1.   But the rhetoric has begun to take on a life of its own.

2.   So the rhetoric has begun to spin in a different direction.

3.   But as he gained momentum and got into his stride, the old knockabout, bombastic rhetoric began to return, as he blasted Chirac.

4.   The anti-homosexual rhetoric began early this month when the government forced organisers of an international book fair to ban a group of gays and lesbians from participating.