a promise nor a threat so much as wishful thinking 
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (DT a) (NN promise)) (CC nor) (NP (DT a) (NN threat))) (ADVP (ADVP (RB so) (RB much)) (PP (IN as) (NP (JJ wishful) (NN thinking))))))
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (DT ) (NN )) (CC ) (NP (DT ) (NN ))) (ADVP (ADVP (RB ) (RB )) (PP (IN ) (NP (JJ ) (NN ))))))