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 73
Page xviii
... charge that now carries weight; stonewalling, an Australian cricket term given new meaning as refusal to comment, is in politics to stay; and twisting slowly, slowly in the wind is likely to be used whenever presidents fail to support ...
... charge that now carries weight; stonewalling, an Australian cricket term given new meaning as refusal to comment, is in politics to stay; and twisting slowly, slowly in the wind is likely to be used whenever presidents fail to support ...
Page 11
... charge that FDR was leading the nation into war annoyed the President and worried his advisers. Bronx boss Ed Flynn wired his demand that Roosevelt reassure the public that he was not going to send Americans into foreign wars. “But how ...
... charge that FDR was leading the nation into war annoyed the President and worried his advisers. Bronx boss Ed Flynn wired his demand that Roosevelt reassure the public that he was not going to send Americans into foreign wars. “But how ...
Page 15
... charge of excessive bureaucracy. Democrat Al Smith, disenchanted with Roosevelt, described the government as “submerged in a bowl of alphabet soup,” and Republican campaigners at their 1936 convention carried an Alfred Landon banner ...
... charge of excessive bureaucracy. Democrat Al Smith, disenchanted with Roosevelt, described the government as “submerged in a bowl of alphabet soup,” and Republican campaigners at their 1936 convention carried an Alfred Landon banner ...
Page 16
... charge reluctantly subscribed to by the conservative columnist William F. Buckley. The term clung to Buchanan. In ... charges that Buchanan was imputing a dual loyalty to Jewish American commentators and was by Christmas” has become a ...
... charge reluctantly subscribed to by the conservative columnist William F. Buckley. The term clung to Buchanan. In ... charges that Buchanan was imputing a dual loyalty to Jewish American commentators and was by Christmas” has become a ...
Page 19
... charge, however, are open For more modern usages, see SYSTEM , THE , and PROCESS , THE . to countercharges. Molly ... charges of venality was that he had merely been an “amiable dunce.” amnesty Official declaration of innocence and ...
... charge, however, are open For more modern usages, see SYSTEM , THE , and PROCESS , THE . to countercharges. Molly ... charges of venality was that he had merely been an “amiable dunce.” amnesty Official declaration of innocence and ...
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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