OSI

More recently the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Special Investigations (OSI), which is responsible for prosecuting Nazis and collaborators alleged to have entered this country illegally, closed out an investigation of Poppe’s immigration to the United States without bringing any charges against him. This action was taken in part because the OSI determined that Poppe had disclosed his relationship with the SS to U.S. intelligence prior to his immigration, thus making it highly unlikely that the OSI could successfully prosecute Poppe for illegal entry into the United States.

2014, Christopher Simpson, “nine”, in Mark Crispin Miller, editor, Blowback: America’s Recruitment of Nazis and Its Destructive Impact on Our Domestic and Foreign Policy, New York: Open Road Media, published 1988, →ISBN, page 85:

Office of Special Investigations
w:Office of Special Investigations

(US politics) Initialism of Office of Special Investigations.


Republicrat

This hybrid voting behavior may be called "Republicrat", and obviously it must depress Republicanism in Southern congressional, state, and local politics.

1966, Allan P. Sindler, Political Parties in the United States, page 70:

(US politics, derogatory) A United States politician who is a member of one of the two major political parties (Democrat and Republican), but frequently votes with the other party.

We need to make people understand that decisions being made on local levels are often far more influential in our lives and probably the only real way — unless we're able to radically change the way our one-party Republicrat system works — to make change.

2001, Daniel Sinker, We Owe You Nothing: Punk Planet : the Collected Interviews, page 290:

Both wings of the ruling "Republicrat" Party try to outdo themselves in announcing new, ever more draconian measures to restrict, repress, restrain, and eliminate the poor.

2004, Howard Zinn, Anthony Arnove, Voices of a People's History of the United States, page 567:

Rather, we have a single Republicrat party of greedy, self-serving, amoral, power-driven professional politicians...

2005, Holliston Perni, A Heritage of Hypocrisy: Why 'They' Hate Us, page 4:

(US politics, derogatory, attributive) The two-party system, characterized as a single organization that excludes the participation and views of third parties.


yellow dog

Carolina dogs were called yellow dogs because many had yellow coats. The fact that many mongrel dogs also had yellow coats lead to the term's application to any worthless item or person. For the etymology of the term Yellow Dog Democrat, see that entry.

What led Rick Perry to pronounce the Yellow Dogs dead?

2011, William Earl Maxwell, Ernest Crain, Adolfo Santos, Texas Politics Today: 2011-2012 Edition, page 125:

Yellow Dog Democrat
Yellow Dog Democrat#English

(US politics, uncommon) Short for Yellow Dog Democrat.

Yellow Dog

Carolina dog; Yellow Dog Democrat; especially the senses and


Rovian

en-adj

Rovian (comparative more Rovian, superlative most Rovian)

more Rovian (comparative)
most Rovian (superlative)

There is something called a “Rovian” style of campaigning, and it's meant as an insult. President Barack Obama said many times during the campaign that he wanted to end “the Karl Rove era of politics.”

2010, Karl Rove, Courage and Consequence […] , Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 64:

The misdeeds were many, and he was known by all who knew him to be a ridiculous man, but this new plan was too much, was Caligulian, Roveian, and she had no obligation to cooperate.

2016, Dave Eggers, Heroes of the Frontier, Penguin UK, →ISBN:

Of or pertaining to the political theory that a lie told often enough will be accepted as the truth, and that the truth is no longer relevant to democratic politics.


Solid South

(US politics, historical) The electoral support of the Southern United States for Democratic Party candidates for nearly a century from 1877, the end of the Reconstruction, to 1964.


favorite son

(US politics) A male candidate chosen by a state delegation for an initial ballot, in the knowledge that other delegations will not prefer this candidate, for the purpose of negotiation.


convention bump

en-noun

convention bump (plural convention bumps)

(US politics) The rise in support (as shown in polls) a presidential candidate receives after the national party nominating convention.


Election Day

Voters returned nearly 64 million mail-in ballots before Election Day, a pandemic-driven record that is certain to make for a more complicated vote count this year but could also reshape American elections for years to come.

2020 November 3, Stephanie Saul, Danny Hakim, “As Counting Begins, a Flood of Mail Ballots Complicates Vote Tallies”, in New York Times:

(US politics, specifically) The day on which general elections are held in the United States, usually the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.


Obamanomics

Blend of Obama + economics, equivalent to Obama + -nomics. See Related terms below.

(US politics, economics, neologism) The economic policies of Barack Obama.


Nixonomics

Blend of Nixon + economics, equivalent to Nixon + -nomics. Coined in a speech of the same title by Walter Heller in October 1969. This is believed to be the first such term coined by blending a president's surname with the word "economics." http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEEDB153AF932A35752C1A964958260 Similar blends have been used to describe the economic policies of all subsequent US presidents, though Fordonomics is rare.

Senators William Proxmire and Hubert Humphrey, among others, hinted that the new Nixonomics may be due for some design changes when it reaches the Senate.

1971 September 6, “Nixon's Freeze and the Mood of Labor”, in Time Magazine, archived from the original on 2008-12-21:

(US politics) The economic policies of the Richard Nixon administration, 1969-1974.


Clintonomics

Blend of Clinton + economics, equivalent to Clinton + -nomics.

But I am not yet persuaded that Clintonomics will make much of a dent in the persistent problems of unemployment in the U.S. economy.

1992 December 6, David M. Gordon, “Clinton May Fall Short on Easing Unemployment”, in Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 2013-06-30, page D2:

(US politics) The economic policies associated with the administration of William Jefferson Clinton, 1993–2001.


Carternomics

Blend of Carter + economics, equivalent to Carter + -nomics.

Carternomics stimulates the economy to reduce unemployment and help the "old" poor, while it causes runaway inflation that creates legions of the new poor.

1978 June 1, William Safire, “The New Poor”, in The New York Times:

Mr. Bush's return to Carternomics killed the Reagan boom, resulting in higher unemployment, lower incomes and higher deficits.

1993 October 31, “Taxing the patience in Jersey election”, in The Washington Times:

(US politics, often derogatory) Economic policies associated with the administration of Jimmy Carter, 1977–1981.


McCainiac

And, as Bush learned painfully, there are plenty of McCainiacs in pivotal Michigan.

2000 March 2, “After Primaries, Focus Turns to the Vice Presidential Slot”, in Philadelphia Inquirer, page A1:

The McCainiacs are warning John McCain's conservative opponents that unless they stop criticizing their candidate immediately, he'll never recover in time for the general election.

2008 February 18, David Limbaugh, “Grassroots hurdle?”, in Washington Times:

(US politics, informal) An ardent follower or supporter of John McCain in his campaigns for the presidency in 2000 and 2008.


Bushonomics

Blend of Bush + economics, equivalent to Bush + -o- + -nomics.

Ross Perot's advisers suggest he may push a much bolder plan, investing hundreds of billions in infrastructure; but until he delivers, Clinton clearly occupies the high ground against Bushonomics.

1992 July 8, David Gergen, “Democrats' 'Comeback Kid' Revels in Latest Returns”, in Rocky Mountain News:

(US politics) The economic policies associated with the presidency of George Herbert Walker Bush, 1989–1993.

According to the Democratic nominee, Bushonomics would "squander" the surplus.

2000 August 18, Richard S. Dunham, “Battlin' Al Comes Out Swinging”, in Business Week:

(US politics) The economic policies associated with the presidency of George W. Bush, 2001–2009.


fusionism

But it means being open to the possibility that the old fusionism, battered and bruised as it is, may still hold as much promise for the advancement of libertarian policy goals as "liberaltarianism" ever will.

2009 February 13, Ross Douthat, “The Future of Liberaltarianism (II)”, in The Atlantic:

(chiefly US politics) A political philosophy advocating fusion of traditionalist social conservatism with right-libertarianism.


spinmeister

From spin (“favourable comment or interpretation intended to bias opinion on an otherwise unpleasant situation”) + -meister.

affix

Republican spinmeisters were quick to offer their opinions last week on Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess' decision not to challenge Portsmouth lawyer Paul McEachern for the Democratic nomination for governor.

1988, Laura A. Kiernan, “...And Then There Was One”, in The Boston Globe:

The reporting on Al Gore’s selection of Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman to be his running mate illustrates yet again the willingness of America’s dominant liberal media to accept without question the tales woven by Democratic spinmeisters.

2000 August 9, James Young, “The ‘conscience’ of the Senate”, in Potomac News, volume 41, number 320, Woodbridge, Va., page A6:

(US politics, slang) A media liaison or spokesperson, charged with presenting the spin for their political side.


overvote

An overvote that took the form of punching Gore's chad and then writing his name (or Lieberman's) in the place for a write-in candidate would unambiguously manifest the voter's intention to vote for Gore.

2001, Richard A. Posner, Breaking the Deadlock, →ISBN, page 78:

(US politics) A case in which a voter has marked a ballot for more choices than allowed by the rules


overvote

en-verb

overvote (third-person singular simple present overvotes, present participle overvoting, simple past and past participle overvoted)

overvotes (present singular third-person)
overvoting (participle present)
overvoted (participle past)
overvoted (past)

[…] a poll worker can manually override the program and accept the ballot, even though it has been overvoted or undervoted.

2005, United States Government Accountability Office, Elections, →ISBN, page 10:

(US politics) To spoil a ballot by marking it for more choices than allowed by the rules


New Democrat

(US politics) A member of the New Democrats centrist faction of the American Democratic Party.


Obamamania

Obamamania sweeps the nation as millions of voters find themselves deeply impressed by Obama's views, and the fact that he was on Oprah.

2007, Dave Barry, Dave Barry's History of the Millennium (So Far), G. P. Putnam's Sons, →ISBN, page 197:

(US politics, neologism) Fervent admiration of Barack Obama.


midnight regulation

en-noun

midnight regulation (plural midnight regulations)

(US politics) A law introduced by an outgoing administration in the period between the election and inauguration of the new president.


Liebercrat

Blend of Lieberman + Democrat, from Joseph Lieberman, a US Senator from Connecticut who left the Democratic Party after being defeated in the party primary in 2006.

