even worse is when politcians start using rugby phrases in there speeches

heres a few selected, what makes it worse is the quoted person didnt even watch the game before he became a politician

"rolling maul"

Meanwhile, John Key and Finance Minister Bill English are pursuing something they’re calling a “rolling maul” approach to fiscal stimulus.

"hospital pass"

John Key has been given a hospital pass to fix it.

"dropped the ball"

Labour has dropped the ball and local people are strongly welcoming National's commitment,

"kicked into touch"

we are much relieved it's been kicked into touch

Quote: Original post by zedz
even worse is when politcians start using rugby phrases in there speeches

heres a few selected, what makes it worse is the quoted person didnt even watch the game before he became a politician

"rolling maul"

Meanwhile, John Key and Finance Minister Bill English are pursuing something they’re calling a “rolling maul” approach to fiscal stimulus.

"hospital pass"

John Key has been given a hospital pass to fix it.

"dropped the ball"

Labour has dropped the ball and local people are strongly welcoming National's commitment,

"kicked into touch"

we are much relieved it's been kicked into touch

Except that those actually are in common use in NZ (at least in chch).

The phrase "dropped the ball" is very commonly used in the USA to describe a failed or incomplete effort. It comes from baseball and gridiron football. We've even taken a rule from baseball - "three strikes and you're out" - and based criminal laws on it. For example, in California, three felony convictions of any kind will land a criminal a minimum of 25 years to life in prison. It's one reason why our prisons are filled to bursting.

Quote: Original post by LessBread
... For example, in California, three felony convictions of any kind will land a criminal a minimum of 25 years to life in prison. It's one reason why our prisons are filled to bursting.

A similar proposal is before parliament in NZ too, although it's slightly more reasonable in that it's for the 3rd violent offence.

Getting back to the original topic, I lived in Sydney for 2 years and I never once heard anyone say "fair dinkum".

Quote: Original post by ChaosEngine
I lived in Sydney for 2 years and I never once heard anyone say "fair dinkum".

Perhaps it's a Queensland thing, but Abbott is from Sydney so it doesn't explain his penchant for the phrase...

Quote: Original post by ChaosEngine

Quote: Original post by LessBread
... For example, in California, three felony convictions of any kind will land a criminal a minimum of 25 years to life in prison. It's one reason why our prisons are filled to bursting.

A similar proposal is before parliament in NZ too, although it's slightly more reasonable in that it's for the 3rd violent offence.

The "three strikes" law passed as a ballot proposition. A few years later the same people that pushed that law tried to push a more reasonable law they called "Use a gun and you're done" which would have automatically made crimes involving the use of a gun punishable by 25 years to life. It failed to pass. The point of all this is that the overuse of sports metaphors can lead to bad policy decisions.

>>Except that those actually are in common use in NZ

true "dropped the ball" + "hospital pass" have started to be used in the last few years (before that only used by the rugby commentators) though the first non rugby usages were by politicians normal ppl copied from that.

Show me another usage of "rolling maul" in speech,
John key admitted a few years ago he never even cared for or watched rugby, now he's dropping rugby phrases into his speeches :), no doubt prompted by his speech writers as a way of 'connecting' with the 'man on the street'

same with 'fair dinkum' or this from a few months ago
http://www.smh.com.au/national/rudd-slipup-creates-a-shit-storm-20090309-8so6.html
"An apparent slip-up in which Kevin Rudd swore on national TV last night was actually a carefully scripted line, crafted by the Labor Party, to increase the Prime Minister's appeal with workers, the Opposition claims."

Look at bush jr, his whole presidency was build on the premise he was an 'average guy' yet the reality couldnt be further from the truth

Quote: Original post by LessBread
A few years later the same people that pushed that law tried to push a more reasonable law....

While I happen to agree with you, this is a matter of opinion.

>>A similar proposal is before parliament in NZ too, although it's slightly more reasonable in that it's for the 3rd violent offence.<<

actually the NZ one is a lot weaker than the US model
If u get pinging with a 3rd violent offense, the punishment is youre not eligible for parole on the 3rd offense, eg say u get a 10year sentence, usually u get out after ~6years with parole. Now with this law u have to serve the full 10year sentence.

Quote: Original post by Zahlman

Quote: Original post by LessBread
A few years later the same people that pushed that law tried to push a more reasonable law....

While I happen to agree with you, this is a matter of opinion.

O.K. Let's see.

Enhanced sentences for felony crimes involving guns are more reasonable than enhanced sentences for repeat felony crimes in general.

What arguments support the counter claim?