Indeterminacy of Language
By Drezner wonders if Bill Clinton has broken the space-time continuum:
From Mark Leibovich, “No Longer in Race, Richardson Is a Man Pursued,” New York Times, February 23, 2008:
Early this month, Mr. Clinton called Mr. Richardson and insisted on seeing him face to face. Mr. Richardson said he could not make it unless Mr. Clinton came down to New Mexico to watch the Super Bowl on television with him, which Mr. Clinton rearranged his schedule to do….
The Bills watched the game in the Governor’s Mansion, Mr. Richardson rooting for New England, Mr. Clinton for New York. They smoked cigars, drank wine, devoured barbecued spareribs, chicken wings and shrimp. They talked politics only at halftime.
From Dan Balz, “Influential Democrats Waiting to Choose Sides,” Washington Post, March 9, 2008:
“I’m thinking of changing my phone number,” joked [Pennsylvannia representative Mike] Doyle, who had supported New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson but is now uncommitted. He said he got a surprise call from Bill Clinton on Super Bowl Sunday while cooking osso buco for his family.
Just what was Bill Clinton doing on Super Bowl Sunday? There’s clear photo evidence to support Richardson’s version of events — but I have no reason to believe Doyle is lying.
If I may try to resolve this paradox, is it possible that Representative Doyle, rather than President Clinton, was the one cooking osso buco?