Ranch/Estate

Amanda argues that we should call Bush's Crawford estate a ranch.

The problem is that the word "ranch" is used in Texas to describe any plot of land where you can't see your neighbor's house. We only use words like "manor" or "estate" with our tongues firmly in cheek, such as when I describe my 1100 sq. ft. home as Mouse Manor. When you describe something as a "ranch" here, your audience doesn't assume you actually work the land until you say so. Granted, a number of non-working ranches have a stray cow or sheep or some goats for tax reasons or so the owners don't have to mow the lawn, but that's beside the point. Ranches don't have to be agriculturally useful to be considered ranches in the local parlance. [...] But leave the word "ranch" alone, because otherwise, it makes it sound just a little like you're picking on the local dialect.

Bush's ranch is also an estate. When the media describe things, they're supposed to use terms that will convey an accurate impression to the audience. To most people, ranches are agricultural operations. Bush's set-up in Crawford is a cushy modern house with extensive grounds. So, if you say "estate" you'll convey a more accurate impression of Bush's vacation home. Maybe we could compromise and call it a compound. In some variants of English, cafeterias are called "canteens." If a speaker of my dialect calls something "a canteen" instead of "a cafeteria," my mental image of the place is going to be decidedly more rustic or military than it otherwise would have been.  Bush only bought the estate a few years ago as a propaganda ploy. He wanted something to call a ranch. I won't criticize anyone who calls the place a ranch because it's legally accurate and faithful to local usage. However, I'm going to keep describing it as an estate, because that's equally accurate and avoids misleading cowboy connotations.

Comments

[R. Mildred]

Yes but how will dems ever turn texas blue if we go around not buying into bushvolk memes and newspeak?

[stork]

I thought a ranch was a house with only one story.

[Charles Winder]

How about "playground?"

[Cookie]

Around here --- not that far north of Bush, not really --- a ranch is something a rich person owns. Everyone else owns a place.

[wetzel]

How about 'Mayberry Mordor'

[Dan McEnroe]

I like "compound." It's creepy and cult-like.

[norbizness]

Well, if Michael Jackson can call his reality bubble a ranch, then I think that the same luxury should be afforded to our Sock Puppet-in-Chief.

But I maintain that those are not ranch style beans he's eating.

[Herbert Browne]

What does Martha call Her place? Maybe the Bushes should go with that- since maybe calling on his Yankee roots will garner him more support up Nawth (he doesn't have to worry about Texas as long as Tom Delay isn't in prison)...
^..^

[mick]

How about a hacienda? Or what about the Land of Make-Believe? Or Destiny's Outhouse? Or San Clemente East?

[rea]

"What does Martha call Her place? Maybe the Bushes should go with that . . ."

Dubya's Vinyard?

[razor]

a ranch runs animal units to sell the suprlus at auction for what might be a slight profit.

the rest is bullshit, of which ranches have little, as opposed to cow and calf and heifer and steer shit.

[Minnesotachuck]

How about "Dude Ranch"? W, with his big hat and no cattle, is no more a rancher than I am here in the suburbs of Minneapolis.

[mudkitty]

The "ranch" thing is false modesty at it's slickest.

[Uncle Kvetch]

How about 'Mayberry Mordor'

Very nice, but my favorite so far is one I found in the comments at tBogg:

Compound W

Hits all the right notes, don't you think?

[Thad]

Compound W.

Perfect.

[[email protected]]

Bush Estates is better.

[Keith Lewis]

Be sure to include your description when discussing the Gore "ranch" in Tennessee--the one that includes a patch of low-income housing with leaky roofs and brown water on tap.

[Jack Meogh]

Who cares? Do you not have any better thing to do than talk about this? Haha!