[graphic conceived and written by Paul Iorio using a photo from the documentary "You've Been Trumped."]
Donald Trump, a once-prolific insulter, is starting to recycle his barbs and favorite words.
He recently called a Tulsa cop a "choker." He memorably called Marco Rubio "a light-weight choker" during the primaries, later calling him a "choke artist." Then he called Mitt Romney "a choker and a loser."
Clearly, there is a clog in his insult machine, once so well-oiled and reliable. It appears to be choked up.
During last Monday's debate, he dispensed with insults altogether and instead showed off his new favorite word: "tremendous," which he used a tremendous 13 times.
"You need tremendous stamina," he said, while fighting the sniffles.
"I have tremendous income," he said (though he can't seem to fully fund his own campaign).
"Hillary is hitting me with tremendous commercials," he said, uncharacteristically using the word as a pejorative.
"Stop-and-frisk had a tremendous impact," he said.
So, everything's "tremendous" now. He's high. Before the nomination, it was all about choking. But no longer.
Of course, his all-time favorite word is "deal," which he said a tremendous twenty four times in the debate.
"The deal with Iran will lead to nuclear problems," he said.
"That horrible deal with Iran," he said.
"This is one of the worst deals ever made by any country in history."
Of course, if you really want to sound like Trump, these words can be used in tandem (e.g., "The tremendous deal with Iran will lead to nuclear problems and choking").
In Trumpland, it's now all about "tremendous deals" -- and the insults are growing more bizarre. At one point on Monday, Trump suggested that a 400-pound man in bed might be responsible for recent criminal cyberhacking.
No word yet on whether Roger Ailes is suing.