JMS, you really need to figure out who you support. I seem to recall you giving a thumbs-up to McCain, but you now seem to come across as a Liebercrat - a decent person who has been corrupted by Clinton/Gore.

2000 December 18, Sean Ormond, “Re: OK, I'm expecting an announcement about the formation of”, in rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated (Usenet):

As result, Mr. Lambert is being called a "Liebercrat" after Sen. Joe Lieberman, of Connecticut, who won re-election as an independent after losing in the 2006 Democratic primary to Ned Lamont.

2007 March 21, Seth McLaughlin, “Virginia Democrat faces blog ire for Allen support”, in Washington Times, archived from the original on 2010-07-02:

The protesters referred to Amann as an "arrogant Liebercrat," noting that he voted against civil unions and calling him a DINO, a "Democrat in name only."

2008 January 31, Frank Juliano, “Amann officially wants to be governor”, in Connecticut Post:

(US politics slang) A Democrat whose politics resemble those of Joseph Lieberman; in recent use, often specifically a Democrat who acts like a Republican


Great Depression

For the first time since the Great Depression, median family income has fallen substantially over an entire decade. Income grew slowly through most of the last decade, except at the top of the distribution, before falling sharply when the financial crisis began.

2012 October 24, David Leonhardt, “Standard of Living Is in the Shadows as Election Issue”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(economics, business, finance, historical) A major economic collapse characterized by mass unemployment and limited business activity that lasted from 1929 to 1940 in the US and a similar period in many other countries.


DLC

The DLC also proclaimed its desire to move the Democratic Party closer to Republican positions on questions of social policy and moral traditionalism.

2022, Gary Gerstle, chapter 4, in The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order […] , New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, Part II. The Neoliberal Order, 1970–2020:

Democratic Leadership Council
w:Democratic Leadership Council

(US politics, historical, 1985–2011) Initialism of Democratic Leadership Council.


kongresman

pl-noun

kongresman m pers (female equivalent kongresmanka)

kongresmanka (feminine)
kongresman (nominative singular)
kongresmani (nominative plural)
kongresmany (derogatory nominative plural)
kongresmana (genitive singular)
kongresmanów (genitive plural)
kongresmanowi (dative singular)
kongresmanom (dative plural)
kongresmana (accusative singular)
kongresmanów (accusative plural)
kongresmanem (instrumental singular)
kongresmanami (instrumental plural)
kongresmanie (locative singular)
kongresmanach (locative plural)
kongresmanie (singular vocative)
kongresmani (plural vocative)

(government, US politics) congressman (member of the House of Representatives)


dominionism

A tendency among some conservative Christians, especially in the USA, to seek influence or control over secular civil government through political action.


Bushist

A supporter of George W. Bush, or advocate of his policies.


birther

From birth + -er (agent noun suffix) or + -er (“supporter”).

I confess I do have some sympathy for the "birthers," though. As an outsider, it's hard to distinguish between the zany arguments that get official approval by the conservative establishment --- things like Bill Ayers, Michelle Obama's infamous "whitey" tape, the claim that Obama is a closet Marxist --- and those arguments that are considered beyond the pale.

2008 December 8, Jay Bookman, “Shut up about the birth certificate”, in Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Senator Dick Durbin has suggested that the birthers and the health care protesters are one and the same; we don’t know how many of the protesters are birthers, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it’s a substantial fraction.

2009 August 7, Paul Krugman, “The Town Hall Mob”, in New York Times:

Earlier this month, columnist and birther Frank Gaffney, Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., the ranking Republican on the Intelligence Committee, and others held a news conference on Capitol Hill to release a report on Muslim religious law entitled "Shariah: The Threat to America."

2010 September 29, Mark Benjamin, “What Islamophobia really threatens”, in Salon:

(slang, derogatory, US politics) A believer in the conspiracy theory that Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States (2009–2017), is not a natural-born US citizen, and was therefore ineligible for the presidency under the United States Constitution (Article II, Section 1).

«рожде́нец»

(slang, derogatory, US politics) A believer in the conspiracy theory that Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States (2009-2017), was not born in that country, and therefore ineligible for presidency due to national law

[see title]

2020 August 13, Franco Ordoñez, “Trump and His Campaign Amplify Birther Conspiracy Against Kamala Harris”, in NPR:

On Thursday, he started floating a new birther lie about Sen. Kamala Harris, who, if elected, would be the first Black and Asian American vice president.

2020 August 13, Daniel Dale, Holmes Lybrand, Tara Subramaniam, CNN:

(slang, derogatory, US politics) More generally, anyone who questions the eligibility of a candidate for office based on their citizenship status.


birther

en-verb

birther (third-person singular simple present birthers, present participle birthering, simple past and past participle birthered)

birthers (present singular third-person)
birthering (participle present)
birthered (participle past)
birthered (past)

2020, Andrew Solender, “'He Wasn't Born Here': Trump Birthers Biden Near Scranton Ahead Of DNC Acceptance Speech”, in Forbes:

(slang, derogatory, US politics) To question the eligibility of a candidate for office or the location of one's birth.


kongresmen

pl-noun

kongresmen m pers (female equivalent kongresmenka)

kongresmenka (feminine)
kongresmen (nominative singular)
kongresmeni (nominative plural)
kongresmeny (derogatory nominative plural)
kongresmena (genitive singular)
kongresmenów (genitive plural)
kongresmenowi (dative singular)
kongresmenom (dative plural)
kongresmena (accusative singular)
kongresmenów (accusative plural)
kongresmenem (instrumental singular)
kongresmenami (instrumental plural)
kongresmenie (locative singular)
kongresmenach (locative plural)
kongresmenie (singular vocative)
kongresmeni (plural vocative)

(government, US politics) Alternative spelling of kongresman


act of Congress

en-noun

act of Congress (plural acts of Congress)

From the literal sense of act (“legislation”) enacted by US Congress.

(literally, US politics) A statute enacted by the United States Congress.


political machine

political machine (plural political machines)

They had no authority beyond that; for the inspection of meat to be sold in the city and state the whole force in Packingtown consisted of three henchmen of the local political machine!

1905 April–October, Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1906 February 26, →OCLC:

You have my word for it, sir. And the reason for it is that this hideous traffic is one of the main cogs in our political machine. The pimps and the panders, the cadets and maquereaux… they vote the ticket of the organization; they contribute to the campaign funds; they serve as colonizers and repeaters at the polls.

After all the discussion of the Kerner commission's report on urban problems, I've yet to hear a word concerning the consistency with which the ghetto population votes for the political machine that has abused it for so many years.

1968 March 30, Joseph A. Shea, “Letters to the Editor: Ghetto Vote for Political Machine”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

But the data was not forthcoming. It was hidden, which ended up serving the interests of the lobby group that dumped more than $2m into Cuomo’s political machine. That machine is now being deployed to vilify Kim, Biaggi and other Democrats who dare to demand answers about their constituents who were killed by Covid.

2021 February 18, David Sirota, “Cuomo-gate: a Nixonian scandal is engulfing New York”, in The Guardian, retrieved 2021-12-14:

(US politics, chiefly historical) A local political organization or individual politician that controls a large number of personal votes and can therefore exert political influence, and is therefore often viewed as scandalous.


antibusing

en-adj

antibusing (comparative more antibusing, superlative most antibusing)

more antibusing (comparative)
most antibusing (superlative)

In years following, local schools were shaken by angry antibusing protests.

1990 April 6, Ben Joravsky, “The next hot neighborhood is . . . the southwest side?”, in Chicago Reader:

(US politics) Opposing the use of busing to achieve racial integration in schools.


Blue Dog

Various, including the presence of the "Blue Dog" paintings of Louisiana artist George Rodrigue in the offices of Louisiana representatives where early meetings were held.

(US politics) A member of the Blue Dog Coalition, founded in 1994, of conservative and moderate members of the Democratic Party.


Talibaptist

Blend of Taliban + Baptist, from the hardline tactics of the former group and the traditionalism of the latter.

(slang, derogatory, chiefly US) A fundamentalist Christian.


Reaganesque

Reaganesque (comparative more Reaganesque, superlative most Reaganesque)

more Reaganesque (comparative)
most Reaganesque (superlative)

The problem with those who denounce Reaganesque Big Tentism is twofold.

2010 February 25, Mark A. Isaacson, “Beck, Party of One”, in The Harvard Crimson:

Reminiscent of Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911–2004), 40th president of the United States (1981–1989) and 33rd governor of California (1967–1975), or his policies.


elektor

pl-noun

elektor m pers (related adjective elektorski)

elektorski (adjective)
elektor (nominative singular)
elektorzy (nominative plural)
elektory (derogatory nominative plural)
elektora (genitive singular)
elektorów (genitive plural)
elektorowi (dative singular)
elektorom (dative plural)
elektora (accusative singular)
elektorów (accusative plural)
elektorem (instrumental singular)
elektorami (instrumental plural)
elektorze (locative singular)
elektorach (locative plural)
elektorze (singular vocative)
elektorzy (plural vocative)

Learned borrowing from Latin ēlēctor. First attested in 1564.

ref

Maria Renata Mayenowa, Stanisław Rospond, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Hrabec, Władysław Kuraszkiewicz (2010-2023) “elektor”, in Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish]

(politics) elector (member of an electoral college)

(US politics) elector (official selected by a state as a member of the Electoral College to elect the president and vice president of the United States)


Teabagistan

(US politics, slang) An idealized, rural, conservative version of America, as recalled by Tea Party members.


paleoconservative

From paleo- + conservative, by analogy with neoconservative.

Coordinate term: neoconservative

In fact, the neoconservative Moynihan running in New York against the paleoconservative James Buckley was able to position himself as the proper heir to a New Deal liberal tradition that Moynihan had been vigorously criticizing for almost a decade.

1979 February 13, “The Neocons”, in Esquire:

If they are fraying now, it is at least in part due to the prevalence of demagogues who wish to claim that there is only one path to virtuous American-ness: paleoconservatives like Jesse Helms and Pat Robertson who think this country has one single ethic, […].

