I would put it in the same category too, but I think I can explain  
why it works.  "We was robbed" sounds like a group of little guys  
being outwitted by smarter, slicker thinkers who know the rules and  
loopholes and can use it against the ignorant who only know they have  
been cheated but can't express a sound argument to prove why their  
loss is unfair.

I think the phrase "Why can't us?" expresses the underdog spirit of a  
come-from-behind, just-folks, pseudo-Palin mentality.  We have been  
so down-trodden, ain't it our turn now, gosh darn it?



On Nov 23, 2008, at 2:18 PM, Beth Young wrote:

> I put "why can't us" in the same category as "we was robbed."  I  
> wish I knew of a good way to explain to students when / how a  
> grammatical mistake becomes rhetorically effective.
>
> Language Log talked a bit about "why can't us" here: http:// 
> languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=746
>
> Beth
>
>>>> Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> 11/23/2008 2:22 PM >>>
> "A caller from Delaware chimed in to share his joy for the  
> Fightins. He may have created the next great catchphrase, saying,  
> 'Boston did it. The White Sox did it. Why can't us? Why can't us?"
>
> From the Washington Post sports section.
>
> We like "why can't we?" but what about "Why not us?", which is  
> sometimes heard?
>
>
>
>
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