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 78
Page xiii
... become “heavy lifting” and turn into plagiarism? The political subdivision of the English language has been in business too long for almost any phrase to be totally original; some of the best are twists of, or plays on, others. The many ...
... become “heavy lifting” and turn into plagiarism? The political subdivision of the English language has been in business too long for almost any phrase to be totally original; some of the best are twists of, or plays on, others. The many ...
Page xv
... become president, eschewed “normality” to popularize normalcy, enshrined alliteration, and was associated with smokefilled room. Calvin Coolidge's “the business of America is business” is generally forgotten today, though he can be ...
... become president, eschewed “normality” to popularize normalcy, enshrined alliteration, and was associated with smokefilled room. Calvin Coolidge's “the business of America is business” is generally forgotten today, though he can be ...
Page 3
... become an institution. Abominable No-Man Sobriquet of Sherman Adams, Eisenhower's chief of staff, The word, rooted ... becoming the “no-man,” the former New Hampshire governor, usually described as “flinty,” assumed the role of lightning ...
... become an institution. Abominable No-Man Sobriquet of Sherman Adams, Eisenhower's chief of staff, The word, rooted ... becoming the “no-man,” the former New Hampshire governor, usually described as “flinty,” assumed the role of lightning ...
Page 10
... become advisers to the regular Iraqi army fighting an insurgency and terrorists, and were “embedded” in Iraqi units as teaching During the 1980s, Ronald Reagan's nomi- nation of Judge Robert H. Bork was defeated in the Senate (see the ...
... become advisers to the regular Iraqi army fighting an insurgency and terrorists, and were “embedded” in Iraqi units as teaching During the 1980s, Ronald Reagan's nomi- nation of Judge Robert H. Bork was defeated in the Senate (see the ...
Page 19
... become a citizen withClark Clifford, the Truman speechwriter, out paying any price whatsoever. I strongly later ... becomes legal,” agreed Gustavo Torres, director of a Maryland group helping illegal immigrants. “This is totally ...
... become a citizen withClark Clifford, the Truman speechwriter, out paying any price whatsoever. I strongly later ... becomes legal,” agreed Gustavo Torres, director of a Maryland group helping illegal immigrants. “This is totally ...
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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