It's a new week, and the new contender for the Stupidity Awards has bellyflopped into the pool of dumb. Last week, Democrat Senator Tim Kaine said America created slavery. As in created slavery. This week, Democrat Senator Mazie Hirono said Trump literally ripped babies from mothers' arms at the Southern Border. As in literally ripped. Take away, dumb-dumb:

Literally ripped means Trump actually tore babies apart while pulling them from their mothers' arms. Trump doesn't do that, but abortion doctors do literally tear babies from their mothers.

Going by Mazie's definition, I am literally smearing Mazie's gray matter all over the internet for all to see.

I know plenty of people use the word "literally" incorrectly. After a time, many of these same people think it's fine because the colloquialism wins out. The same has been done for "decimate" (which used to mean destroying one tenth, not to be confused with "obliterate") or saying such things as "VIN number." I know some of you. I've been friends with you. Just know, when you say things like "That literally blows my mind," those of us who hate to see the word used and abused think you're figuratively stupider than a bread box and half as useful. It's not that we're always wanting to be "that person" it's the lack of respect paid to words for no good reason at all. Just don't say "literally" and we'll assume you're speaking metaphorically.

But in Mazie's case, like Tim Kaine's before her, not only is there plenty of pandering afoot, there might also be a clear lack of intelligence. She may not be stupid in the figurative sense, but the literal one.

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