Previously known for its six syllables of sweetness and light, reconciliation has become the political fighting word of the year.

The CEO era gave rise to the CFO (not certified flying object, as you might imagine, but chief financial officer) and, most recently, the CIO, chief investment officer, a nice boost for the bookkeeper you can't afford to give a raise . . .

Never look for the story in the 'lede.' Reporters are required to put what's happened up top, but the practiced pundit places a nugget of news, even a startling insight, halfway down the column, directed at the politiscenti. When pressed for time, the savvy reader starts there.

Don't expect others to do your work for you.

Why use a modifier to set straight a not-quite-right noun when the right noun is available?

To communicate, put your words in order; give them a purpose; use them to persuade, to instruct, to discover, to seduce.

I'm a right-wing pundit and have been for many years.