[QUOTE]To his right was the Californian, the Honorable Finn Yarber, age six

Question

To his right was the Californian, the Honorable Finn Yarber, age sixty, in for two years now with five to go for income tax evasion. A vendetta, he still maintained to anyone who would listen. A crusade by a Republican governor who'd managed to rally the voters in a recall drive to remove Chief Justice Yarber from the California Supreme Court. The rallying point had been Yarber's opposition to the death penalty, and his high-handedness in delaying every execution. Folks wanted blood, Yarber prevented it, the Republicans whipped up a frenzy, and the recall was a smashing success. They pitched him onto the street, where he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking questions. Educated at Stanford, indicted in Sacramento, sentenced in San Francisco, and now serving his time at a federal prison in Florida.

More context at http://archives.cnn.com/2000/books/beginnings/01/25/1brethren/index.html

I want to ask some questions of the paragraph:

1) What does the sentence in green say? IMO, the rallying point was in favor of Yarber to opposite the capital punishment. Is it right?

2) I wonder why delaying every execution can be considered as "arrogance"

3) And I think that the IRS has something to do with the frenzy, doesn't it? Because they said:"the Republicans whipped up a frenzy, and the recall was a smashing success. They pitched him onto the street, where he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking questions. Educated at Stanford, indicted in Sacramento, sentenced in San Francisco, and now serving his time at a federal prison in Florida.". But who's the Republicans here? Do they belong to the IRS?

Hoa Thai · Accepted Answer

Belly
To his right was the Californian, the Honorable Finn Yarber, age sixty, in for two years now with five to go for income tax evasion. A vendetta, he still maintained to anyone who would listen. A crusade by a Republican governor who'd managed to rally the voters in a recall drive to remove Chief Justice Yarber from the California Supreme Court. The rallying point had been Yarber's opposition to the death penalty, and his high-handedness in delaying every execution. Folks wanted blood, Yarber prevented it, the Republicans whipped up a frenzy, and the recall was a smashing success. They pitched him onto the street, where he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking questions. Educated at Stanford, indicted in Sacramento, sentenced in San Francisco, and now serving his time at a federal prison in Florida.
More context at http://archives.cnn.com/2000/books/beginnings/01/25/1brethren/index.html

I want to ask some questions of the paragraph:

1) What does the sentence in green say?

It says that the Republican governor rallied the voters to recall Yaber by pointing out Yaber’s opposition to the death penalty. (to recall in this context means to vote to remove someone from their political position).

IMO, the rallying point was in favor of Yarber to opposite the capital punishment. Is it right?

Not in favor but against (read the definition of the word ‘recall’ I shared with you above)

2) I wonder why delaying every execution can be considered as "arrogance"

First, note that ‘arrogance’ does not mean high-handedness.

arrogance - arrogant people behave in a rude way, thinking they are very important.

high-handedness means ‘overbearing with pride in a superior manner’ (related to showing power). Everybody can act arrogantly, but only the powerful can act high-handedly.

Second, about your question – Yaber ignored public outcry for capital punishment. He used his power to delay every execution. His action was considered by the public to be high-handed (power abusing).

3) And I think that the IRS has something to do with the frenzy, doesn't it? Because they said:"the Republicans whipped up a frenzy, and the recall was a smashing success. They pitched him onto the street, where he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking questions.

No, the IRS (Internal Revenue Services – federal tax collector) has nothing to do with the frenzy. IRS was not even in the picture until later.

Educated at Stanford, indicted in Sacramento, sentenced in San Francisco, and now serving his time at a federal prison in Florida.". But who's the Republicans here? Members of a major political party. Do they belong to the IRS? No (I hope by now you know the difference).

Belly · Answer

Hoa Thai
Belly
To his right was the Californian, the Honorable Finn Yarber, age sixty, in for two years now with five to go for income tax evasion. A vendetta, he still maintained to anyone who would listen. A crusade by a Republican governor who'd managed to rally the voters in a recall drive to remove Chief Justice Yarber from the California Supreme Court. The rallying point had been Yarber's opposition to the death penalty, and his high-handedness in delaying every execution. Folks wanted blood, Yarber prevented it, the Republicans whipped up a frenzy, and the recall was a smashing success. They pitched him onto the street, where he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking questions. Educated at Stanford, indicted in Sacramento, sentenced in San Francisco, and now serving his time at a federal prison in Florida.

More context at http://archives.cnn.com/2000/books/beginnings/01/25/1brethren/index.html

I want to ask some questions of the paragraph:

1) What does the sentence in green say?

It says that the Republican governor rallied the voters to recall Yaber by pointing out Yaber’s opposition to the death penalty. (to recall in this context means to vote to remove someone from their political position).

IMO, the rallying point was in favor of Yarber to opposite the capital punishment. Is it right?

