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 x
... peace. Effective political language is vivid in its self-mocking exaggeration. Gutfighters with an instinct for the jugular and hatchetmen adept at nut-cutting prowl the political jungle amid the howling of attack dogs and the shocking ...
... peace. Effective political language is vivid in its self-mocking exaggeration. Gutfighters with an instinct for the jugular and hatchetmen adept at nut-cutting prowl the political jungle amid the howling of attack dogs and the shocking ...
Page xv
... peace without victory, make the world safe for democracy, and self-determination [of nations]; he is often credited with war to end wars, a coinage of the historian-novelist H.G. Wells. The 1920s were not roaring when it came to ...
... peace without victory, make the world safe for democracy, and self-determination [of nations]; he is often credited with war to end wars, a coinage of the historian-novelist H.G. Wells. The 1920s were not roaring when it came to ...
Page xvi
... peace bigger bang for a buck curl your hair domino theory engage in personalities [I shall] go to Korea massive retaliation modern Republicanism open-skies proposal spirit of unleash Chiang Attacks bird dog ... kennel dog brinkmanship ...
... peace bigger bang for a buck curl your hair domino theory engage in personalities [I shall] go to Korea massive retaliation modern Republicanism open-skies proposal spirit of unleash Chiang Attacks bird dog ... kennel dog brinkmanship ...
Page 5
... peace is to come with healing in its wings, and come to stay.” (Wilson made a subtle allusion to a beautiful phrase ... PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE began to be talked of during the post-Stalin era, the terms accommodation, reconciliation ...
... peace is to come with healing in its wings, and come to stay.” (Wilson made a subtle allusion to a beautiful phrase ... PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE began to be talked of during the post-Stalin era, the terms accommodation, reconciliation ...
Page 6
... Peace Corps Headquarters here. These are acronyms for 'Memo on Marriage' and 'Policy on Pregnancy.' ” Some smiles have been caused inadvertently: During the Nixon Administration, top-secret stud- ies were labeled “National Security ...
... Peace Corps Headquarters here. These are acronyms for 'Memo on Marriage' and 'Policy on Pregnancy.' ” Some smiles have been caused inadvertently: During the Nixon Administration, top-secret stud- ies were labeled “National Security ...
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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