Since the GOP insists on dropping "ic" from "Democratic", how about "..Publican", as in.......

[Faryn Balyncd]

......"publicans and sinners"?

"Repubs", "Repugs", "Repukes" certainly have their advocates, but "Publican" does have a ring to it, not to mention the a certain symmetry.

[northofdenali]

1. POIFEKT!

I've been using "republics" in speaking, but I think this is subtle enough to cruise over many heads, yet hit those who can actually think right in the forebrain!

:P

[patrice]

2. Were the Publicans the same thing as Pharisees?

[Wizard777]

3. A Publican is a Drunkard or Alcoholic. So Republican means drunk again. n/t

[Liberal Gramma]

22. I thought a publican was the owner or manager of a public bar

[geardaddy]

23. No, publican means...

Someone who runs a pub or "public house"

[magellan]

4. "Publicant" would be more accurate

Or maybe just "pubes". :rofl:

[xultar]

5. I call them Republics.

[Raine]

6. I'll never call them Republican

why should I call them by the name they choose for themself when they won't do the same for us. :-( I'll call them ANYTHING but their offical name.

[DemSinceBirth]

7. How about even shorter and just call them Pubes?

(Sorry... It's late)

[Warren DeMontague]

8. How about poop-lickin's?

Good for me to POOP ON!

[orleans]

9. i like it. n/t

[illinoisprogressive]

10. quit obsessing

[intaglio]

11. Publican is pretty good - especially when you know what the word means

I'll ignore the UK english definition and deal with the original

Publican, as in "Publicans and sinners", refers to Tax Farmers who the Romans employed to collect their taxes. These Publicans would undertake to collect the tax assessment for an area in exchange they were allowed to keep any excess monies they errr found. They were notorious for their violence, corruption and gouging and enjoyed the protection of Roman Law and the Roman Legions: they also made vast profits.

Does this behaviour remind you of another group of people??

[mazzarro]

16. Two definitions from different sources cement my agreement with you

Encyclopedia Brittanica:
Latin Publicanus, plural Publicani, ancient Roman public contractor, who erected or maintained public buildings, supplied armies overseas, or collected certain taxes, particularly those supplying fluctuating amounts of revenue to the state (e.g., tithes and customs). The system for letting contracts was well established by the 3rd century BC: at Rome they were normally let for five years at auctions by.
-----------------------------------
www.answers.com/publican:
publican , in ancient Rome, man who was employed by the state government under contract. As early as c.200 B.C. there was a class of men in Rome accustomed to undertaking contracts involving public works and tax collecting; the tax collectors made the most profit. The publicans were usually equites, or capitalists.


These two definitions particularly fit them to a tee since it harps on their sacrosanct crony capitalism of cheats and thieves and unconscionable a**holes.

[patrice]

20. Right, Publican it is then. I hope all Dems in the media will use it! n/t

[calimary]

12. republi-CON - because all they offer is a CON JOB.

My husband likes repugna-CON.

Agreed completely. Taste of their own medicine. See how they like it.

[Lasher]

13. Publican is my favorite slur

I've been using that for awhile. 'Republic' is not quite so demeaning as 'publican'.

[Hieronymus]

14. I'll use republic party. It's the equivalent of Democrat Party.

[shraby]

15. I kinda like Pubics.

[GreenZoneLT]

17. Yeah, but publicans are tavern-keepers

That's a good thing, despite the Bible's slander of them. No way I'm using up a perfectly good word like publican on that bunch.

I say we start calling them Tories. Nobody likes Tories.

[Guaranteed]

18. It's RE-pub-LICK-in. nt

[hlthe2b]

19. Pubics

:rofl:

[Norquist Nemesis]

21. I still call them Cons.

They con about everything.