Rhetorically, sometimes less is more. As in more appropriate. Watergate brought down a president; “Deflategate” brought down the weight of a football. It’s well beyond media overkill. Call it Clichégate.
And speaking of rhetorical overkill, how about “Giuliani moments?”
We certainly get it when public officials are front and center amid a crisis–and are consequently scrutinized for their performance under fire. Comes with the territory. But nothing compares to being mayor of New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, the horrific day that changed our world. That would include how Mayor Bob Buckhorn comported himself in the midst of recent local flooding.
Reminding locals to use common sense and showing leadership and reassurance by literally being on the scene is appropriate and something Mayor Bob can be counted on to do. And he did it; it’s in his mayoral DNA. But enough of the “Giuliani-moment” hyperbole. It’s not fair to the searing context of 9/11. I suspect Mayor Bob would agree.