[Ads-l] but he's our dictator

[Jesse Sheidlower]

Garson published an investigation of this a few years ago, with examples back to 1868 with "rascal" as the punchline. 

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2021/02/24/rascal/

Jesse Sheidlower 


On October 16, 2025 5:37:53 PM EDT, Stephen Goranson <00001dd3d6fc15d3-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> wrote:
>Today I thought of this phrase while wondering why so many professed
>religious people support (amoral? narcissist?) DJT. (Anti trans may be one
>factor.) Variants of the phrase include but he's our son-of-a-bitch and
>he's our bully.
>Guesses of its origin are mostly in Cold War contexts, though Teddy
>Roosevelt, among others, have been mentioned.
>I have no good answer, but note an Oct 9, 1963 mention of Luis Somosa of
>Nicaragua. [1]
>Or maybe the earlier Somosa by FDR?
>Is there a better history?
>pre Oct. 18 no king day,
>Stephen G.
>
>[1]
>https://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/51589750/?match=1&terms=%22is%20our%20dictator%22&pqsid=xiuTjKIK2uz98NtlFUgdRw%3A211670%3A1466076811
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org