language & grammarpolitics & government

Exaggeration nation: In which a pun is resisted

By now, you know that Indiana Senator Evan Bayh is retiring because of excess partisanship, or legislative gridlock, or because he’s “an executive at heart,” or something.

Less noted, but of infinitely greater importance, is the retirement of juvenile uses of Evan Bayh’s surname by poor journalists, tacky aggregators, nattering twits, and everyone else who doesn’t know how to resist an impulse.

So say sayonara to all the titular “Bayh-Bye’s” and the allusions to a certain N’Sync hit. Bid adieu to “Let Bayh-gones be Bay-gones” and “Just-stopping-Bayh.” Say adios, even, to “Bayh-curious” and “You say good-Bayh, I say hello.”

Of course, it’s fitting that the most groan-worthy moments were reserved for the finale. Media Bistro collects some of the most egregious plays-on-words made by those who should know better:

NBC’s Luke Russert: “While many people made this Bayh joke today, let’s play the video. I can’t believe that was 10 years ago. JT was young.”

WaPo’s Jonathan Capehart: “Quickie: Good-bye, Bayh.” Read story here.

MSNBC’s Savannah Gruthrie: “Goodbye Bye, hello political turmoil in finding a replacement,” she tweeted.

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow: “KTHXBAYH”

And that, children, is how to go out in a blaze of corny.

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