocket veto is implicit rather than explicit: The President simply does nothing with a bill that is sent to him less than ten days before Congress adjourns. It's as if he just stuck it in his pocket.
[nq:1]Why use the word blueprint instead of just the word 'plan'?[/nq]
It suggests
A pocket veto is implicit rather than explicit: The President simply does nothing with a bill that is sent to him less than ten days before Congress adjourns. It's as if he just stuck it in his pocket.
[nq:1]Why use the word blueprint instead of just the word 'plan'?[/nq]
It suggests
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It is also possible that it is an instance of "elegant variation". The use of "blueprint" avoids the repetition of "plan" in "...and left the Ten-Percent Plan as the official, if vague, blueprint...". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elegant variation
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)
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"Glenn Knickerbocker" (Email Removed) skrev i meddelelsen
Of course - thank you very much, indeed.
Of course - thank you very much, indeed.
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It's not exactly clear whether the "congressional critcs" were angry because he vetoed it, or because he chose the stealth method. (Woops! I just stuck it in my pocket and forgot all about it! My bad!)
A vague blueprint is something of an oxymoron. The use of "blueprint" over "plan" is usually intended to emphasize the presence of detail.
A vague blueprint is something of an oxymoron. The use of "blueprint" over "plan" is usually intended to emphasize the presence of detail.
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