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 84
Page xix
... thing voodoo economics wimp factor Bill Clinton's campaigns and two terms in office produced a fair share of phrases and neologisms: Coinages bubba factor Comeback Kid didn't inhale era of big government is over is is, meaning of New ...
... thing voodoo economics wimp factor Bill Clinton's campaigns and two terms in office produced a fair share of phrases and neologisms: Coinages bubba factor Comeback Kid didn't inhale era of big government is over is is, meaning of New ...
Page xx
... thing we have to fear is fear itself,” for example, is entered as nothing to fear but fear itself, and FDR's “a date which will live in infamy” is remembered as day of infamy. Euphemisms rate an entry by themselves, but clichés are ...
... thing we have to fear is fear itself,” for example, is entered as nothing to fear but fear itself, and FDR's “a date which will live in infamy” is remembered as day of infamy. Euphemisms rate an entry by themselves, but clichés are ...
Page 11
... thing again, and again, and again.” The crowd, remembering, roared its approval. The phrase continued to reverberate ... things to all.
... thing again, and again, and again.” The crowd, remembering, roared its approval. The phrase continued to reverberate ... things to all.
Page 14
... things to all men and all men including New Dealers and anti-New Dealers, Roosevelt friends and Roosevelt enemies, old friends and new ones, PendVice President Spiro Agnew, campaign- ing in 1970 to elect Republican congress- men ...
... things to all men and all men including New Dealers and anti-New Dealers, Roosevelt friends and Roosevelt enemies, old friends and new ones, PendVice President Spiro Agnew, campaign- ing in 1970 to elect Republican congress- men ...
Page 16
... thing that has been said in public life in my generation.” In the Korean conflict (it was never officially declared a “war”), General Douglas MacArthur, dismissed for insubordination by President Harry Truman, told a Senate ...
... thing that has been said in public life in my generation.” In the Korean conflict (it was never officially declared a “war”), General Douglas MacArthur, dismissed for insubordination by President Harry Truman, told a Senate ...
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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