What phrases are synonymous with "dictator for life"? October 8, 2004 1:41 AM Subscribe
I need phrases synonymous with "dictator for life" posted by Tlogmer to writing & language (46 comments total)
El Presidente? posted by mathowie at 1:49 AM on October 8, 2004
El Presidente is most excellent. (I'm looking for volume, though, so keep them coming.) posted by Tlogmer at 1:59 AM on October 8, 2004
As in Benevolent Dictator for Life? Otherwise it's not so much a term as a description, which can ofcourse be rephrased but not put into a single term as far as I'm aware of. Also, most dictators for life tend to either have their life drasticly shortened or be dedictatored despite some people thinking they'd be there for the rest of their life.
Also: "Dictator" pretty much implies they're going to be there for their entire life unless they decide they don't want to be the dictator anymore (unlikely) or they get overthrown. posted by fvw at 2:00 AM on October 8, 2004
Divine Emperor posted by vacapinta at 2:00 AM on October 8, 2004
Isn't "dictator for life" supposed to be an pleonasm ?
At least, until the people overthrow you :) posted by XiBe at 2:04 AM on October 8, 2004
fvw: I'm looking for phrases similar in connotation, I suppose. Divine Emperor is the shiz.
XiBe: Caesar was the original dictator perpetuus (so there's something of an inbuilt phrase-ness to it, but that's neither here nor there); he was dictator for -- ostensibly -- shorter periods but kept having himself reinstated until eventually the charade was dropped. Rome had had actual, temporary dictators before, though, who didn't co-opt the republic.
At least, until the people overthrow you
Nono. It's, um, a friend of mine. Yeah. posted by Tlogmer at 2:12 AM on October 8, 2004
As a matter of interest, would you say "El Presidente de [Organization]" posted by Tlogmer at 2:14 AM on October 8, 2004
Oh. That would be a yes. I'll stop asking stupid questions immediately answerable by google now. posted by Tlogmer at 2:16 AM on October 8, 2004
I know this has a specific target but 'Dear Leader' posted by pieoverdone at 3:20 AM on October 8, 2004
How about Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea (just a part of 'His Excellency President for Life Field Marshal Al Hadji Dr. Idi Amin, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular', found here.) posted by misteraitch at 3:40 AM on October 8, 2004
I'm fond of The Generalissimo. posted by alidarbac at 3:48 AM on October 8, 2004
King/Queen posted by biffa at 4:09 AM on October 8, 2004
Tlogmer kinda-sorta mentioned it, but I think one can get away with using "Caesar" as a title too, and the meaning is definitely clear enough. posted by letourneau at 4:30 AM on October 8, 2004
Supreme Autocrat? posted by Zonker at 4:37 AM on October 8, 2004
ok, apologies in advance for being so delicate, but... isn't "el presidente" slipping towards racial stereotypes? it just means (obviously?) "the president". posted by andrew cooke at 6:20 AM on October 8, 2004
What andrew cooke said, only more pissed off. posted by signal at 6:39 AM on October 8, 2004
(i was thinking that maybe there's some famous film or scene where, in the context, "el presidente" refers to a dictator?) posted by andrew cooke at 6:57 AM on October 8, 2004
1. Professor Emeritus
2. Warlord of Mars, bitches! posted by trondant at 6:59 AM on October 8, 2004
Supreme Potentate. posted by jessamyn at 7:20 AM on October 8, 2004
Grand Poobah. posted by SPrintF at 7:25 AM on October 8, 2004
Supreme Plenipotentate. posted by kenko at 8:14 AM on October 8, 2004
Le grande fromage. The don. posted by nthdegx at 8:17 AM on October 8, 2004
God-Emperor.
Works for nations, as you'll discover when I'm God-Emperor of America.
Works for organizations -- being the God-Emperor of the IT Department seems reasonable to me *twitch*.
Alternatively, El Queso Grande or the Grand Poobah. posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:09 AM on October 8, 2004
(While "El Presidente" is a bit ethno-specific, is does mean something different than "The President," even just filtering the term through recent history. I don't see it as necessarily racist, especially out of context.)
But how about Major Domo?
Or El Capo di Tutti Capi? posted by chicobangs at 9:26 AM on October 8, 2004
Emperor of _______ and Lord Protector of ________!
Worked for Norton I, at least. You can add "divine" "god" or "Padishah" to emperor as you see fit. posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:35 AM on October 8, 2004
I need phrases synonymous with "dictator for life"
"Who is the boss of you? ME! ME! I AM THE BOSS OF YOU!"
Philosopher-King, First Citizen, August Eternal Protector of the People, and Fastest Gun North, South, East, aaaand West of the Pecos. posted by furiousthought at 10:29 AM on October 8, 2004
It seems to me that at one time Omar Torrijos was titled "el Lider Maximo de la Revolucion Panameno (Maximum Leader of the Panamanian Revolution)". posted by teo at 2:16 PM on October 8, 2004
PRINCEPS posted by ac at 2:44 PM on October 8, 2004
>>"the all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest leaving fire in his wake." An alternative translation, according to a second group of reports, is "the cock whose prowess leaves no hen untouched." posted by philfromhavelock at 4:32 PM on October 8, 2004
I think Tropico burned the phrase "el presidente" into american minds more than anything else. (Does it make it better if the whole sentance is in spanish?) Thanks, everyone. posted by Tlogmer at 5:19 PM on October 8, 2004
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posted by mathowie at 1:49 AM on October 8, 2004