Safire's Political DictionaryWhen it comes to the vagaries of language in American politics, its uses and abuses, its absurdities and ever-shifting nuances, its power to confound, obscure, and occasionally to inspire, William Safire is the language maven we most readily turn to for clarity, guidance, and penetrating, sometimes lacerating, wit. Safire's Political Dictionary is a stem-to-stern updating and expansion of the Language of Politics, which was first published in 1968 and last revised in 1993, long before such terms as Hanging Chads, 9/11 and the War on Terror became part of our everyday vocabulary. Nearly every entry in that renowned work has been revised and updated and scores of completely new entries have been added to produce an indispensable guide to the political language being used and abused in America today. Safire's definitions--discursive, historically aware, and often anecdotal--bring a savvy perspective to our colorful political lingo. Indeed, a Safire definition often reads like a mini-essay in political history, and readers will come away not only with a fuller understanding of particular words but also a richer knowledge of how politics works, and fails to work, in America. From Axis of Evil, Blame Game, Bridge to Nowhere, Triangulation, and Compassionate Conservatism to Islamofascism, Netroots, Earmark, Wingnuts and Moonbats, Slam Dunk, Doughnut Hole, and many others, this language maven explains the origin of each term, how and by whom and for what purposes it has been used or twisted, as well as its perceived and real significance. For anyone who wants to cut through the verbal haze that surrounds so much of American political discourse, Safire's Political Dictionary offers a work of scholarship, wit, insiderhood and resolute bipartisanship. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 79
Page 36
... Democratic State Chairman (later National Parallel Reciprocal Mobility Chairman), demonstrating how useful a Functional Digital Catholic could be on the national ticket. Responsive Logistical Programming Concept Optional Transitional ...
... Democratic State Chairman (later National Parallel Reciprocal Mobility Chairman), demonstrating how useful a Functional Digital Catholic could be on the national ticket. Responsive Logistical Programming Concept Optional Transitional ...
Page 60
... Democratic establishment—aritual patricide ... On foreign policy, 'blame America first' has become 'blame America exclusively.' ” When Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat representing the San Francisco area in California, was elected Speaker of ...
... Democratic establishment—aritual patricide ... On foreign policy, 'blame America first' has become 'blame America exclusively.' ” When Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat representing the San Francisco area in California, was elected Speaker of ...
Page 64
... Democratic presidential nomination began with Senator Joseph Biden complimenting Senator Barack Obama as being “clean” and “articulate,” adjectives intended to be complimentary but that were taken by many blacks to be insufferably ...
... Democratic presidential nomination began with Senator Joseph Biden complimenting Senator Barack Obama as being “clean” and “articulate,” adjectives intended to be complimentary but that were taken by many blacks to be insufferably ...
Page 65
... Democrats Members of the House of Representatives of moderate to conservative views who see themselves as a coalition ... Democratic ticket.” Rep. Stenholm, formerly self-identified as a BOLL WEEVIL , said that a Blue Dog “has a better ...
... Democrats Members of the House of Representatives of moderate to conservative views who see themselves as a coalition ... Democratic ticket.” Rep. Stenholm, formerly self-identified as a BOLL WEEVIL , said that a Blue Dog “has a better ...
Page 66
... Democratic gains included the addition of many conservative Democrats, brilliantly recruited by Rep. Rahm Emanuel with classic Clinton TRIAN- GULATION ... The result is that both parties have moved to the right. The Republicans have ...
... Democratic gains included the addition of many conservative Democrats, brilliantly recruited by Rep. Rahm Emanuel with classic Clinton TRIAN- GULATION ... The result is that both parties have moved to the right. The Republicans have ...
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
action Administration aide American appeared applied asked attack became become began bill Bush called campaign candidate century charge City civil columnist Communist Congress conservative convention criticism deal defense Democratic described early economic Eisenhower election expression forces foreign former George give Governor head House idea included interest issue John Johnson Kennedy known later leader liberal major meaning ment metaphor military never Nixon nomination noted original party peace person phrase play political politicians popular position Post President presidential referred reported Republican Robert Roosevelt rule Secretary Senator sense speech talk term thing tion told took turn United usage usually Vice vote voters Washington White House word writer wrote York