1992, Robert Hughes, “The Fraying of America”, in Time, archived from the original on 2010-01-03:

As noted earlier, immigration was the issue that sent the open border Right on a search-and-destroy mission against paleoconservatives.

1999, Joseph Scotchie, The Paleoconservatives, page 11:

(US politics) A political conservative who espouses paleoconservatism, opposing mass immigration, embracing states' rights and supporting cultural conservatism and social structures perceived to be traditional.


paleoconservative

en-adj

paleoconservative (comparative more paleoconservative, superlative most paleoconservative)

more paleoconservative (comparative)
most paleoconservative (superlative)

The first of Bannon's ten documentary film pamphlets, In the Face of Evil (2014), still followed a rather classic neoconservative narrative, albeit with a paleoconservative touch.

2019, Jonas Staal, Propaganda Art in the 21st Century, MIT Press, →ISBN, page 101:

In 2013, for instance, Pat Buchanan, a leading voice on the “paleoconservative” traditionalist right, described Putin as “one of us,” an ally in what he saw as the defining struggle of our era,[…]

2022 March 4, Thomas Zimmer, “America’s culture war is spilling into actual war-war”, in The Guardian:

(US politics) Holding views associated with paleoconservatism.

paleokonservativ

holding the views associated with paleoconservatism


奧巴馬

/ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ou̯³³ paː⁵⁵ maː¹³/

/ˀɑʊ̯⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ou̯³³ paː⁵⁵ maː¹³/

From English Obama, from Luo obam (“to lean or bend”).

The historic election of the US’s first black president, Barack Obama, marked an epoch in the history of American democracy.

2008: 周琪 (Zhou Qi), 【美国大选观察】奥巴马为什么大胜？ ([Observations on the American Elections] Why did Obama have a great victory?)

Měiguó zhōngyú chǎnshēng le lìshǐ shàng dì yī wèi hēirén zǒngtǒng Bālākè Àobāmǎ, zhè duìyú měiguó de mínzhǔ zhèngzhì jùyǒu huàshídài de yìyì.

美國終於產生了歷史上第一位黑人總統巴拉克·奧巴馬，這對於美國的民主政治具有劃時代的意義。

美国终于产生了历史上第一位黑人总统巴拉克·奥巴马，这对于美国的民主政治具有划时代的意义。

(Mainland China, Hong Kong) A transliteration of the English surname Obama


Moral Majority

Coined by conservative activist Paul Weyrich in 1979 and later popularized by televangelist Jerry Falwell.

(US politics) A faction of the US Republican Party whose policies include conservatism on social and personal matters, infusing religion into the American political process.


Goldwater Republican

en-noun

Goldwater Republican (plural Goldwater Republicans)

Dating from 1964 in the United States, the year Barry Goldwater tried unsuccessfully for the office of president.

For months he insisted that he did not want the nomination, would not seek it, and would only reluctantly accept a genuine draft. Despite Scranton's repeated statements, it was behind him that anti-Goldwater Republican leaders late last week tried to rally—and Scranton showed signs of acquiescence.

1964 July 12, “Republicans: The Man on the Bandwagon”, in Time:

"A lot of people who think of themselves as Goldwater Republicans do not know what it really means to be a Goldwater Republican," said Tom Paniccia, a former Air Force sergeant who was discharged from the military last year after he had proclaimed his homosexuality. "He has always had a near libertarian stance on keeping government out of people's lives."

1994 March 24, Timothy Egan, quoting Tom Paniccia, “Goldwater Defending Clinton; Conservatives Feeling Faint”, in The New York Times:

(US politics) A member of the Republican Party whose policies resemble those of Barry Goldwater, including support for the smallest government possible at the federal level, free enterprise, fiscal conservatism, an internationalist, neoconservative, and anti-communist foreign policy, as well as social libertarianism.


Obamunism

Both are interesting choices as poster children for corporate American promoters of Obamunism.

2010, Chris Horner, Power Grab: How Obama's Green Policies Will Steal Your Freedom and Bankrupt America, page 142:

More recently, Patrick Michaels, a longtime critic of climate science and policy scholar at the Cato Institute, criticized plans for a cap and trade system to control greenhouse gases as “Obamunism.”

2010, Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway, Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming, page 253:

It's amusing to listen to the moonbats continue to blame Bush for everything wrong now in the second term of Obamunism.

2013, Jay Kennedy, "Bush admin. had nothing to do with 'fast & furious', look it up" (letter to the editor), The Laconia Daily Star (Laconia, NH), 14 May 2013, page 5

(neologism, derogatory) The economic or political policies of the Obama administration, viewed as socialism, communism, or government overreach.


ObamaCare

/oʊˈbɑ məˌkɛəɹ/

Blend of Obama (“Barack Obama”) + healthcare or Medicare and perhaps influenced by earlier HillaryCare.

blend

For some reason, Obama's senior economist, Austan Goolsbee, chooses not to believe this about Obamacare, possibly because he figures the private-but-regulated health-care plans in Obama's National Health Insurance Exchange would be more generous than Obama's public health-care plan.

2007 July 5, Timothy Noah, “Edwardscare: A Trojan Horse, in Slate Magazine”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name):

This is a trick. This is a trick that's going on here. This idea that, that whether it's HillaryCare, or ObamaCare, or EdwardsCare, that idea that it's not socialized medicine is a trick. It's a massive growth in government control of medicine.

2007 September 26, Rudy Giuliani, address to the New Jersey Republican Party (about 12 minutes 30 seconds in)

Those who designed ObamaCare were willing to sacrifice marriage for the sake of seeming to be “progressive and equitable,” even though social science research reveals a clear link between single motherhood and poverty.

2010, Richard McKenzie Neal, We the People: A Christian Nation, page 161:

This book will tell you what is right and wrong with Obamacare and will offer solutions to improve healthcare in our country so that it remains of high quality and sustainable financially in the future for all Americans.

2011, Tony Maglione, Obamacare: A Doctor's Guide to Saving Healthcare:

Of course ObamaCare is socialism. It has been designed along explicitly socialist lines[…]

2011, Kevin Williamson, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Socialism, page 237:

Tonight, for our main story, we’re going to look at Obamacare. Basically, the opposite of this photo which is more “Obama don’t give a fuck”!

2017 March 12, “American Health Care Act”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 4, episode 5, John Oliver (actor), via HBO:

(US, neologism, originally derogatory) Any of various healthcare plans seen as associated with Barack Obama before or during his tenure as U.S. President; especially, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590): a healthcare reform plan that was passed in 2010 and signed into law by him.


Obamacrat

(US politics) A Democratic supporter of Barack Obama.


1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

The street address of the White House in Washington, D.C., the official residence of the President of the United States.

(colloquial, metonymically) The current President and the closest members of his administration.


BHO

Barack Hussein Obama
w:Barack Hussein Obama


GWB

On the real, just to show proof, hit the GWB and blow the whole roof off the toll booth, bitch ass nigga!

2003, “Get It on the Floor”, in Kasseem Dean, Earl Simmons (lyrics), Grand Champ, performed by DMX, Ruff Ryders Entertainment:

George Washington Bridge
w:George Washington Bridge

(US, New York, New England, New Jersey) Initialism of George Washington Bridge.


teabagger

(neologism, often derogatory) An affiliate of the Tea Party movement, or a supporter of its protests and/or ideology.


War Democrat

United States of America
United States of America

(US politics, historical) A member of the Democratic Party of the United States of America who supported the prosecution of Confederates and sympathizers during the American Civil War.


Rockefeller Republican

en-noun

Rockefeller Republican (plural Rockefeller Republicans)

Named after the center-left Republican political positions of Nelson Rockefeller.

(US politics, dated) A moderate or liberal member of the Republican Party of the United States of America, especially one from the northeast of the USA.


Dixiecrat

A Dixiecrat is nothing but a Democrat in disguise.

1964 April 3, Malcolm X, The Ballot or the Bullet:

Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America

socially conservative
social conservative

(US politics, dated) A member of the Democratic Party of the United States of America from the southern States, especially one of the former territories of the Confederate States of America, who hold socially conservative viewpoints, and supports racial segregation and white power.

Throughout the controversy, most prominent southern leaders stayed within the Democratic Party. After the election, the Dixiecrat movement evaporated. The South's vocal dissent in 1948, however, forecast the sectional unrest of the following decades, weakened the region's loyalty to the Democratic Party, and prepared the way for future political realignment.

2014, James W. Ely Jr., Bradley G. Bond, The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, UNC Press Books, →ISBN, page 190:

States' Rights Democratic Party
States' Rights Democratic Party

(US politics, historical) A member of the short-lived States' Rights Democratic Party of the United States of America.


Trumpian

en-adj

Trumpian (comparative more Trumpian, superlative most Trumpian)

more Trumpian (comparative)
most Trumpian (superlative)

Good times … but then, a couple of weeks ago, Daffy was suddenly sputtering at us again. Such a magnificent Trumpian performance, such an unexpected gift, such bliss. The venue, of course, was “Page Six.”

2006 December 14, Kurt Andersen, “Because . . . Trump!”, in New York, volume 39, page 41:

Operating in a command climate of Trumpian instability, the most senior and public White House officials are party to profoundly destabilizing acts.

China is internationally much more accepted as being in the top league and is calling the shots … In Trumpian terms, he’s managed to make China look great again.

2017 October 14, Tom Phillips, quoting Steve Tsang, “Chairman Xi crushes dissent but poor believe he’s making China great”, in The Observer:

The made-up "bible verses" were of course in the form of Trumpian tweets.

2018, David Brody, Scott Lamb, The Faith of Donald J. Trump: A Spiritual Biography, →ISBN:

Beyond that, Schumer’s threat was Trumpian—a judge who displeases me will pay a price. His retraction was equally Trumpian: I didn’t threaten anyone. It would be okay if I had because in Brooklyn we threaten people all the time, but those aren’t threats, and anyway I would never, ever do what I just did.

