Bass-ackwards or Group Schizophrenia?

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brogine
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Bass-ackwards or Group Schizophrenia?

Postby brogine » Thu Jun 17, 2021 5:57 pm

Heard multiple times recently on NPR (!):
‘ . . . a group of bipartisan legislators . . . .’

I mean, I admit to a certain fussiness, but it’s not exactly the difference between ‘on/in behalf of’.

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Slava
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Re: Bass-ackwards or Group Schizophrenia?

Postby Slava » Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:04 pm

I get the fussiness, but this makes sense as it stands. The legislators are behaving in a bipartisan manner, open to working with the other side; therefore, the legislators are bipartisan. No?
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brogine
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Re: Bass-ackwards or Group Schizophrenia?

Postby brogine » Thu Jun 17, 2021 6:29 pm

Thanks. I understand how you read it that way, but the OED offers this sole definition:

Of, representing, or composed of members of, two (political or other) parties.

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Re: Bass-ackwards or Group Schizophrenia?

Postby Dr. Goodword » Sat Jun 19, 2021 8:01 am

I don't think Brogine is fussy at all. The word bipartisan is misplaced. It requires the listener to figure out that while individuals can't be bipartisan, the speaker must have meant "bipartisan group".

I would have to disagree with our new editor of the GW series, Slava, on this one. "Individuals with bipartisan attitudes is a stretch. I don't think that is what the speaker had in mind.
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