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 33
... party leaders. tory of back-channel diplomacy is ... one of enemy intelligence agencies showing gullIn Great Britain's House of Commons, where this expression originated, a back- bencher is one who goes down the line in regular support ...
... party leaders. tory of back-channel diplomacy is ... one of enemy intelligence agencies showing gullIn Great Britain's House of Commons, where this expression originated, a back- bencher is one who goes down the line in regular support ...
Page 44
... party in the mid-1850s. for him to get out and fight hard. He also realized that it was up to him to prove that he could stand the physical and mental rigors of a political campaign.” A “Value Voters Barnstorm” helped Mike Huckabee to a ...
... party in the mid-1850s. for him to get out and fight hard. He also realized that it was up to him to prove that he could stand the physical and mental rigors of a political campaign.” A “Value Voters Barnstorm” helped Mike Huckabee to a ...
Page 53
... party: “I think we have to be a big-tent party.” The phrase is derived from the circus; the big tent has several arenas which can put on separate shows. The current synonym is the politics of inclusion. big wet kiss An ostentatious ...
... party: “I think we have to be a big-tent party.” The phrase is derived from the circus; the big tent has several arenas which can put on separate shows. The current synonym is the politics of inclusion. big wet kiss An ostentatious ...
Page 54
... Party leader; humorous or sardonic reference to the higher-ups. the word unpartisan) was hailed by most of the U.S. press for his new stand. At the The derivation is from the British law courts, where persons of importance (judges ...
... Party leader; humorous or sardonic reference to the higher-ups. the word unpartisan) was hailed by most of the U.S. press for his new stand. At the The derivation is from the British law courts, where persons of importance (judges ...
Page 59
... party's opposition to slavery but argued that illiterate slaves were largely unaware of the party's stance. Thus, the party could not be responsible for unrest and violence among Negroes. Lincoln said that to dramatize their case ...
... party's opposition to slavery but argued that illiterate slaves were largely unaware of the party's stance. Thus, the party could not be responsible for unrest and violence among Negroes. Lincoln said that to dramatize their case ...
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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