It was in 2004 (in the Kerry - Bush debates) that I first noticed this use of the word "grow." Politicians talk about growing the economy. Or growing our production capacity. Or growing some other abstract, positive thing. I went to a church and the pastor talked about growing love for God.

In my opinion, there are two things you grow this way: crops and facial hair. So I can't help thinking "on my face" now whenever a politician uses grow for something he or she isn't planning to grow on his or her face.

We need a new approach to grow the economy (on my face)!

We're going to grow our confidence in America (on my face)!

Et al.