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 4
... described by Francis Bacon in his essay “In Great Place,” pub- lished in 1612: “All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man's self whilst he is in the rising, and to balance ...
... described by Francis Bacon in his essay “In Great Place,” pub- lished in 1612: “All rising to great place is by a winding stair; and if there be factions, it is good to side a man's self whilst he is in the rising, and to balance ...
Page 9
... described the type of activity as 'black advance,' a term used in political campaigning to describe the planning of measures to harass the opposition or to detect and guard against harassment by the opposition.” Segretti served a jail ...
... described the type of activity as 'black advance,' a term used in political campaigning to describe the planning of measures to harass the opposition or to detect and guard against harassment by the opposition.” Segretti served a jail ...
Page 10
... described reserve divisions formed by “Turkish military authorities and their German military advisers,” and a 1939 text on Soviet policy stated, “The Russians have kept a number of 'advisers,' military and otherwise, in Sinkiang for ...
... described reserve divisions formed by “Turkish military authorities and their German military advisers,” and a 1939 text on Soviet policy stated, “The Russians have kept a number of 'advisers,' military and otherwise, in Sinkiang for ...
Page 15
... described the spy agency's evolution “through an alphabet soup of designations (GPU, OGPU<NKVD< NKGB< MGB<< MVD to the present KGB).” True to tradition, it changes its name every few years. Today, with the proliferation of government ...
... described the spy agency's evolution “through an alphabet soup of designations (GPU, OGPU<NKVD< NKGB< MGB<< MVD to the present KGB).” True to tradition, it changes its name every few years. Today, with the proliferation of government ...
Page 19
... described the sub- jective reaction to the phrase in 1967: “Like “Any plan that rewards illegal behavior is amnesty,” declared Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.). “I think the fact that they have to [Michigan Governor George] Romney, there ...
... described the sub- jective reaction to the phrase in 1967: “Like “Any plan that rewards illegal behavior is amnesty,” declared Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.). “I think the fact that they have to [Michigan Governor George] Romney, there ...
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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