Add to the list of most overused words of the year transmitted by media in connection with the health care bill: endgame, sometimes split in two as end game, observes Grumpy Editor.
The Drudge Report yesterday tallied some of the recent usage both on and off the Web under the headline: 'END' OF THE 'END GAME' OR 'THE END'?
The Drudge scorecard, with headlines used over the texts:
Yesterday: Obama pushing on health care end game (Associated Press)
Nov. 23: The Health Care Endgame (National Public Radio)
Oct. 30: Health reform inches closer to endgame (Washington Post)
Oct. 27: End Game: So When Will Health Care Really Happen? (Talking Points Memo)
Oct. 25: Senators say health care bill endgame is in sight (Politico)
Oct. 14: Senate, administration begin healthcare endgame as Dem leaders express unity (Hill)
Aug. 21: Analysis: Health care endgame near but uncertain (A.P.)
July 28: Healthcare endgame on Capitol Hill (Reuters)
Endgame, indeed, is all over the place.
Reuters, for example, on Sunday came up with: Votes uncertain as U.S. healthcare endgame looms
And A.P. along with Reuters print and broadcast subscribers multiply endgame usage.
That word making the rounds in 2010 isn’t new. Its origin goes back to 1884 when chess players started referring to when most of the pieces have been cleared from the board.
This evolved into meaning the final stage of an extended process or course of events.
Closing in on the endgame at her Tuesday press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (clearly?) explained the importance of passing the health care measure:
“But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.”
And, aye or nay, hopefully end use of endgame.
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