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 75
Page xii
... took the shape of economic slogans like “vote yourself a farm,” forty acres and a mule, “three acres and a cow,” full dinner pail, and not until a century later black power and the lexicon of civil rights. For diplomats, there is a ...
... took the shape of economic slogans like “vote yourself a farm,” forty acres and a mule, “three acres and a cow,” full dinner pail, and not until a century later black power and the lexicon of civil rights. For diplomats, there is a ...
Page xv
... took a stand at Armageddon, did not always speak softly but wielded a big stick, lambasted malefactors of great wealth, and coined or gave national currency to pussyfooting, weasel words, mollycoddle, muckraker, parlor pink, Square Deal ...
... took a stand at Armageddon, did not always speak softly but wielded a big stick, lambasted malefactors of great wealth, and coined or gave national currency to pussyfooting, weasel words, mollycoddle, muckraker, parlor pink, Square Deal ...
Page 6
... took over as National Security Adviser in the Carter Administra- tion, he wanted all vestiges of Kissingerese removed; accordingly, the word “Presiden- tial” was substituted for “National Security” in these memos, which became ...
... took over as National Security Adviser in the Carter Administra- tion, he wanted all vestiges of Kissingerese removed; accordingly, the word “Presiden- tial” was substituted for “National Security” in these memos, which became ...
Page 33
... took the Democratic nomi- nation away from older and more experi- enced figures in his party.” After the victory by congressional Democrats in 2006, the Kiplinger Letter reported: “Several new members of Congress will be more than ...
... took the Democratic nomi- nation away from older and more experi- enced figures in his party.” After the victory by congressional Democrats in 2006, the Kiplinger Letter reported: “Several new members of Congress will be more than ...
Page 35
... took the word from a usage earlier that summer of 1963 by economist Eliot Janeway, which he corroborated. He had been discussing the impact of automation on white and black workers, and pointed out that in any eco- nomic downturn there ...
... took the word from a usage earlier that summer of 1963 by economist Eliot Janeway, which he corroborated. He had been discussing the impact of automation on white and black workers, and pointed out that in any eco- nomic downturn there ...
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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