2020, Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, Chuck Schumer Needs to Watch Himself, 6 March

Both, in true Trumpian fashion, refused to concede.

2022 August 24, Alex Shephard, “Two of the GOP’s Worst Ghouls Lost Their Primaries”, in The New Republic, retrieved 2022-08-24:

And he’s dismayed that Mr. Biden has resorted to what he sees as Trumpian tactics to shut down dissenting voices in his party.

2024 July 10, Cameron Joseph, Story Hinckley, “With no clear path forward, more Democrats affirm support for Biden”, in The Christian Science Monitor:

Resembling or pertaining to the philosophy, rhetoric, and style of Donald Trump, President of the United States from 2017 to 2021.

تِرَمْبِيٌّ

resembling or pertaining to the philosophy, rhetoric, and style of Donald Trump


Trump

en-proper noun

Trump (countable and uncountable, plural Trumps)

⇒ Translingual: donaldtrumpi

LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-trump.wav

The surname has two sources.
* English (Devon): an occupational name for a trumpeter, from Middle English trumpe (“trumpet”).
* German (Bavaria): from German Trump, possibly an occupational name for a drummer, from Middle High German trumbe (“drum”), although the alternative forms Trumpf, Drumpf cannot be derived from this (except by postulating them to be hypercorrections)
* The place in Baltimore county was named after settler Simeon Van Trump.

During their interview, Shahidi asked Clinton about the uncomfortable second presidential debate, during which Trump stalked her around the stage.

2017 December 3, Kayleigh Roberts, “Yara Shahidi Just Asked Hillary Clinton About That Very Uncomfortable Trump Debate”, in Harper's BAZAAR:

Donald Trump (b. 1946), a businessman, television personality and former president of the United States of America (2017-2021).

A ghost town in Park County, Colorado, United States.

Baltimore County
Baltimore County#English

An unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States.


Palinism

en-noun

Palinism (countable and uncountable, plural Palinisms)

Sarah Palin has stepped in with her peculiar style of speaking. There are literally thousands of sites catering to the insatiable appetite for Palinisms.

2008 November 13, “Thus spake Sarah Palin”, in Daily News and Analysis, India, retrieved 2010-08-20:

An entire book could be dedicated to 'Palinisms'—the gaffes made by the Republican vice-presidential candidate.

2008 December 22, Byrony Gordon, “2008 in celebrity train wrecks”, in telegraph.co.uk, retrieved 2010-08-20:

(countable) A statement or turn of phrase used by U.S. public figure Sarah Palin that is unintentionally comical due to malapropisms, dubious coherency, etc.


BOTUS

Marlon Bundo is not only the first Botus (Bunny of the United States), but may be the first rabbit to: a) ride in Air Force Two; b) hold an official Instagram account that documents his every bemused lollop across a seemingly endless collection of Persian rugs; and c) have an unofficial Twitter account that reveals a much harder edge.

2018 March 20, Sian Cain, “Vice-president Mike Pence disappears down the rabbit hole”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-09-04:

Bundo had gained fame as the BOTUS (Bunny of the United States), and his Instagram account has more than 32,000 followers.

2022 January 17, Bryan Pietsch, “Marlon Bundo, Pence family rabbit and unlikely gay rights figure, dies”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-01-17:

(US politics, humorous) Initialism of bunny of the United States; a tongue-in-cheek title bestowed on Marlon Bundo, a rabbit belonging to the family of Mike Pence.


minority leader

minority leader (plural minority leaders)

Jeffries, 52, will assume the role of minority leader when the new Congress is sworn in early next year, inheriting the position held for nearly two decades by Pelosi, a towering figure in Democratic politics who was the first female speaker.

2022 November 30, Lauren Gambino, “House Democrats elect Hakeem Jeffries as first Black leader in Congress”, in The Guardian:

House of Representatives
House of Representatives

(US politics) In each of the legislative chambers of the United States Congress—the United States Senate and the House of Representatives—the elected member selected by the members of the political party with the second-largest number of elected members, who serves as principal spokesperson for the members of that party in that chamber and who plays a leading role in creating policies and strategies governing his or her party's business in that chamber.


phonemark

en-verb

phonemark (third-person singular simple present phonemarks, present participle phonemarking, simple past and past participle phonemarked)

phonemarks (present singular third-person)
phonemarking (participle present)
phonemarked (participle past)
phonemarked (past)

Or worse, without earmarks the members of the spending committees can "phonemark" projects without anyone ever knowing

2008 June 11, “Deseret News candidate questionnaire:”, in Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah:

(US politics, transitive) To apply pressure on a government agency to fund a specific project as part of a more general program.


DINO

Modelled after RINO (“Republican in name only”).

Democratic Party
w:Democratic Party (United States)

(US politics, derogatory) Acronym of Democrat in name only. Typically used by liberal members of the U.S. Democratic Party to describe Democrats whose views are conservative or perceived as conservative.


Billary

(US, slang, sometimes derogatory) The political union of Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.


ΠΒ

Initialism of Πρόεδρος (Próedros) της (tis) Βουλής (Voulís).

(US politics) Speaker of the House of Representatives


SOTU

He intends to use the SOTU message as nothing more that another Hollywood stunt similar to the pep rally he had on the WH lawn after the impeachment vote.

1999 January 14, Al Shurgalla <keyp...@pacific.net.sg>, “Re: Will Congress Applaud At Clinton's State Of Union Address?”, in alt.conspiracy, alt.impeach.clinton, alt.politics.clinton (Usenet), message-ID <14>:

Bush won't be stressing those particular points as he hits the pre-SOTU stump circuit, but the "if it's good enough for 2006 it's good enough for now"

2003 January 10, “Person of the Week: George W. Bush”, in TIME:

Issue of civil discourse will "certainly play a role" in SOTU.

2011 January 13, “Gibbs Briefs”, in TIME:

(US politics) The annual State of the Union address of the President of the United States.


birtherism

/ˈbɝθɚˌɪz(ə)m/

But Obama's plunge into the fever swamp of birtherism was just the latest detour on what had already been a long, strange trip—with many miles still to go.

2013, John Heilemann, Mark Halperin, Double Down, →ISBN, page 12:

(slang, often derogatory, US politics) A movement in the United States of America that doubts or denies that the 44th President, Barack Obama, is a natural-born U.S. citizen, thus implying that he is ineligible to be President.

Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories


Nancy Reagan gaze

en-noun

Nancy Reagan gaze (plural Nancy Reagan gazes)

From the attentive look Nancy Reagan was noted for fixing on her husband, Ronald Reagan, U.S. President from 1981 to 1989, when he made public appearances.

Pat Nixon held the title for most stoic [Washington] wife until Maureen Dean gave an Oscar-winning performance during her husband's Watergate testimony, sitting primly behind him, blond hair pulled back, holding the Nancy Reagan gaze before there was a Nancy Reagan gaze.

1989, Margaret Carlson, "I'M Nobody, Who Are You?", Time, May 8, 1989, ISSN 0040-781X

Peter Chernin, the head Fox TV programmer, … will titularly replace Roth and serve as Murdoch's malleable functionary. He looks at his boss with a sort of adoring Nancy Reagan gaze.

1992, Laureen Hobbs, "The Industry & The Webs", Spy, December 1992/January 1993 p. 18 ISSN 0890-1759

Joan’s attention appeared to be wandering from her leader. Instead of fixing him with the requisite Nancy Reagan gaze, she kept sneaking glances out the window.

2011 February 12, Miriam Lord, “Hard to keep up the Nancy Reagan gaze when a rugby hero undresses”, in The Irish Times:

A transfixed look upon a person taken as showing absolute devotion or affection.


BMP

w:Best management practice for water pollution

(US politics) Initialism of Best Management Practice; management practices to prevent or reduce the pollution of waters in the USA and Canada.


Super Saturday

Coordinate term: Super Tuesday

(US politics) A Saturday on which a large number of U.S. states hold caucuses (elections) for the process of nominating presidential candidates.


Johnsonian

en-adj

Johnsonian (comparative more Johnsonian, superlative most Johnsonian)

more Johnsonian (comparative)
most Johnsonian (superlative)

/d͡ʒɒnˈsəʊnɪ.ən/

(US politics) Of or pertaining to Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973), American politician and president of the United States from 1963 to 1969.


politiquera

“I’ve been a politiquera for 20 years,” Ms. Espinoza said in an interview last week outside her trailer in the town of Pharr.

2008 May 13, Michael Luo, “A Usually Legal Practice That Wears Black Eyes”, in New York Times:

(US politics) One who is paid by an election campaign to issue fliers to householders and encourage them to go and vote for a particular candidate.


veepstakes

Blend of veep (“(informal) Vice President of the United States”) + sweepstakes (plural of sweepstake (“lottery in which the prize or prizes constitute all the money paid by the participants”)).

blend

The candidate for the challenging party was undergoing a veepstakes.

What America needs now is comedy—so hurray, we're getting ready to elect a Vice-President! Sure, we elect a Boss Man too, but it'll be the Veepstakes that'll provide the laughs.

1952 May 13, Earl Wilson, “It happened last night: Veepstakes provide laughs even in serious campaign”, in W. E. Christenson, editor, Evening World-Herald, number 222, Omaha, Neb.: World Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 25, column 3:

[Barbara] Mikulski, who is 47, is the least chic of the women mentioned in the veepstakes. Barely 4 feet 11 inches tall, she barrels through the halls of Congress like a small tank. Her facial expressions swing from a pugnacious frown to an impish grin.

1984 June, Kaye Northcott, “Campaign 84: Only a Heartbeat Away: Will the Next Vice President of the United States be a Woman?”, in Deirdre English, editor, Mother Jones, volume IX, number V, San Francisco, Calif.: Foundation for National Progress, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 40, columns 1–2:

If [Spiro] Agnew abandoned his inflammatory rhetoric during the 1972 campaign, he did not abandon his corrosive wit altogether. The more restrained Agnew twitted Sargent Shriver, the Democratic candidate in the Veepstakes, on his personal wealth.

