How Definitions Change Over Time

.........................Old 41...........................




















....................................................................New 41.........................











Old 41 is, of course, former U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush (1989-1993), the 41st President of the United States. He has been called “Old 41” to differentiate him from his son, George Walker Bush, the 43rd U.S. President (2001-2009).

The new 41 is U.S. Senator-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts (2010-?), who will fill “the people’s seat” (or, as it is known by Democrats, “Teddy Kennedy’s seat”). Until Brown’s overwhelming victory in a special election last Tuesday, the make-up of the U.S. Senate was 60 Democrats, 40 Republications, making it “filibuster-proof” because 60 votes are required to cut off debate on certain issues before the Senate. But with Brown as the 41st Republican Senator, the Democrats’ ability to end a Republican-led filibuster (filibusters are used to delay final votes and to bring public attention to issues) or to approve such bills without the cooperation of a single Republican (who needs bipartisanship?) has vanished. On other issues, however, a simple majority of 51 votes is all that is required to pass a bill.