Headlines of the Tribune:

"Hillary claims the Democratic nomination"

I see this as a subtle criticism. I wonder if they'd say this about a Republican or even a man. "Claim" according to the dictionary means "to assert and demand the recognition of." Many of the definitions, in fact, have "demand" in them.

Am I crazy?

The OED Online definition of claim, 2c:

quote:

c. ‘Often loosely used (esp. in U.S.) for: Contend, maintain, assert’. (F. Hall.)

Online Etymology Dictionary

quote:

Meaning "to maintain as true" is from 1864;

UPI: Bush claims GOP nomination, predicts victory in fall
By THOMAS FERRARO | April 29, 1992

quote:

With a landslide victory in Pennsylvania, President Bush officially claimed the Republican nomination for re- election and told a record fund-raiser he expects to win big in the fall.

New York Times: Obama Clinches Nomination; First Black Candidate to Lead a Major Party Ticket
By JEFF ZELENY JUNE 4, 2008

quote:

Senator Barack Obama claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday evening, ...

I see no criticism involved. In French, "demand" is a synonym for "request." Perhaps it's a subtle indication of this country's concept of property rights. Since Shufitz's specialty was real estate, I'd like to hear what he thinks.

quote:

Originally posted by Geoff:
I see no criticism involved. In French, "demand" is a synonym for "request."

French "demander" is a false friend: it looks like "demand" but it means "ask". "To demand" in French is "exiger".

Perhaps it's not the dic def, but I always thought "claim" in the sense described meant assumed or won.

"Won" would have been better. "Claim" sounds aggressive to me. Of course, we all look at words differently, but all of you are men. I just wonder if women feel the same as you do.

Yes, I admit it; I'm a man.

Claim isn't necessarily aggressive. When you win a prize, you claim it. Where's the aggression in that? She won the nomination so she claimed it. No aggression implied. You notice the same word was used for Bush and Obama when they won their nominations.

Remember claim checks? When you checked your baggage (luggage if you prefer) or left a pair of shoes to be repaired, you'd get a claim check to retrieve them later.

Yes, I see all your points on that. I just don't think "claim" is usually used that way when a candidate wins an election. I've never seen it, anyway.

I think Trump may claim the residency even if he loses, since the election is obviously rigged.

Yeah, one never knows what he will do. Tonight he kicked a baby out of his rally.

Anyone who will kick a baby can't be all bad.

Augustus Steranklozo posted on that link:

quote:

At a rally Tuesday, Donald Trump ordered security to eject a crying baby. Secret Service carried Trump outside before realizing the error.

Has no-one told this guy that politicians are supposed to kiss babies?

Believe me, arnie, this guy listens to no one but himself. It is ridiculous.

If yu want to probe this guy's psyche, consider this. In 2010 Comedy Central roasted The Donald. Before taping the program they asked him what jokes were off-limits He agreed you could mention his hair, his three wives, his dating beautiful models, his sex life, and even his supposed desre to have sex with his daughter. The only part of his life that was verboten was to question how much he was actually worth.

Interesting, because many are questioning if he is really as rich as he says. Why he doesn't get more flack for not releasing his IRS records is beyond me. The whole "auditing" excuse is lame.