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 74
Page 27
... expression in his 1944 book, U.S. War Aims. In May 1945, Fortune mer) DeLay of Texas, for having “sicced federal agencies on runaway Democratic lawmakers.” (Sic'em is a mongrelization of “seek them,” a command to a real attack 28 at ...
... expression in his 1944 book, U.S. War Aims. In May 1945, Fortune mer) DeLay of Texas, for having “sicced federal agencies on runaway Democratic lawmakers.” (Sic'em is a mongrelization of “seek them,” a command to a real attack 28 at ...
Page 33
... expression originated, a back- bencher is one who goes down the line in regular support of the party leadership at the front bench of the House. ible American presidents only what they want them to see.” This disparaging view recalls ...
... expression originated, a back- bencher is one who goes down the line in regular support of the party leadership at the front bench of the House. ible American presidents only what they want them to see.” This disparaging view recalls ...
Page 37
... expression to discuss the CHECKS AND BALANCES among the states of the Union or the three branches of government. “Every project,” wrote John Adams in 1789, “has been found to be no better than committing the lamb to the custody of the ...
... expression to discuss the CHECKS AND BALANCES among the states of the Union or the three branches of government. “Every project,” wrote John Adams in 1789, “has been found to be no better than committing the lamb to the custody of the ...
Page 42
... expression is in use in Great Britain as well. Wrote the Daily Mirror in Songs have also helped popularize the notion of bandwagons. A song published in 1851, written by W. Loftin Hargrave, titled “Wait for the Wagon, A New Ethio- pian ...
... expression is in use in Great Britain as well. Wrote the Daily Mirror in Songs have also helped popularize the notion of bandwagons. A song published in 1851, written by W. Loftin Hargrave, titled “Wait for the Wagon, A New Ethio- pian ...
Page 44
... expression can be traced to a sermon by Thomas Adams in 1629: “The empiric to cure the fever, destroys the patient; so the wise man, to burn the mice, set fire to his barn.” Through the last half of the twentieth century, the idea of ...
... expression can be traced to a sermon by Thomas Adams in 1629: “The empiric to cure the fever, destroys the patient; so the wise man, to burn the mice, set fire to his barn.” Through the last half of the twentieth century, the idea of ...
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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