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Please stop using the word SCOTUS
I don't know where it came from, or who came up with it, but please, for the love of GOD Almighty, stop using the word SCOTUS. Yeah, I get it, Supreme Court of The United States. But why they hell isn't it SCOTUSOA. What communist decided to drop Of America. And since when does "Of The" get initialis in an abbrieviation. We don't call the President the POTUS or POTUSOA. We don't call the Congress the COTHUS or COTHUSOA. So stop it already. I don't know what fool came up with it (although my guess is they work for MSNBC) but its time to end it. Just call them the Supremes, the Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court, or The Supreme Court of the United States. BUT STOP CALLING THEM SCOTUS. I HATE IT AND IT MAKES NO SENSE!!!!!!
Comments (72)
Actually, lost of people do use POTUS... But, I prefer for SCOTUS to use "The Supremes"
June 12, 2008 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
lots
June 12, 2008 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Those folks also make me want to throw up hairballs.
June 12, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sucks to be you then.
June 13, 2008 3:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto. There are more constructive things to be pissed about.
June 13, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Marquis: AGREED!! I hate the use of "The Supremes." Not only THAT, I hate the work the SCOTUS does after 2000. Kinda like the NBA refs that completely and totally rig everything.
June 13, 2008 2:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
The best I have heard for the Supreme Court is "The High 9"
June 13, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have no problem with calling them "The Supremes"... so long as they're backing up Diana Ross.
June 13, 2008 3:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
TGIHIFGTOMC
Thank God In Heaven I Finally Got That Off my Chest
June 12, 2008 11:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
POTUS, has been used by the Secret Service - long standing term. The problem with SCOTUS is that it reminds you of SCROTUM. And sadly, that is giving too much credit to Scalia at least.
June 13, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I sortta like POTUS and SCOTUS, they sound slightly obscene.
June 12, 2008 11:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
The United States implies the United States of America. Only a communist wouldn't realize that.
June 13, 2008 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
What are your thoughts about VPOTUS?
June 13, 2008 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
While I don't want to encourage this sort of thing, this line made me laugh: "What communist decided to drop Of America." Do we not have real problems to worry about? But it was funny. And this: "We don't call the Congress the COTHUS." We should. Except where did the H come from?
June 13, 2008 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
There would have to be some use for the phrase "COTUS interruptus"...that's reason enough to utilize the acronym.
June 13, 2008 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
eastside93: Slam dunk.
June 13, 2008 2:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
...would that be in the form of a filibuster or a vacation?
June 13, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
And an impeachment would be POTUS interrruptus.
June 13, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, would a sex scandal involving a Senator or Congressman be a COTUS COITUS?
;)
June 13, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Congress Of The HELLUVA United States!
June 13, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
oops. I guess the H came from my ANGER.
Why not SCUSA. Supreme Court of the United States of America. It's shorter and American is certainly more important than "of the".
June 13, 2008 1:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
SCUSA.... hmm... isn't that what they said after deciding Bush v. Gore?
June 13, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
because it is not as pronouncable. And SCOTUS has been in use for so long it would be silly to change it now.
June 13, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I get your point and agree, but I just have to say this was your funniest suggestion:
So does Scalia get the Diana Ross role? LOL!
June 13, 2008 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
There's one more 'OTUS acronym you'll no doubt love to hate: FLOTUS. Jackie, Laura and Hillary, e.g.
June 13, 2008 2:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't 'OTUS Barney's favorite inmate?
June 13, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess the Senate is SOTUS and the House is HORTUS, the twins?
June 13, 2008 2:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, but I will continue to use both POTUS and SCOTUS.
Deal with it.
June 13, 2008 3:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
SCOTUS and POTUS have been used as official acronyms for decades.
June 13, 2008 4:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
What a peculiar complaint [tilts head and ponders this latest bit of gobsmackery.]
June 13, 2008 7:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Blame Tom Clancy for POTUS, and the slippery slope for SCOTUS.
I am not really bothered by the usage (computers and acronymns, or CAA), but, as it would be if everyone started about London like they were Ian Fleming, it seems silly.
