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
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Page 5
... ment, and DÉTENTE became popular in many liberal journals, and the SOFT ON COMMUNISM attack lost some of its appeal. use of what he termed “initialese.” He noted that time was saved by referring to the Commander in Chief, Far East, as ...
... ment, and DÉTENTE became popular in many liberal journals, and the SOFT ON COMMUNISM attack lost some of its appeal. use of what he termed “initialese.” He noted that time was saved by referring to the Commander in Chief, Far East, as ...
Page 8
... ment officials, and minute details of a visit, smoothing the way for a political figure. William McKinley.” See BANDWAGON . In the lingo of advance men, newsies (reporters plus wires, reels, and stills) and staffers make up the caravan ...
... ment officials, and minute details of a visit, smoothing the way for a political figure. William McKinley.” See BANDWAGON . In the lingo of advance men, newsies (reporters plus wires, reels, and stills) and staffers make up the caravan ...
Page 10
... ment of Admiral Lewis Strauss as Secretary of Commerce was a surprising defeat. In 1969, the Senate rejection of President Nixon's Supreme Court nominees, Clement Haynsworth and then G. Harrold Carswell, was widely interpreted as a ...
... ment of Admiral Lewis Strauss as Secretary of Commerce was a surprising defeat. In 1969, the Senate rejection of President Nixon's Supreme Court nominees, Clement Haynsworth and then G. Harrold Carswell, was widely interpreted as a ...
Page 20
... ment of no criminal record and a return to the native country by the head of the fam- ily before applying for permanent residency, in what they labeled “earned citizenship.” The strengthening of the border patrol and a construction of a ...
... ment of no criminal record and a return to the native country by the head of the fam- ily before applying for permanent residency, in what they labeled “earned citizenship.” The strengthening of the border patrol and a construction of a ...
Page 36
... ment and ducking service of subpoenas, requiring him to reside outside his district and country, ultimately followed by House exclusion. in urban areas who had voted for Eisenhower in 1952. The memo held that a vice presidential nominee ...
... ment and ducking service of subpoenas, requiring him to reside outside his district and country, ultimately followed by House exclusion. in urban areas who had voted for Eisenhower in 1952. The memo held that a vice presidential nominee ...
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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