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 82
Page 3
... applied in politics to those who sought the abolition of slavery. Spelled with an initial capital in 1790, the term was applied most widely during the nineteenth century to fierce opponents of slavery such as the journalist William ...
... applied in politics to those who sought the abolition of slavery. Spelled with an initial capital in 1790, the term was applied most widely during the nineteenth century to fierce opponents of slavery such as the journalist William ...
Page 5
... applied to Vice President Alben Barkley and then came to mean the vice president of any organization. When In 1951 Dr. Edward Corwin wrote in The New Republic that Congress and President Truman, in the midst of a constitutional dispute ...
... applied to Vice President Alben Barkley and then came to mean the vice president of any organization. When In 1951 Dr. Edward Corwin wrote in The New Republic that Congress and President Truman, in the midst of a constitutional dispute ...
Page 6
... ”) and variations of YUPPIE ist was an adjective applied to a philosophy of realism, akin to pragmatist, assuming the active existence of everything. By 1920 the administration 7 adjective's meaning changed to a descrip- tion of.
... ”) and variations of YUPPIE ist was an adjective applied to a philosophy of realism, akin to pragmatist, assuming the active existence of everything. By 1920 the administration 7 adjective's meaning changed to a descrip- tion of.
Page 7
... applied INSURGENT or violent extremist to native Iraqis who were bomb-wielding Baathists, suicide bombers killing civilians, or unregenerate followers of Saddam Militant is a calibration more active than activist. In England in the ...
... applied INSURGENT or violent extremist to native Iraqis who were bomb-wielding Baathists, suicide bombers killing civilians, or unregenerate followers of Saddam Militant is a calibration more active than activist. In England in the ...
Page 8
... applied to foreign govern- ments or eras. Thus, Englishmen in 1978 thought of “the Carter government” in the U.S., and Americans talked of “the Cal- laghan administration” in Great Britain, each applying his own usage to the other's ...
... applied to foreign govern- ments or eras. Thus, Englishmen in 1978 thought of “the Carter government” in the U.S., and Americans talked of “the Cal- laghan administration” in Great Britain, each applying his own usage to the other's ...
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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