Not in favor but against (read the definition of the word ‘recall’ I shared with you above)

2) I wonder why delaying every execution can be considered as "arrogance"

First, note that ‘arrogance’ does not mean high-handedness.

arrogance - arrogant people behave in a rude way, thinking they are very important.

high-handedness means ‘overbearing with pride in a superior manner’ (related to showing power). Everybody can act arrogantly, but only the powerful can act high-handedly.

Second, about your question – Yaber ignored public outcry for capital punishment. He used his power to delay every execution. His action was considered by the public to be high-handed (power abusing).

3) And I think that the IRS has something to do with the frenzy, doesn't it? Because they said:"the Republicans whipped up a frenzy, and the recall was a smashing success. They pitched him onto the street, where he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking questions.

No, the IRS (Internal Revenue Services – federal tax collector) has nothing to do with the frenzy. IRS was not even in the picture until later.

Educated at Stanford, indicted in Sacramento, sentenced in San Francisco, and now serving his time at a federal prison in Florida.". But who's the Republicans here? Members of a major political party. Do they belong to the IRS? No (I hope by now you know the difference).

Hi Hoa Thai,

1) So what does rallying point mean here?

2)According to http://www.thefreedictionary.com/high-handedness , high handedness means arrogance

3)

he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking question

. That's what I imagine: They called for a recall. But if a recall was only a vote, how come it became to a frenzy, and they "pitched him onto the street"? He floudered for a while until the IRS asked. I see the continuity of action here: a)They pitched him onto the ground b) He floudered c) the IRS asked. IF the IRS doesn't belong to the Republicians or vice versa, so how come the IRS appeared? Or perhaps the IRS took part in the frenzy in a underhand way?

Hoa Thai · Answer

Belly1) So what does rallying point mean here?
It says that the Republican governor rallied the voters to recall Yaber by pointing out Yaber’s opposition to the death penalty.

2)According to , high handedness means arrogance
I shared with you what I feel about the difference between the two words. You can certainly stick with what you found in the dictionary.

Belly3)
he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking question
. That's what I imagine: They called for a recall. But if a recall was only a vote, how come it became to a frenzy, and they "pitched him onto the street"? "Folks wanted blood, Yarber prevented it, the Republicans whipped up a frenzy." That is why.

He floudered for a while until the IRS asked. I see the continuity of action here: a)They pitched him onto the ground b) He floudered c) the IRS asked. IF the IRS doesn't belong to the Republicians or vice versa, so how come the IRS appeared? Or perhaps the IRS took part in the frenzy in a underhand way?

"for awhile until the IRS asked" = "for awhile until the IRS came for him, asking about income tax evasion." (Read the first sentence of your quoted paragraph again for one of the reasons why he was in jail).

Every citizen has to pay tax. If the IRS find out you evaded tax, they will come after you regardless. You could be respected by everybody or you are a crook; that's irrelevant. Isn't that the same in your country?

Belly · Answer

Hoa Thai
Belly1) So what does rallying point mean here?

It says that the Republican governor rallied the voters to recall Yaber by pointing out Yaber’s opposition to the death penalty.

2)According to , high handedness means arrogance

I shared with you what I feel about the difference between the two words. You can certainly stick with what you found in the dictionary.

Belly3)
he floundered for a while until the IRS began asking question
. That's what I imagine: They called for a recall. But if a recall was only a vote, how come it became to a frenzy, and they "pitched him onto the street"? "Folks wanted blood, Yarber prevented it, the Republicans whipped up a frenzy." That is why.

He floudered for a while until the IRS asked. I see the continuity of action here: a)They pitched him onto the ground b) He floudered c) the IRS asked. IF the IRS doesn't belong to the Republicians or vice versa, so how come the IRS appeared? Or perhaps the IRS took part in the frenzy in a underhand way?

"for awhile until the IRS asked" = "for awhile until the IRS came for him, asking about income tax evasion." (Read the first sentence of your quoted paragraph again for one of the reasons why he was in jail).

Every citizen has to pay tax. If the IRS find out you evaded tax, they will come after you regardless. You could be respected by everybody or you are a crook; that's irrelevant. Isn't that the same in your country?

Hi,

on the third question, he floundered on the pavement/ street, so the IRS came to him while he still did. it looks like American movies where the crooks are often subdued when the policmen come to "ask him question" ( I don't know what we say in English this term), so I think it happened the same way as in The Brethren, the IRS should belongs to the polic?

Hoa Thai · Answer

BellyHi,

on the third question, he floundered on the pavement/ street, so the IRS came to him while he still did. it looks like American movies where the crooks are often subdued when the policmen come to "ask him question" ( I don't know what we say in English this term), so I think it happened the same way as in The Brethren, the IRS should belongs to the polic?

I don't know anything about The Brethen. It seems to me, based on your interpretation, you live in a country where tax collectors are members of the police force. Not in the United States. I think you would benefit by reading this site to know more about the IRS: http://www.irs.gov .

[QUOTE]To his right was the Californian, the Honorable Finn Yarber, age six

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions