Left, Barack Hussein Obama
Right, أسامة بن محمد بن عوض بن لادن
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Monday, February 18, 2008
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Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz
It’s clear what sort of politics is at hand in this quick little Monday puzzle which sort of hustles one right out of the voting booth on Presidents Day with no other choice except a liberal-radical-left-progressive fresh from IOWA (60A. Early state in the presidential campaign). The inter-related entries, as one might call them, are LIBERALBENEFITS (17A. Free health and dental care, and then some); RADICALSIGN (25A. Math symbol for extraction of a root); LEFTHANGING (45A. In limbo); and PROGRESSIVELENS (57A. Eyeglass option for different distances).
This is certainly going to be an election year that goes down in history. Frank Rich in his op ed column (see HERE), predicts the end of an era of two centuries of U.S. Presidents of but one ilk. The balance of political power has changed radically and will never be the same again -- further, the political demographics will not permit anything else. Maureen Dowd’s view (HERE ) is also worth a read.
“President Obama” -- “President Barack Hussein Obama”, no less! Remember Letterman‘s “Uma, Oprah; Oprah, Uma”? Get ready for Bush‘s “Obama, Osama; Osama, Obama”! Will the campaign song be Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off with those lyrics, “You say tomato, I say tomato, you say potato, I say potato?” Write your own interpolations for a new musical -- “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House!”
How long will it take for a puzzle constructor to whip out a crossword for the GOP newsletter that will send them all fleeing with an ALIAS (18D. Fake identity) from the hallowed chambers of tradition into the spider holes of seclusion surrounded with Crusaders of a different faith from another world and twilight zone? Beam me up, Scotty, I’m skipping this EVENT (19D. Occurrence)!
NOTSOFAR (39A. “Hey, come back a bit”), let me BOBUP (1A. Bounce to the surface) before I FLUB (6A. Botch) this SPIN (49D. Pirouette) -- hey, nobody’s PERFECT (5D. “Couldn’t be better!”) -- check back in ONEYEAR (43D. Subscription period, often)!
Meanwhile, back at the crossword -- the remaining entries: Eight letters -- MEATSTEW (34A. Entrée in a bowl with beef or lamb, say); six letters -- ALERTS (33A. Warnings); POURIN (42A. Enter en masse); FILIAL (6D. Pertaining to a son or daughter); and HATING (46D. Loathing); five letters -- ABASE (14A. Belittle); FLIES (21. Aviates); VERSE (22A. Limerick or sonnet); STYLE (49A. Flair); Peppermint PATTY of “Peanuts” (52A.); AORTA (62A. Major artery); RYDER (65A. Winona of “Girl, Interrupted”); GOFER (10D. Errand runner); LIRAS (23D. Bygone Italian coins); RAINS (25D. Monsoon occurrences); ALLOT (26D. Apportion); DEITY (27. God or goddess); SMART (28D. Brainy); ATARI (30D. Trailblazing video game maker); LENIN (31. His tomb is in Red Square); TWANG (32D. Banjo sound); SLUGS (35D. Hits hard); PAYTV (42D. Home viewing for a price); ALGAE (47D. Aquatic plant life); and OLDER (40D. Like 16 vis-à-vis 15, agewise). Four letters: ANTE, ANTS, ASIA, AYES, BABY, BALK, EMIR, FLUB, GEAR, HERD, ILIA, IOTA, LAIN, LANA, LEIA, LOBE, NYSE, OBIE, OMNI, PSAT, STAG, TSAR, TROY, UTES, and TROY. Three letters: ADZ, ALT, BAN, ELS, FEZ, HAT, IER, KEY, LOY, PER, PGA, OAF, STY, and USE (4D. Take advantage of).
The clues that are left... Across: 6. Botch; 10. Sports equipment; 23. Luke’s twin sister in “Star Wars”; 24. Price PER pound; 30. Pilot’s stat.; 36. Pelvic bones; 37. Boat propeller; 38. Clark’s crush on “Smallville”; 44. Where pigs wallow; 47. Wood-shaping tool; 48. Nays’ opposites; 54. Sombrero, e.g.; 61. Reclined; 63. The Big Board: Abbr.; 64. Doe’s mate.
Down: 1. Pitcher’s faux pitch; 2. New York theater award; 3. One often needing a change; 7. Ear or leaf part; 8. Four Corners-area indians; 9. Prohibition; 11. Dubai dignitary; 12. Six-legged scurriers; 13. Move skyward; 24. Tour grp.?; 29. Suffix with bombard; 37. Lummox; 41. Turk’s topper; 50. “Iliad” setting; 51. Cries after being burned; 52. H.S. junior’s exam; 53. Where most of Russia is; 54. Group of buffalo; 55. Prefix with chamber; 56. Ruler before 31-Down; 58. Ernie of the 24-Down; and 59. Silver screen star Myrna.
So there, it’s not all politics!
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Meanwhile, back at the crossword -- the remaining entries: Eight letters -- MEATSTEW (34A. Entrée in a bowl with beef or lamb, say); six letters -- ALERTS (33A. Warnings); POURIN (42A. Enter en masse); FILIAL (6D. Pertaining to a son or daughter); and HATING (46D. Loathing); five letters -- ABASE (14A. Belittle); FLIES (21. Aviates); VERSE (22A. Limerick or sonnet); STYLE (49A. Flair); Peppermint PATTY of “Peanuts” (52A.); AORTA (62A. Major artery); RYDER (65A. Winona of “Girl, Interrupted”); GOFER (10D. Errand runner); LIRAS (23D. Bygone Italian coins); RAINS (25D. Monsoon occurrences); ALLOT (26D. Apportion); DEITY (27. God or goddess); SMART (28D. Brainy); ATARI (30D. Trailblazing video game maker); LENIN (31. His tomb is in Red Square); TWANG (32D. Banjo sound); SLUGS (35D. Hits hard); PAYTV (42D. Home viewing for a price); ALGAE (47D. Aquatic plant life); and OLDER (40D. Like 16 vis-à-vis 15, agewise). Four letters: ANTE, ANTS, ASIA, AYES, BABY, BALK, EMIR, FLUB, GEAR, HERD, ILIA, IOTA, LAIN, LANA, LEIA, LOBE, NYSE, OBIE, OMNI, PSAT, STAG, TSAR, TROY, UTES, and TROY. Three letters: ADZ, ALT, BAN, ELS, FEZ, HAT, IER, KEY, LOY, PER, PGA, OAF, STY, and USE (4D. Take advantage of).
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