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 68
Page xi
... of order and junketeering gumshoes; no “government agencies,” but entries on alphabet agencies and acronyms. The Bay of Pigs is included because of its association with fiasco, xii Prolegomenon the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 is listed.
... of order and junketeering gumshoes; no “government agencies,” but entries on alphabet agencies and acronyms. The Bay of Pigs is included because of its association with fiasco, xii Prolegomenon the Cuban missile crisis of 1962 is listed.
Page xiii
... included because it shows how the right word will triumph over governmental obstacles. Its coiner was neither famous nor had an important national forum: his word grew slowly and inexorably until it could not be stopped. So did the ...
... included because it shows how the right word will triumph over governmental obstacles. Its coiner was neither famous nor had an important national forum: his word grew slowly and inexorably until it could not be stopped. So did the ...
Page xv
... included under coinages, over the past century. Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson led the way. “Teddy” gave political coloration to lunatic fringe and hat in the ring, in active political usage today; he coined bully pulpit, took a ...
... included under coinages, over the past century. Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson led the way. “Teddy” gave political coloration to lunatic fringe and hat in the ring, in active political usage today; he coined bully pulpit, took a ...
Page xvi
... included some from John Foster Dulles: Descriptions Eisenhower Doctrine new look Coinages agonizing reappraisal atoms for peace bigger bang for a buck curl your hair domino theory engage in personalities [I shall] go to Korea massive ...
... included some from John Foster Dulles: Descriptions Eisenhower Doctrine new look Coinages agonizing reappraisal atoms for peace bigger bang for a buck curl your hair domino theory engage in personalities [I shall] go to Korea massive ...
Page 8
... included are surrogates, a half-dozen VIPs Preparations for a campaign or less polit- ical trip are known as “advancing.” Mem- bers of the advance party usually move into who can speak for the candidate before, after, or instead of a ...
... included are surrogates, a half-dozen VIPs Preparations for a campaign or less polit- ical trip are known as “advancing.” Mem- bers of the advance party usually move into who can speak for the candidate before, after, or instead of a ...
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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