Here's mine though: Commander in Chief. This one is annoying to me. People use it interchangeable with President and that was never the intention. The President is, also, in times of war, the Commander in Chief. It's one of his jobs, but they are not the same thing. And no one runs to be the Commander in Chief (except Cheney, maybe). In the end, it's stuff like this that contributes to our growing celebrity/dictatorial/romantic view of the Presidency.
June 13, 2008 8:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Running with the Commander in Chief complaint and augmenting it with the original abbreviation complaint, it bothers me that people end up turning Commander in Chief to Commander and Chief through the torturous path of Commander in Chief => CinC => CnC => Commander and Chief.
Ugh.
June 13, 2008 8:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I keep reading it as "SCROTUS". And that's Latin I don't need to see in the morning, thank you.
June 13, 2008 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Me too. SCOTUS sounds and reads like genitalia, and whatever you think of that reptile Scalia, the institution itself should not be confused with anyone's private parts.
June 13, 2008 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS SCOTUS.
JKLKK
June 13, 2008 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
JKLKK?
June 13, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn, that's got three K's in there. It's gotta be pretty bad.
June 13, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
you are really cruel for a rabbit cat
June 13, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
JTLKK NHI
June 13, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
If we all know what it means, and it simplifies the communication process, it just makes sense to abbreviate at every opportunity,
And if you can't read a single word without imposing such obsessive prejudice against the way that one word is posed, how can you get through even one of these posts?
..methinks tough doest re-think too much!
June 13, 2008 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I first became aware of and started using SCOTUS more than 25 years ago (not telling how much more than 25!) because the AP (Associated Press) would categorize the stories coming over the teletype machine (what a cool machine THAT was). On those Mondays when SCOTUS would release opinions, the SCOTUS stories would come through the machine throughout the morning, interspersed with the other top of the hour bulletins, Intl stories, California stories, etc. The underlined one-line category lines helped us find/sort/use what we needed. The AP did NOT use "SCOTUS" IN the story, just to sort.
They may have used "POTUS" but I don't remember that. Other organizations may have used "SCOTUS" as an abbreviation, but I'm familiar with AP (I worked for UPI later, but don't remember "SCOTUS".)
Hope this ramble helps!
June 13, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
I will say that "the Surpremes" brings a much more pleasant picture to mind thant SCOTUS.
June 13, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't 'OTUS Barney's favorite inmate?
June 13, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
"SCOTUS" was derived in 2000 by law-illiterates. To the law-literate it is simply SC. Not quite as accurate, but those unfamiliar with the standards need some guidence, is US SC.
"SCOTUS" is simply gibberish.
"POTUS" reminds me of "potty," as in "potty chair". And while that potentially renders it properly applicable to the WH occupant, as Bushit was unconstitutionally appointed, when instead the Constitution stipulates that a president SHALL be elected, he is not legitimate, therefore not properly called "president".
June 13, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
you are mistaken
gib·ber·ish (jĭb'ər-ĭsh) n.
1. Unintelligible or nonsensical talk or writing.
2. a. Highly technical or esoteric language.
b. Unnecessarily pretentious or vague language.
"SCOUTS" is inteligable because we all know what it means. It is not pretensious. The pretensious seem to be offended by its crassness.
June 13, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
SCOTUS and POTUS have been used as official acronyms for decades.
Posted by Goldspinner
No, they have not. They only came into use with the 2000 election-theft and Bushit.
The Supreme Court has OFFICALLY been "SC" for hundreds of years. The lesser derivative is "US SC".
"SCOTUS" reflects ignorance of the latter; and "POTUS" reflects rushed thoughtlessness -- especially as the Constitution stipulates that a president SHALL be ELECTED -- whereas Bushti was unconstitutionally appointed by the SC 5, who usurped the autority EXCLUSIVE TO CONGRESS to resolve such election disputes.
June 13, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
The footnotes section on Wikipedia led me to this gem of an article.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9805E6DC1F3DF931A25753C1A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
Aperantly thes acronyms have been in use since the 1960's at least.
