a calculating fiend or just a slippery self-promoter 
(ROOT (NP (NP (DT a) (VBG calculating) (NN fiend)) (CC or) (NP (RB just) (DT a) (JJ slippery) (NN self) (HYPH -) (NN promoter))))
(ROOT (NP (NP (DT ) (VBG ) (NN )) (CC ) (NP (RB ) (DT ) (JJ ) (NN ) (HYPH ) (NN ))))