1994, Gerald [Clifford] Gardner, “Campaign 1972: So I Made a Mistake”, in Campaign Comedy: Political Humor from Clinton to Kennedy (Humor in Life and Letters), Detroit, Mich.: Wayne State University Press, →ISBN, page 194:

He laughed again and we talked vividly, I recall, on the topic of how many people in Washington are obsessed with where they rank, how they’re perceived. It’s a particularly acute concern in television and politics—ratings, veepstakes, poll numbers, the kind of things that mean everything and nothing in Washington.

2008 June 15, Mark Leibovich, “Tiny town: Washington after a fall”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-06-01:

Mr. [Chuck] Todd, whose ubiquity as a running-mate handicapper at his network is akin to Mel Kiper Jr.’s as an N.F.L. draft expert on ESPN, said that all the time and energy devoted to the veepstakes these days is well spent.

2008 June 22, Mark Leibovich, “The great American float”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-11-26:

The above is worth remembering as the presidential race turns the corner into its most feverishly speculative, excessively breathless phase: the veepstakes.

2012 April 2, Frank Bruni, “And now, the veepstakes”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-06-17:

Harris’s choice will come down to “who can have the hard conversations”, a former Harris aide turned US senator said as the “veepstakes” neared their conclusion.

2024 August 3, Martin Pengelly, “Crunch time in ‘veepstakes’ as Kamala Harris prepares to choose running mate”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(US politics, slang, humorous) The process by which candidates for the Presidency of the United States choose a running mate to become the Vice President if elected.


HillaryCare

Blend of Hillary + healthcare, after Hillary Rodham Clinton, chair of the task-force that developed the plan.

(US politics, chiefly derisive) The Clinton health care plan of 1993.


deather

(US, derogatory) One who favours the rationing of healthcare in the United States (from the perspective of those who believed that US president Barack Obama's healthcare legislation would include rationing).


Tea Party

In reference to the Boston Tea Party of 1773, when American colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest taxation without representation.

Any of various independent, fiscally conservative political groups in the twenty-first-century United States.


Tea Party

Various independent, fiscally conservative political groups in the twenty-first-century United States, taken as a whole.


LGB

"[…]The congressman who had an alleged affair with a Chinese spy for several years and inexplicably still sits on the House Intelligence and Homeland Security Committees jumped to Twitter on Christmas Day to attack the Oregon father who delivered the LGB joke during the White House holiday call."

[2021 December 27, Proud Progressive, “Democrat Rep. Eric Swalwell Blasts Pathetic Dad Who Said Lets Go Brandon to Biden”, in comp.os.linux.advocacy (Usenet):

Got gas the other day and there were two LGB stickers on the gas pump.

2021 December 27, Frank, “Do you suppose anyone told the venal, senile what LGB means?”, in alt.home.repair (Usenet):

Unfortunately for Brown, the reaction was negative. Despite being a rising NASCAR star, he said it became “extremely difficult” to attract sponsors because major corporations saw his unintentional association with the LGB meme to be divisive.

2022 January 5, “NASCAR rejects ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ sponsorship”, in RT:

That represents a 99.5 percent decline over the last 30 days, leaving a singular LGB coin effectively worthless.

2022 February 13, Technobarbarian, “‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Crypto Coin Turns Into Total Dumpster Fire”, in rec.outdoors.rv-travel (Usenet):

The gift shop is rammed. [...] I'm slightly surprised to see an "LGB" clutch above the till, until I realise it stands for "Let’s Go Brandon", code for "Fuck Joe Biden"[.]

2024 March 15, Jemima Kelly, “How the least divided place in America feels about Trump's return”, in Financial Review, archived from the original on 2024-04-09:

let's go, Brandon
let's go, Brandon#English

(Internet slang, US politics) Initialism of let's go, Brandon.


Know-Nothingism

(historical) The doctrines, principles, or practices of the Know-Nothings.


Know-Nothing

Party members claimed to know nothing about the party when questioned.

The legacy of the Know-Nothings lived beyond its life as an organization. The seeds of bigotry, fear and hatred bore fruit again in the years after the Civil War.[…]
The First World War led to another outbreak of nativism. A new group, adopting the program of the Know-Nothings and the name of the Ku Klux Klan, came into being, denouncing everything its members disliked—Negroes, Catholics, Jews, evolutionists, religious liberals, internationalists, pacifists—in the name of true Americanism and of “Nordic superiority.”

1964, John F. Kennedy, “Immigration Policy”, in A Nation of Immigrants, Revised and Enlarged edition, Harper & Row, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 71:

(historical) A member of a secret antiforeigner political organization in the nineteenth-century United States.


Wilsonian

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Wilsonian.wav

(US politics) Of or relating to US politician Woodrow Wilson or his policies.


Dobbs

en-proper noun

Dobbs (countable and uncountable, plural Dobbses)

From a medieval diminutive form of the given name Robert + the patronymic suffix -s.

By overturning Roe v. Wade, Dobbs is sure to go down as one of the most consequential Supreme Court decisions, undoing a constitutional right that’s been in place for nearly half a century and delivering a decisive victory to the anti-abortion movement.

2022 June 24, “‘Abortion Is Just the Beginning’: Six Experts on the Decision Overturning Roe”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-07-01:

What makes Republicans and progressives come together? “It was honestly Dobbs,” Ms. Watson-Whittaker said. “The decision brought everybody together.” In Michigan, at least, that togetherness seems to have paid off for Democrats.

2022 November 19, Amy Littlefield, “Democrats Need to Realize How Much Dobbs Mattered”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-12-11:

Dobbs demolished a federal right to abortion, and its legality currently rests with each state. This has created a patchwork of laws that have made legislation designed to stop abortions less effective in some parts of the country.

2023 July 6, Sarah Boden, “A year after victory in Dobbs decision, anti-abortion activists still in fight mode”, in NPR, archived from the original on 2023-07-07:

“People who reported using more substances or having more mental health conditions were more likely to report a policy-related barrier to obtaining an abortion,” Roberts said. In the aftermath of Dobbs, she said, “There’s no reason to believe that things would have become easier.”

2023 October 26, Nada Hassanein, “Medical exceptions to abortion bans often exclude mental health conditions”, in USA Today, online edition:

w:en:Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

unenumerated right
unenumerated right#English

(US, law, US politics, informal, uncountable, neologism) Ellipsis of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling which stated that access to abortion was not a constitutionally protected right, overturning the earlier Roe ruling which established this unenumerated right.


wave the bloody shirt

en-verb

wave the bloody shirt (third-person singular simple present waves the bloody shirt, present participle waving the bloody shirt, simple past and past participle waved the bloody shirt)

waves the bloody shirt (present singular third-person)
waving the bloody shirt (participle present)
waved the bloody shirt (participle past)
waved the bloody shirt (past)

(US politics, slang) To mention martyrs and wars (especially the American Civil War) in an effort to draw empathy.


speak softly and carry a big stick

Popularized by and often attributed to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) as an expression of his view of foreign policy, possibly of earlier, West African origin according to his account, but with a probability of he himself having coined it. The full version is “speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”

There is a homely old adage which runs: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."

1903 April 3, Theodore Roosevelt, President Roosevelt's Speech on the Monroe Doctrine," Arizona Journal-Miner, p. 4 (retrieved 19 Dec 2011)

Under any governmental auspices, as the modern world knows governments, the keeping of the peace comes at its best under the precept, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."

1917, Thorstein Veblen, The Nature of Peace, Introductory:

When it comes to China, we have gone from "Speak softly and carry a big stick" to "Take the fifth and carry a toothpick". (from a Congressional speech by Rep. James Traficant, June 22, 1998)

1999 January 17, Tom Kuntz, “Word for Word/Representative James A. Traficant Jr.”, in New York Times, retrieved 2011-12-19:

Do not boast or utter verbal threats, but do make others aware that you are prepared to use physical or military force if necessary.

溫言在口，大棒在手

do not boast but do make others aware that you are prepared to use force

you get more with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone


Naderite

(US politics) A supporter of Ralph Nader (born 1934), American political activist.


RomneyCare

Blend of Romney (“Mitt Romney”) + healthcare or Medicare and likely influenced by the term ObamaCare. Although the 2006 Massachusetts Law signed by then-governor Mitt Romney predated the 2010 United States Federal Law signed by President Barack Obama, the term RomneyCare was not commonly used until after the term ObamaCare was in wide use.

blend

(US politics, neologism, chiefly derogatory) Healthcare plans instituted by the state of Massachusetts under the governorship of Mitt Romney, which provided for complete coverage of all citizens of the Commonwealth, and included an individual mandate to purchase health insurance for those able to pay.


Nader's raider

From the name of US lawyer, author, politician, and social activist Ralph Nader (born 1934).

Nader's Raiders struck again last week. This time their target was the Federal Food and Drug Administration, which they tore apart in what may well be the most devastating critique of a U.S. Government agency ever issued.

1970 April 20, “Agencies: Up Against the Wall, FDA!”, in Time:

[S]he was overshadowed by her intensely competitive siblings, especially her brother Bruce, a graduate of Harvard’s law and business schools who went from being a Nader’s Raider, a left-wing consumer advocate, to a Master of the Universe, a leveraged buyout billionaire.

2011 August 28, “Biography: Wendy’s secrets”, in Miami Herald, retrieved 2012-01-16:

(US politics) An associate or assistant of Ralph Nader and of organizations led by him, who participates in Nader's legal, political, and social activitism.


super PAC

Coined by reporter Eliza Newlin Carney in 2010.

coin

Court decisions have established that super PACs are supposed to act independently of a candidate, with no coordination permitted. But the indictment focused on the suspicious timing of hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to Mr. Menendez’s re-election campaign from a generous friend who allegedly sought government favors through the senator’s influence.

2015 April 13, “On the Trail of Super PAC Money”, in New York Times:

(US politics) A political action committee which may support a political candidate, and officially endorse one, but is legally bound to not coordinate with any candidate, and is not limited in financial contributions from donors or financial spending.

