New Prefix

I just noted a new prefix is making the rounds. 

For anything used before, we called it second-hand. 

People started to improvise that to pre-owned. 

Now there is an improvement to pre-owned. It is called pre-loved. 

A used second-hand book is now pre-loved book. 

A used car is now pre-loved car. 

A used clothing which we donate to Goodwill is now pre-loved clothes. 

A used furniture is now pre-loved furniture. 

This is a good prefix. But I have a doubt. Before we use a hot oven, we pre-heat the oven. Other “pre-loved” items are after they are used. But we “pre-heat” the oven before we use. Different meanings for the same “pre”? I am confused.  But again  I did not go to Harvard. 

I was talking about this to a friend of mine. His girlfriend recently dumped him. He is looking for a new girlfriend. He wants to call himself pre-loved single guy, 

If you know any “pre” please let me know. Thanks.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy

There was a huge circus today at the US House of Representatives. They ousted the Speaker Kevin McCarthy. 

Little background. US Speaker is not like a Speaker in the British or Indian Parliament. US Speaker is the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives. Equivalent to Prime Minister. The Speaker is second in line to become President of USA after the President and Vice President. 

In a 435-member assembly, Republicans have 221, Democrats 212, Vacant 2. Need 218 to be majority party. Therefore, Republicans have thin majority. 

A small number of Republicans (8) were dissatisfied with Speaker McCarthy. Reason. You will laugh at it. Speaker McCarthy sought and got the help of Democrats to pass a bill. (My personal opinion is what is wrong with that?)  No Confidence Motion against your own party leader can happen only in USA.

The leader of this (8) renegade group, filed a motion of no confidence against Speaker McCarthy yesterday, October 2. McCarthy did not delay. He immediately brought the No Confidence Motion against him this morning, October 3, for a vote. 

The Final Vote: Remove McCarthy 216 votes. Do not remove McCarthy 210 votes. 7 did not vote due to absence from the House for various reasons. 

My question is why Democrats sided with this small group of 8 Republicans and ousted the Speaker. But again, I don’t know the inside politics.

Second Republican Debate

My opinion of the second debate by the Republican candidates. 

It was like Family Gatherings where the all the young children are sitting at a table in another room yelling at each other. 

I think Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was the clear winner. (He was the loser in the first debate.) He took an aggressive tone and started attacking Trump for not participating in the debate. He also skillfully dodged the question whether he would support nationwide abortion restrictions. 

Stupid idea from Mike Pence. Expedited death penalty for perpetrators of mass shootings. The problem is almost all mass shooters are killed by the police on the spot or commit suicide.

Nikki Haley, as in the first debate, ripped apart Vivek Ramaswamy for him joining TikTok to reach out younger voters. She said TikTok is doing espionage work for the Chinese Communist Party. She also said TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media assets that we could have. 

Tim Scott took aim at Vivek for his past business dealings with China. 

Vivek tried to be calmer than the first debate. During the first debate he said all other candidates are bought and paid for. In this debate he said all the other candidates are qualified and good people. He also invoked the famous 11th commandment by Ronald Reagan. “Thou shall not speak ill of any fellow Republican”. 

Here is the verdict by the media pundits after the debate. 

Trump, DeSantis, and Ramaswamy remained in their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. 

Pence moved to 4th place. 

Haley dropped from 4th to 5th place. 

DeSantis, Ramaswamy, Haley, and Scott were judged as “above average performers”.

Christie, Pence and Burgam were judged as “average performers”. 

Will wait for the next debate scheduled on November 3 in Miami.