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 73
Page xiv
... hatred” and that another writer had offered “evil”—reminiscent of Reagan's evil empire—which “Dubya,” by choosing to use it, made his own. Which brings us to—Prolegomenon xv Presidents and the Phrases of Their Eras The memories.
... hatred” and that another writer had offered “evil”—reminiscent of Reagan's evil empire—which “Dubya,” by choosing to use it, made his own. Which brings us to—Prolegomenon xv Presidents and the Phrases of Their Eras The memories.
Page 3
... writer to the Edmonton (Alberta) Journal in 1979 argued that “Abo- litionists are convinced that the evidence does not indicate that capital punishment serves as a deterrent or is otherwise use- ful but is, in fact, simply retribution ...
... writer to the Edmonton (Alberta) Journal in 1979 argued that “Abo- litionists are convinced that the evidence does not indicate that capital punishment serves as a deterrent or is otherwise use- ful but is, in fact, simply retribution ...
Page 5
... writer, Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne), in 1866: “My pollertics, like my religion, being of an exceedin' accomaccess See INFLUENCE PEDDLER . modatin' character. ...” See DOVES . accommodation Compromise; relaxation of ...
... writer, Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne), in 1866: “My pollertics, like my religion, being of an exceedin' accomaccess See INFLUENCE PEDDLER . modatin' character. ...” See DOVES . accommodation Compromise; relaxation of ...
Page 17
... writer Louis Lomax applied it to equality: “It is the segregationists who are wielding the iron pipes and unleashing the savage dogs ... if the law-abiding rather than the lawbreakers must cease and desist, then the American promise is ...
... writer Louis Lomax applied it to equality: “It is the segregationists who are wielding the iron pipes and unleashing the savage dogs ... if the law-abiding rather than the lawbreakers must cease and desist, then the American promise is ...
Page 23
... writer in 1907 defined politics as “the sys- tematic organization of hatreds.” Some- times politics organized against haters: At the 1950 convention of the Congress of Industrial Organizations held in Cleveland five years before the ...
... writer in 1907 defined politics as “the sys- tematic organization of hatreds.” Some- times politics organized against haters: At the 1950 convention of the Congress of Industrial Organizations held in Cleveland five years before the ...
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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