特別政治活動委員会

とくべつせいじかつどういいん


Ejaculation Proclamation

the Ejaculation Proclamation (canonical)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Ejaculation Proclamation.wav

Rhyme with Emancipation Proclamation, a proclamation issued by US President Abraham Lincoln.

And we now have a title to Clinton's speech to the nation last Monday night: The "Ejaculation Proclamation."

1998 August 19, basch, “An Look at the Speech”, in alt.rush-limbaugh (Usenet):

I accepted it as the 'momentary lapse of judgment' before posting a 'not appropriate' message to the newsgroup of a person who merely 'volunteered' to articulate a scenario that may have been on some Americans' minds in the hours following their watching of the Ejaculation Proclamation.

1998 August 19, Colin M. Alberts, “Hitler 1933”, in soc.history.what-if (Usenet):

This would be the Ejaculation Proclamation, eh?

1998 August 19, endPC, “My Fellow Americans”, in alt.fan.regular-guys (Usenet):

the curtain jet up later rather than sooner Monday fo' Slick's Ejaculation Proclamation.

1998 August 20, Bob Kemp, “Theatre of the Absurd”, in alt.personals.intercultural (Usenet):

Not sure what nation you're from or the nature of its legal system, but would you and your countrymen be concerned if serious allegations arose causing your leader of perjury, subornation of perjury and obstruction of justice? The great misperception is that it's about sex. Anyone who saw the "Ejaculation Proclamation" speech Monday night should know that's exactly what the Prez wants us to think -- it's between him, Hillary and his God. It's not.

1998 August 20, Scott Sprintz, “Embassy Bombs Retaliated”, in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.flight-sim (Usenet):

(humorous, uncommon) US President Bill Clinton's admission that he had had an "improper physical relationship" with Monica Lewinsky.

Abraham Lincoln
Emancipation Proclamation
Lewinsky scandal


homocon

(US politics, often derogatory) A gay conservative.


roughrider

noncommissioned officer
noncommissioned officer

(military, dated) A noncommissioned officer in the British cavalry whose duty is to assist the riding master.


hopium

Blend of hope + opium, as though it were a drug; likely modelled after copium; regarding the surface analysis as hope + -ium, see copium § Etymology.

Hopium can make you see potential in the grimmest set of circumstances.

2016, Tracy Schorn, Leave a Cheater, Gain a Life: The Chump Lady's Survival Guide, Hachette, →ISBN:

This way, we might avoid depression, panic, denial, and hopium for good or bad news, any of which renders us more unrealistic, unprepared, and unwell.

2020, Jack Adam Weber, Carolyn Baker, Climate Cure: Heal Yourself to Heal the Planet, Llewellyn Worldwide, →ISBN:

(colloquial, derogatory) A clinging to unreasonable or unfounded hopes.


spooky PAC

(US politics) A type of political action committee which does not have to reveal its donors' identities, and which does not limit the amount of contributions by donors.


англосакс

ru-noun+

англоса́кс • (anglosáks) m anim (genitive англоса́кса, nominative plural англоса́ксы, genitive plural англоса́ксов)

англоса́кс (canonical)
anglosáks (romanization)
англоса́кса (genitive)
англоса́ксы (nominative plural)
англоса́ксов (genitive plural)
англоса́кс (nominative singular)
англоса́ксы (nominative plural)
англоса́кса (genitive singular)
англоса́ксов (genitive plural)
англоса́ксу (dative singular)
англоса́ксам (dative plural)
англоса́кса (accusative singular)
англоса́ксов (accusative plural)
англоса́ксом (instrumental singular)
англоса́ксами (instrumental plural)
англоса́ксе (prepositional singular)
англоса́ксах (plural prepositional)

ru:Англосаксы
ru:Англосаксы (эвфемизм)

(politics, derogatory) English-speaking Western countries; especially the United States and Britain.


flag, motherhood and apple pie

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-flag, motherhood and apple pie.wav

(US politics) Something that cannot be questioned because it appeals to patriotism and widely-held American traditional values.


Obaman

en-adj

Obaman (comparative more Obaman, superlative most Obaman)

more Obaman (comparative)
most Obaman (superlative)

(US politics) Of or pertaining to Barack Obama or to his ideology or policies.


Whitewatergate

From Whitewater + -gate, influenced by the original Watergate scandal.

(informal) The Whitewater controversy, a US political scandal that began with the real-estate investments of Bill and Hillary Clinton and their associates in the Whitewater Development Corporation.


Obamatard

This collective mindset could be seen in the 2008 election, where it was discovered that trying to argue with Obamatards was futile.

2010 November 17, Dänk 666 [username], “Re: The Primary Aim Of Modern Warfare - George Orwell”, in alt.politics (Usenet):

(US, slang, derogatory) A supporter of Barack Obama.


Party of No

Coined in United States political commentary since 2008.

(neologism, derogatory, US politics) The Republican Party of the United States.


mugwumpery

(US politics, historical, slang) The acts and views of the mugwumps.


mugwumpism

en-noun

mugwumpism (countable and uncountable, plural mugwumpisms)

(US politics, slang) The acts and views of the mugwumps.


Hooverian

en-adj

Hooverian (comparative more Hooverian, superlative most Hooverian)

more Hooverian (comparative)
most Hooverian (superlative)

(economics) Of or relating to the politics or economics of Herbert Hoover.


blue wall

From blue + wall. From the representative color of the political party, and the solidity of support for that party in that region.

Mr. Martin says that Mr. Walz’s bio and skill set will make him an asset in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania – three “blue wall” states crucial to winning the presidential election.

2024 August 6, Cameron Joseph, “What Tim Walz brings to the table as Kamala Harris’ VP pick”, in The Christian Science Monitor:

(US politics) A group of states known for consistently voting Democratic in presidential elections from 1992 through 2012.

battleground state
battleground state#English

(US politics) The three battleground states that were dislodged from the 1992-2012 group in 2016: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin.


ALM

all lives matter
all lives matter#English

(US politics) Initialism of all lives matter.


silent majority

en-noun

silent majority (plural silent majorities)

Popularized in contemporary usage by U.S. President Richard Nixon in a speech on November 3, 1969.
The older sense for "the dead" was used in English since the 19th century, and further back in Latin by the Roman writer Petronius, who wrote abiit ad plures (“he has gone to the majority”) to describe the dead.

Nixon took the field against his critics in his Nov. 3 plea to "the silent majority'" for backing of his Viet Nam policy.

1969 November 21, “Nation: The Politics of Polarization”, in Time:

As for leadership, she applauds New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, whose stern law and order policies have won over the "black silent majority," she says.

1998 June 7, Judith Levine, "What Went Wrong on the Way to Integration" (book review of Someone Else's House by Tamar Jacoby), Businessweek (retrieved 13 Aug 2012)

He has argued, however, that the demonstrations do not represent the silent majority of Japanese (presumably including those in the heartland) who are too anxious about the economy to give up on nuclear energy.

2012 July 27, Hiroko Tabuchi, “In Conservative Japan Enclave, Antinuclear Candidate Gains Ground”, in New York Times, retrieved 2012-08-13:

Prior to 1968, the right had taken the view that ‘ordinary people’ were still inherently conservative, which you can see echoed today in the ‘silent majority’ rhetoric of modern establishment conservatives.

2017, Angela Nagle, chapter 3, in Kill All Normies, Zero Books, →ISBN:

President Trump believes he represents the “silent majority” of the country against a dangerous, radical minority. He says as much on Twitter, frequently yelling “SILENT MAJORITY” at his followers.

2020 July 24, Jamelle Bouie, “There Is a ‘Great Silent Majority.’ But It Stands Against Trump.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(chiefly US politics) The largest portion of a demographic group or of the population of a political jurisdiction, which is considered to possess political and social views that are not openly declared, but that can nevertheless significantly affect voting patterns and social behavior.


Biden

Ultimately from Old French bouton (“button”), metonymic surname for a button-maker, of Germanic origin. See button.

Heading into 2016 and 2020, if you told the hotshots from Obamaworld that you thought Biden would be a good candidate, they would uniformly offer a look of infinite patience, tolerance and condescension and say something like, “Well, I could understand how someone would think that.”

2021 March 20, Maureen Dowd, “Old Pol, New Tricks”, in The New York Times:

Joe Biden, 46th and current president of the United States (2021–present).


Clintonite

A political supporter of Bill Clinton or Hillary Clinton.


Clintonization

November 10, 2016, David French, "What Comes Next for Never Trump" in National Review Online https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/11/never-trump-movement-future-trump-presidency/
It's imperative that conservatives continue to resist the Clintonization of the GOP.

Adoption of the policies or attitudes of Bill Clinton's American presidency.


Roosevelt elk

Named after US president Theodore Roosevelt.

Cervus canadensis roosevelti, the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk in North America.


GOPer

(US politics) A member of the Republican Party.


balance the ticket

en-verb

balance the ticket (third-person singular simple present balances the ticket, present participle balancing the ticket, simple past and past participle balanced the ticket)

balances the ticket (present singular third-person)
balancing the ticket (participle present)
balanced the ticket (participle past)
balanced the ticket (past)

(US politics) To pick a vice-presidential candidate who represents a different constituency than the presidential candidate.


American Empire

The one thing that Noam Chomsky and Paul Wolfowitz might agree upon is the reality of an American Empire.

2005, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., “The American Empire? Not so Fast”, in World Policy Journal, volume 22, number 1, page 43:

The United States of America together with its allies, viewed as having the qualities characteristic of an empire.


Romnesia

Blend of Romney (“Mitt Romney”) + amnesia.

blend

When the Boston Globe asked Mitt about the incident in 1994, he provided a classic mind-numbing “Romnesia” evasion: “I don't have any memory of what she is referring to, although I certainly can't say it could not have been me.”

