McCain calls terrorism a "transcendental threat". Definition of "transcendental"

[Bucky]

Colbert had fun with this last night, but here's the facts: I went with Bartleby on this definition. There's four possible meanings here.

1. (Philosophy) a. Concerned with the a priori or intuitive basis of knowledge as independent of experience. b. Asserting a fundamental irrationality or supernatural element in experience.

If McCain sees the threat of terrorism philosophically, then he either (a) proudly holds his beliefs independent of whatever the evidence shows or (b) believes terrorists are supernatural--you know, like the Silver Surfer.

2. Surpassing all others; superior.

If McCain is going with the common meaning of "transcendental", then he's been saying that terrorism is the greatest threat we ever have or ever can face as a nation. Islamic jihadist nutcases are more dangerous than the Nazis, more dangerous than the Soviets, indeed, even more dangerous than rogue asteroids pummeling all earthly life out of existence.

3. Beyond common thought or experience; mystical or supernatural.

Maybe I was too conservative saying al-Qaeda is like the Silver Surfer. Maybe McCain believes al-Qaeda is on a mission from God!

4. (Mathematics) Of or relating to a real or complex number that is not the root of any polynomial that has positive degree and rational coefficients.

I'm certain McCain wasn't using this meaning of "transcendental". More likely he just meant that terrorists like to meditate. Probably while they're being waterboarded.

[Ian David]

1. I think he meant to say, "Existential." But he's confused. n/t

[Bucky]

3. That makes sense, except of course, that it isn't sensible.

Has even the Bush administration called terrorism an existential threat? They might kill some of our people, but no one thinks they're gonna be taking over our country. Well, no sane person, anyway.

[groovedaddy]

2. Is he talking about Suni Terrorism or Shiite Terrorism? On par with his knowledge of economics! n.t

[Bucky]

9. Shia terrorism is neither big nor a threat to our survival.

The only Shi'a terrorism I know about is the neighborhood squabbles in Iraq and Iran's support for the nutcases with the Shihab missiles in the Palestinian terrortories. So Shia terror is at least an existential threat to Israel (although not a very big one).

I just don't think McCain is using his head on this one. It's sad, really. McCain is really past his prime. Had he been elected in 2000, he might have been nearly Eisenhowerish in his moderation--not too much to my liking, but far far better than the crap Bush has dumped on our country.

Eight years later, he's just a shell of his former self.

[sarge43]

4. Or maybe Bush's transcendental linguistic abilities

rubbed off on him when Johnny leg humped him at the 04 convention. You know, like 'misremember' the meaning of words.

[Dr. Strange]

5. It's a threat which is not the root of any nonzero polynomial with integer coefficients.

Therefore it's a transcendental threat.

[liberal N proud]

6. It's only in our heads

[Greyskye]

7. I just want SOMEONE to ask McSame his definition of the word

That video would be comedy gold!

[readmoreoften]

8. Awesome! 8 more years of quotables!

[gratuitous]

10. I reckon he meant "surpassing all others"

The Bush administration has been indulging the same sort of hyperbole, and it's a debatable point whether this particular brand of terrorism is a greater threat to the United States than any that have gone before or any that can be imagined.

But assuming, arguendo, that McCain is right and he truly believes he's right. Then why the fuck doesn't he act like it? Why isn't he spearheading a call for a return to the draft? Why isn't he looking to dedicate every spare penny of the federal budget to this transcendental fight for America's very existence? Why hasn't he called on his fatcat supporters to pay more in taxes?

If he truly thinks we're eyeball-to-eyeball with the mortal threat to end all threats, why doesn't he act like it?

[Bucky]

11. That is such September 10th thinking.

If you knew anything about real or complex numbers that weren't the root of polynomials but have rational coefficients, you'd know that you increase defense spending by cutting taxes and drilling for oil off Ft Lauderdale.