A new buzzword this political season is “unforced error.” I had to look it up. It’s from tennis and means a dumb mistake (e.g., a missed point) your competitor makes in a non-pressure situation.
The more I thought about it, the better it fit. Politicians square off, Republicans on one side of the “net” (Congressional floor or debate podium or news channel) and Democrats on the other. They hit the ball (bills, promises, deals) back and forth and jump around a lot. Often they get distracted (by a perceived “gotcha” or trying to guess an opponent’s next move) and, during an easy volley of words, make a mistake by, say, missing the ball (not listening carefully enough or being too self-absorbed).
Proof positive that politics–much to the chagrin of voters–is a game.