2011 November 22, Ronald B. Scott, Mitt Romney: An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics, Lyons Press, →ISBN:

In a typical display of what Kossack AlyoshaKaramazov calls "Romnesia," the all-but-official presidential nominee conveniently couldn't remember the incident in which, aided by some of his pals, he attacked a gay student at his prep school and, while others held the boy to ground, whacked off his non-conformist long hair because "he can’t look like that."

2012 May 11, Timothy Lange, “The bully's bully: Mitt Romney's consigliere Eric Fehrnstrom”, in Daily Kos, archived from the original on 2013-05-24:

The fact that Mitch Daniels apparently has forgotten we are at war in Afghanistan—even though he served in the White House when we began the war more than a decade ago—is a fitting tribute to the Romnesia that has infested the Republican Party.

2012 May 18, Jed Lewison, “Another dazzling display of Romnesia: Mitch Daniels says we're in 'peacetime'”, in Daily Kos, retrieved 2012-10-19:

If you say you’re for equal pay for equal work, but you keep refusing to say whether or not you’d sign a bill that protects equal pay for equal work — you might have Romnesia. If you say women should have access to contraceptive care, but you support legislation that would let your employer deny you contraceptive care — you might have a case of Romnesia. If you say you’ll protect a woman’s right to choose, but you stand up at a primary debate and said that you’d be delighted to sign a law outlying — outlawing that right to choose in all cases — man, you’ve definitely got Romnesia.

2012 October 19, Barack Obama, “Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event — Fairfax, VA”, in The White House, retrieved 2012-10-19:

This is more than Romnesia / Or any other Romney brainteaser. / This is cognitive dissonance.

2013 September 5, Timothy J. Callahan, Poet Against Israel, Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 418:

(US politics, of Mitt Romney) A propensity to claim to have forgotten, or act like one has forgotten, one's past deeds and political positions.


Obamaton

I loved it when the Obamatons started chanting "Yes we can yes we can yeswe can" in the middle of it as if it were some sort of religious ritual.

2008 November 5, Rabid Weasel Lawson [username], “Re: O'bamma gives acceptance speech”, in rec.martial-arts (Usenet):

Rather than following the MSM lead and merely parroting the Obamatons' talking points after the release of previously-classified memos this week, Thiessen actually examined the documents.

2009 August 27, Obama Nation Is An Abomination [username], “Re: America's Top 10 Enemies' List”, in alt.non.racisml (Usenet):

You just know the Obamatons will blame Bush.

2010 July 2, Frogwatch [username], “Lost hope, No Change”, in sci.military.naval (Usenet):

(US, slang, derogatory) A person who follows U.S. president Barack Obama blindly.


Electoral College

Each state's Electoral College submits its votes to the President of the Senate.

In later years Colonel Kent has been much in public life. He was an alternate delegate to the National Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and in 1864 a member of the New Hampshire Electoral College, voting for Lincoln and Johnson.

1898, Charles N. Kent, “Field and Staff of the Seventeenth”, in History of the Seventeenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, 1862-1863, Concord, N.H., →OCLC, page 44:

Oliver Wolcott, Jr., in summing up the election reports for his father at the end of November, pointed to the Rutledge faction as holding the presidency within its hands; the result would turn upon the balloting of the South Carolina electoral college, he stated, and Edward Rutledge was believed to command its decision. His reports from all over the Union indicated that Adams lacked but three votes for a majority. His fear was that Rutledge’s disgust with the Jay treaty would give the decision to Jefferson.

1957, Stephen G. Kurtz, The Presidency of John Adams: The Collapse of Federalism, 1795-1800, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, pages 171–172:

Although not now generally known, Guilford had a vital part in the presidential election of 1800, one of its citizens, John Noyes, being a member of the Vermont electoral college, which supported Thomas Jefferson, who was opposed by Aaron Burr, each receiving the same number of electoral votes.

1961, “Guilford, "The Metropolis"”, in Official History of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961 With Genealogies and Biographical Sketches, Town of Guilford, →OCLC, page 157:

(US politics) An electoral college chosen, within a state, to formally cast that state's votes for the president and vice president of the United States.

кале́гія вы́баршчыкаў

body chosen to elect the president and vice president of the US

In accordance with these opinions I believe that the ancient and outmoded Electoral College system should be abolished and that the people should vote directly in all the states for President and Vice President. The Electoral College was established in the beginning of our history for the same reasons which actuated our forefathers in providing that United States senators should be elected by the legislatures rather than by the people of the respective states.

1954, Alben W. Barkley, That Reminds Me, Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, →LCCN, →OCLC, →OL, page 276:

(US politics) All of the electoral colleges of the United States, considered as one body.


DOMA

Defense of Marriage Act
w:Defense of Marriage Act

(US politics) Acronym of Defense of Marriage Act.


teahadist

Figures a teahadist would define jingoism as love of country.

2011 August 1, Bill Baker, “Re: Haskell Breaks His Hand”, in alt.fan.rush-limbaugh (Usenet):

The anti-American teahadist screeches in outrage that Obama dares to cut taxes in order to help veterans.

2011 August 6, Ray Fischer, “Re: More Obama Spending Won’t Do It and Stocks Know It”, in alt.politics.liberalism (Usenet):

2011 September 20, REDRUM KILGORE [username], “Re: More Funny Stuff From The Obama White House? It's good to see President Obama finally giving up on any attempt at compromise with teahadists!”, in alt.fan.howard-stern (Usenet):

(neologism, derogatory) An affiliate of the Tea Party movement, particularly an overzealous one.


teatard

You teatard birthers are delightfully funny.

2010 November 24, JLS, “Re: Closing-in: Supremes Confer On No Birth Certificate Eligibility Crisis”, in alt.politics (Usenet):

As if we needed further evidence that the teatard "austerity" "plan" was a stupid idea.

2011 February 28, Neoconis_Ignoramus [username], “Teatard "plan" would cost 700,000 jobs, cut gdp growth”, in alt.fan.rush-limbaugh (Usenet):

You must be a teatard moping over FOUR MORE YEARS! <SNICKER!!!!!!!>

2012 November 28, ChasNemo [username], “Re: WATCH KARL ROVES HEAD EXPLOAD! I really, really enjoyed that! Thanks for sharing!! It would be great to see similar footage of other bloated heads exploding (Rush Limbaugh, etc.!!!”, in alt.radio.talk.dr-laura (Usenet):

(US, slang, derogatory) A supporter of the Tea Party movement.


ACU

American Conservative Union
w:American Conservative Union

(US politics) Initialism of American Conservative Union.


Sister Souljah moment

en-noun

Sister Souljah moment (plural Sister Souljah moments)

Referring to presidential candidate Bill Clinton publicly criticizing activist Sister Souljah for her statements about the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

The embodiment of the no-compromise style the public disdains, Bachmann seems congenitally incapable of such a move unless it's a reverse Sister Souljah moment, where she castigates her party for being insufficiently beholden to its base.

2011 October 19, Robert Schlesinger, “The GOP Needs to Escape the GOP”, in U.S. News & World Report, volume 3, number 33, page 18:

Determined to get that office, to get that house, he's shown not a single "Sister Souljah" moment, not a moment of independence from the people to whom he's sworn his allegiance.

2012 September 17, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Chris Matthews (actor), via MSNBC:

But this wasn't some sort of Sister Souljah moment, where Romney called out his fellow conservatives in order to curry favor with the center.

2012 October 6, Ross Douthat, “It Could Be His Party”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(US politics) A politician's public repudiation of extremism perceived to be allied or associated with them or their political party.

1992 Los Angeles riots
Bill Clinton
Sister Souljah


Berner

From Bernie + -er. Named after American politician Bernie Sanders.

named-after

Leaving City Hall with a smile, he mirrored the Berner’s excitement, but for Hillary. “She has the strongest record,” he said.

2016 June 6, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, “As SF ‘feels the Bern’ and touts #ImWithHer, turnout numbers strong”, in SF Examiner:

Nick Merrill, Clinton’s press secretary, issued this response on Twitter, citing the words of Mike Casca, Sanders’ deputy communications director and a “die-hard” Berner.

2016 October 1, Reena Flores, “Hillary Clinton comments on Bernie Sanders supporters in leaked recording”, in CBS News:

Some, like the Indivisible network that has spawned more than 5,000 chapters nationwide, have tapped into the same organizational formula the Berners did.

2017 April 11, Joe Garofoli, “Fueled by Trump resistance, Sanders’ influence grows with Dems”, in San Francisco Chronicle:

"We have almost enough Berners to hold the majority. It's real close," he said.

2017 July 21, Eric Bradner, Gregory Krieg, “Sanders' Iowa roots continue to bloom -- whether or not he runs in 2020”, in CNN:

(US politics) A supporter of Bernie Sanders.


Lewinsky

From a Slavic language, which added a patronymic suffix to the ultimately Hebrew root לוי (leví, “priest”), an occupational surname.


Grantism

From Grant + -ism, after US President Ulysses S. Grant. First used by Senator Charles Sumner in a speech in 1872.

(US politics, derogatory) corruption and cronyism in government

Charles Sumner
Grantism
Ulysses S. Grant


Prop H8

(derogatory, US politics) The Californian proposition which restricted marriage to one woman and one man.


pork barrel

As the President said in his veto message, "It should also come as no surprise that over time the program has attained distinct flavor of pork barrel."

1973 April 10, James T. Lynn, “Pork-Barrel Waste”, in The New York Times:

President Reagan used part of his State of the Union address to berate Congress for sending him catchall spending bills laden with pork barrel benefits for "cranberry research, blueberry research, the study of crawfish, and the commercialization of wild flowers."

1988 February 24, Tom Kenworthy, “Reagan Drops Bid to Cut Pork-Barrel Spending”, in The Washington Post:

Peacekeeping initiatives […] can dangle pork-barrel funding as an incentive to leaders who abide by the peace, enhancing their power and electoral popularity.

2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 380:

Similarly, earmarked, pork-barrel spending[…]is an invaluable tool for assembling bipartisan majorities for legislation because it helps members of Congress see the good a bill does for their constituents.

