And finally, my speechwriter would like to thank …

In his attack on ghostwriting in The New York Times Book Review last Sunday, writer Joe Queenan revealed a new practice, apparently invented by Donald Trump's latest ghostwriter, who helped him with his latest bestseller, Trump: Think Like a Billionaire.

After Trump's own acknowledgements in the book, ghostwriter Meredith McIver takes space to thank "her family, her friends, her minions, the Trump Organization and even Tassos of Patmos."

Imagine this trend catching on. Now, imagine it spreading to speechwriting.

The speaker opens by thanking the introducer for that fine introduction. Thanks the forum for the invitation. Thanks the speechwriter for writing the speech. And, on behalf of the speechwriter, thanks everyone who helped the speechwriter pull the speech together. And finally, the speaker thanks the audience for listening.

Step back, curtain down.