2000 apears to be 40 years off according to the language maven Safire.
June 13, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
The first documented use of SCOTUS is 1879.
June 13, 2008 1:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I refer to myself as COTUS (Citizen of the United States). I like succinct self-aggrandizement.
June 13, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
S.Ct.
June 13, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
The first time I came across POTUS was in the book Full Disclosure by William Safire, which I first read back in the late 70's. Still one of the better political novels I've read.
Another fun fact about that book is that it dealt with a fiscally conservative, sexually active Democratic President being impeached by a Republican-majority Congress. This was a science-fictiony idea back then (Republican-controlled House? HAHAHAHA!). Who knew?
June 13, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is one ticked-off kitten.
June 13, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, a sex scandal involving a Senator or Congressman would be a COTUS COITUS, right?
;)
June 13, 2008 1:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Senators and Representatives are both Congresscritters (to use a more accurate term than Congressman.
Don't mind me, I'm just being pedantic.
June 13, 2008 1:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think many people have used SCOTUS precisely because it does have a sort of obscene sounding unpleasant ring to it -- and also because it's almost a parody of DC acronymania.
The canonical website on the Supreme Court, scotusblog, of course, uses it. It's not going anywhere.
June 13, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Potus is to polstice as Scotus is to ?
June 13, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Scolstice
June 13, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll show you my SCOTUS if you'll show me YOURS!
June 13, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Supreme Court Rulers Of The United Masses.
O no; you didn't go there girlfriend!
Yes I did. call them what eight of them are;
SCROTUM.
June 13, 2008 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Goldspinner -- Official Acronyms? Do we have an acronym board, now?
I think POTUS was probably a Secret Service thing originally. The first time I heard it used with any frequency was on The West Wing.
June 13, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, it is a Secret Service Term. They refer to the first lady as FLOTUS.
June 13, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Remembering 2000, we could just use JUNTA.
June 13, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have been using SCOTUS since the first day of my Legal Research and Writing class in 1980 (long before MSNBC). My professor used it... and he was a retired Federal 8th Circuit Court of Appeals judge. So, I will be sticking with it. Everyone knows what it means and that is evidence of efficient and effective communication. Also, any complaint about the lack "of America" will have to be taken up with the authors of the U.S. Constitution and the first justices of SCOTUS. These folks were certainly not communists. Since 1787, SCOTUS has been SCOTUS. It has never been the "Supreme Court of the United States of America."
June 13, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we should call the current president IMPOTUS.
June 13, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can kind of identify with our angry poster. SCOTUS reminds me of "scrotum." Sorry. Just does.
June 13, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you. I needed a good laugh after today. You guys rock.
- Pangaea's wife
June 13, 2008 8:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
SCOTUS is just borrowed from journalism--that's how all the wire services identify a story about the Supreme Court. Nothing special about it though it has crept into non-newspaper political conversation in the last couple of years.
June 13, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA
June 13, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well we could call the Supreme Court Justices by the name that Oliver Wendell Holmes game them: "Nine scorpions in a bottle". That's also the title of a book about the Court that was written by Max Lerner.
June 13, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
WTF, this idiotic post is rated #3 on TPM? I read it this morning and just passed it by thinking it'd die
a quick deserving death. Jesus I thought other sites were bad. This is pathetic. I'm getting to the point
where this section is on my ignore list.
Oh and of cource I have to go look up my effing password again and hit enter twice to even comment.
June 13, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
As much as I disrespect Bush, I loathe most members of the Supreme Court. Several of them are the most dishonest assholes I have ever witnessed. Only Dick Cheney could compete. They begged to be disrespected and despised after 2000 decision. They made a mockery of the Constitution. So please, if you want to come up with a new acronym, make it as awful as possible for Scalia, Roberts, Thomas and Alioto. That 5-4 decision this week says it all. Should have been 9-0.
June 13, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
BTW, I cannot believe this is what you feel compelled to bitch about.
June 13, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
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