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 3
... Critics said Adams usurped a portion of the presidential decision-making power by “insulating” Eisenhower. Friends ... criticism for long limousine rides in 1991. Jack Watson, at one time President Jimmy Carter's Chief of Staff, called ...
... Critics said Adams usurped a portion of the presidential decision-making power by “insulating” Eisenhower. Friends ... criticism for long limousine rides in 1991. Jack Watson, at one time President Jimmy Carter's Chief of Staff, called ...
Page 10
... criticism. Walt W. Rostow, Lyndon B. Johnson's national security adviser during the Vietnam War, told The Washington ... critics of America's effort to come to grips with poverty at home. Yet his theme was not pessimistic: 12 agonizing ...
... criticism. Walt W. Rostow, Lyndon B. Johnson's national security adviser during the Vietnam War, told The Washington ... critics of America's effort to come to grips with poverty at home. Yet his theme was not pessimistic: 12 agonizing ...
Page 16
... criticism from the anti-interventionist (or isolationist) far right of the decision by President George W. Bush to invade Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein drew this comment from Toronto's National Post: “Their resentment of the often-Jewish ...
... criticism from the anti-interventionist (or isolationist) far right of the decision by President George W. Bush to invade Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein drew this comment from Toronto's National Post: “Their resentment of the often-Jewish ...
Page 25
... criticism with the advantage of hindsight, but an armchair strategist might be enthusiastic as well as critical. The armchair, a place of comfort from which to make discomfiting remarks, can also be used as a symbol for laziness ...
... criticism with the advantage of hindsight, but an armchair strategist might be enthusiastic as well as critical. The armchair, a place of comfort from which to make discomfiting remarks, can also be used as a symbol for laziness ...
Page 26
... criticism of U.S. foreign policy in the 1960s, questioning the basis of U.S. knowing him to be a longtime Soviet spinmeister for Leonid Brezhnev. He later took intervention in some conflicts abroad. up propaganda work for President ...
... criticism of U.S. foreign policy in the 1960s, questioning the basis of U.S. knowing him to be a longtime Soviet spinmeister for Leonid Brezhnev. He later took intervention in some conflicts abroad. up propaganda work for President ...
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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