The dictionary says:
Heck can be an interjection, used as a mild expression of annoyance, rejection, disgust, as in “What the heck do you care?”
Heck can be an idiom describing something remarkable of its kind (usually used in the phrase heck of a): “That was a heck of an impressive speech” or “Have one heck of a good time.”
Heck can be a mild intensifier, as in, “I say he’s guilty as heck.”
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It is not clear in what sense the republican strategist Mark McKinnon, who advised George W. Bush and John McCain in the last three presidential elections, used the term.
This is what he said:
“The Tea Party will never be brought into a governing coalition. The Tea Party is not a party. It has become largely a convenient definition for everyone who is disaffected with the federal government. And right now that happens to be a lot of people, so they are getting a lot of attention. Tea Partiers share a deep anger and intense frustration but have no clear plan or common agenda.
“So Republicans have a lot in common with Tea Party [activists], because they oppose most of what is being proposed in Washington and generally take a limited view of government. But, if Republicans take back the House, I suspect they will quickly find themselves the subject of disaffection from the Tea Party crowd as well. With power comes accountability and with accountability comes derision.
“Governing is heck.”
I suspect we’ll have a heck of a good time when you come here next month. We won’t have to do any governing, because it is…you know what.
Your comment was most welcome not only because so far it is the only one. Thank you.
As we lawyers say, govern yourselves accordingly.