Sarah Palin: Is she running?
So she spoke yesterday and had people wondering again if she is going to run for President. Did she give a deliberate clue or was there an error in the use of her language? You see she said "I can win!" responding to questions from reporters. She didn't say, "I could win". There is a difference in meaning. The question is though did she make a deliberate statement of intention of running or did she mean she "could" win if she ran, and hasn't made up her mind.
I think it was an unconscious reflection of her intention. How would you interpret her use of can versus could?
I think it was an unconscious reflection of her intention. How would you interpret her use of can versus could?
Labels: going to run, I can win, I could win, President, Sarah Palin
posted by Charles Amico at 9:13 AM
4 Comments:
The current differentiation between "can" and "could"
explains that the former is present tense while the latter is the past tense of "can" or indicative of possibility.
Somewhere in my past, I believe that we were taught to understand MOOD: with this application, I think that "can" would be Indicative mood, i.e, stating a fact - while "could" would be Subjunctive mood, i.e., expressive of supposition or doubt.
I doubt that Sarah has enough command of our grammar to make these distinctions.
You may be splitting hairs for this woman! She's not sure what publications she reads. She doesn't know what Paul Revere was doing (He could have ridden a donkey) or for whom! Let's look at "can", "could" or "capable". When it comes to Palin - she ain't capable!
Totally agree Tom. Glad you figured out how to post here finally. :)
Completely agree with all your comments, and will add that - as in the case of Trump - this is a person who has probably never introspected, never had any self-doubt, never considered a multiplicity of logical constructs or points of view, never once hesitated to invest 100% in her own affect (or her own effect, for that matter); in other words, a person who is blind to her own flaws. Even those of us without PhD after our name realize we are all imperfect, and unconsciously mistrust someone whose bluster is unalloyed with humility, whose swagger is so stilted.
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