2019 August 25, Greg Weiner, “The Shallow Cynicism of ‘Everything Is Rigged’”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

With an election not much more than a year away, distributing HS2's money into roads is pork barrel politics. Or at least it would be if the money existed.

2023 November 29, Philip Haigh, “Comment: Can we save HS2 to Crewe?”, in RAIL, number 997, page 3:

(chiefly US politics, often attributively) State funds as assigned for local or regional expenditure; especially, central money used for regional projects which are eyecatching or designed to appeal to voters.


ARPA

American Rescue Plan Act
w:American Rescue Plan Act

(US politics) Acronym of American Rescue Plan Act.


Reaganian

en-adj

Reaganian (comparative more Reaganian, superlative most Reaganian)

more Reaganian (comparative)
most Reaganian (superlative)

Of or relating to Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911–2004), 40th president of the United States (1981–1989) and 33rd governor of California (1967–1975).


iron triangle

Over the years the defense industry has become a de facto participant in the policy-making process. As in other areas dominated by powerful corporate interests, a policy sub-government or “iron triangle” has emerged. […] The creation of an “iron triangle” takes time and active efforts of its participants. All three sides work to maintain it as economic circumstances change.

1981, Gordon Adams, The Iron Triangle: The Politics of Defense Contracting, New York: The Council on Economic Priorities, →ISBN, pages 24–25:

They see the raids as evidence that the “iron triangle” of bureaucrats, politicians and businessmen that in 50 years has turned Japan into the world's second-largest economy has broken down when there is nothing to replace it.

1996 December 7, Velisarios Kattoulas, International Herald Tribune, “Corruption Scandals Rack Tokyo's ‘Iron Triangle’”, in International Herald Tribune, →ISSN:

(US politics, political science) The policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy (executive, sometimes called “government agencies”), and interest groups or lobbyists.


Yellow Dog Democrat

en-noun

Yellow Dog Democrat (plural Yellow Dog Democrats)

From the claim that such Democrats would sooner vote for a yellow dog, if it ran on the Democratic ticket, than a Republican.

(US politics, dated) A Democrat, especially a Southern one, who votes a straight party ticket; one who invariably votes for Democratic candidates.


Broken Glass Republican

Broken Glass Republican (plural Broken Glass Republicans)

From the claim that such Republicans would crawl through broken glass in order to vote Republican.

(US politics, uncommon) A Republican who invariably votes for Republican candidates.


Bushbama

Blend of Bush + Obama, from surnames of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

(US politics, derogatory) George W. Bush and Barack Obama, seen as a continuation of the same political agenda.


Murder, Inc.

(US, slang, derogatory, US politics) The Central Intelligence Agency.


War on Women

(US, politics, US politics, derogatory) Political efforts and initiatives to reduce women's rights, especially their reproductive rights.


DGB

The vaguely defined roles and authorities of DGB have alarmed Americans, and many see the agency as the "Ministry of Truth" that George Orwell warned us about in his dystopian novel "1984."

2022 May 5, Helen Raleigh, “Biden's disinformation board is authoritarian and reminds me of my life in China”, in Fox News:

Disinformation Governance Board
w:Disinformation Governance Board

(US politics, historical) Initialism of Disinformation Governance Board.


K Street

From the alphabetic naming of streets when the road grid of Washington was laid down.
* (politics): After K Street in Washington, D.C.

As Scrutiny of Cryptocurrency Grows, the Industry Turns to K Street [title]

2021 May 9, Eric Lipton, “As Scrutiny of Cryptocurrency Grows, the Industry Turns to K Street”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(US politics, figurative) The people and firms that lobby the United States Congress.


pork up

en-verb

pork up (third-person singular simple present porks up, present participle porking up, simple past and past participle porked up)

porks up (present singular third-person)
porking up (participle present)
porked up (participle past)
porked up (past)

(idiomatic, US politics) To add spending, especially targeted spending, to legislation in order to get votes for it (see pork-barrel).


Pence

Americanized spelling of German Pentz or Benz.

(US politics) Used specifically of Mike Pence

A surname.
Used specifically of Mike Pence


建國

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kiːn³³ kʷɔːk̚³/

/kyoŋ²¹³⁻⁵³ ⁽ᵏ⁻⁾ŋuɔʔ²⁴/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ kɔk̚³²/

/kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔk̚⁵/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ kɔk̚³²/

/kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ kɔk̚³²/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ kɔk̚³²/

/kieŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ kok̚²/

/t͡ɕi³³ koʔ⁴⁴/

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯ɔ³⁵/

/kiːn³³ kʷɔːk̚³/

/kyoŋ²¹³⁻⁵³ ⁽ᵏ⁻⁾ŋuɔʔ²⁴/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ kɔk̚³²/

/kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ kɔk̚⁵/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ kɔk̚³²/

/kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ kɔk̚³²/

/kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ kɔk̚³²/

/kieŋ³⁵⁻¹¹ kok̚²/

/t͡ɕi³³ koʔ⁴⁴/

People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China

(chiefly Mainland China) the foundation of the People's Republic of China in 1949

(neologism, slang, humorous) Short for 川建國／川建国 (Chuān Jiànguó, “Donald Trump”).


Repub

(US politics, informal) Clipping of Republican.


Sexgate

(chiefly US) Any sex-related public scandal, especially the Monica Lewinsky scandal.


HRC

Gibbs saying that the reason HRC delayed releasing her sked was that she was “hiding” something, […]

2008 March 20, Ana Marie Cox, “Obama Conference Call”, in Times, retrieved 20150315:

Hillary Rodham Clinton
w:Hillary Clinton


dark money

In Colorado, at least $18 million in dark money was spent on behalf of Cory Gardner, the Republican newly elected to the Senate; $4 million was spent on behalf of Senator Mark Udall, the Democratic incumbent.

2014 November 8, “Dark Money Helped Win the Senate”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

The Senate budget committee held a hearing on Wednesday morning to scrutinize the role of oil- and gas-linked “dark money” in delaying climate action – and tearing through local and federal budgets.

2023 June 21, Dharna Noor, “Senate examines role of ‘dark money’ in delaying climate action”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(US politics) Funds used to pay for an election campaign that are not disclosed to voters prior to voting, whether spent on behalf of a candidate running in an election, or to influence voting on a ballot.


Dubyaphobia

A new disease of the nervous system is afflicting millions of voting-age Americans: Dubyaphobia.

2000 October 29, Jeff Cramer (quoting Michael Betzold of Common Dreams), “Dubyaphobia And It's Cure”, in alt.politics (Usenet):

If Dubyaphobia does not become widespread and cause Bush to be defeated in the upcoming presidential election, Hillary will be running against a republican nobody in the 2008 election year, and might actually win.

2003 September 17, GRaleigh345, “Re: True lies”, in alt.religion.mormon (Usenet):

The _Jewish Post_ webmonger didn't put a date on that piece that I can find, but it must have been published before Mr. Soros succumbed to acute dubyaphobia: there is no mention of his latest mental illness.

2004 May 20, John H. McCloskey, “Re: Why Soros Hates Bush”, in alt.current-events.clinton.whitewater (Usenet):

(informal) The fear or hatred of George W. Bush.


Loving

en-proper noun

Loving (countable and uncountable, plural Lovings)

(US, law, sexuality, US politics, informal, uncountable) Ellipsis of Loving v. Virginia. A 1967 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized interacial marriage under the Equal Protection and Due Process; and reaffirmed the existence of a right to privacy under due process following the 14th Amendment.


mainstreeting

When fog over the British Columbia interior caused the Liberal leader to abort a campaign trip last week and repair to a shopping mall in downtown Vancouver for some "mainstreeting" among the shoppers, John C. Turner stole the show.

1988 November 12, John F. Burns, “Reporter's Notebook: A Legend Campaigns In Canada”, in New York Times, retrieved 2014-05-22:

Practising in Northfield what his staff calls "mainstreeting"—pottering past shops talking to passers-by—he ducks into an artist's supply shop.

2008 June 19, David Usborne, “Al Franken's time: Can a comedian conquer the US senate?”, in The Independent, UK, retrieved 2014-05-22:

Horwath opted for mainstreeting rather than new policy announcements Tuesday. She visited a mall food court, where she glad-handed and chatted with patrons.

2014 May 13, Colin Perkel, “Horwath blasts Liberals on auto insurance”, in Hamilton Spectator, Canada, retrieved 2014-05-22:

(chiefly Canada and US, informal, of a politician or celebrity) Greeting and interacting with people in a public place.


America Firster

en-noun

America Firster (plural America Firsters)

(US politics) A supporter of any one of the "America First" isolationist movements or parties.


nuclear option

From analogy with the political decision to be the first to use nuclear weapons in a war.

So now that the Republicans have used the nuclear option to kill the poor filibuster to clear the way for the elevation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, we can lose perspective.

2017 April 5, Steven Waldman, “Learning to Love the Nuclear Option”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(US politics) A procedure by which the United States Senate can decide any issue with a simple majority, rather than the usual supermajority.


Obama phone

Coined during the Obama administration, which conservatives believed was giving minorities free Lifeline Program phones.

Here's Emmett's mother touting the virtues of her "Obama phone"

2012 September 29, [Tor] Sir Gregory Hall, Esq., “Emmett's "Obama phone"”, in alt.usenet.kooks (Usenet):

Outside / brown & broken teeth / gasp out brainless twaddle. / into their Obama phones.

2013, Steve De France, Because I Can’t Whistle, Xlibris, page 102:

“[…]. Get yourself one of those Obama phones, Romeo,”

2014, Darlene Pollock, Logan Pollock, Invasive Species, Part I, Trafford Publishing, page 31:

(US) A cellphone provided as part of the United States Lifeline Program.


AUMF

And that is why I intend to engage Congress about the existing Authorization to Use Military Force, or AUMF, to determine how we can continue to fight terrorism without keeping America on a perpetual wartime footing.

2013 May 23, Barack Obama, Remarks by the President at the National Defense University:

(US politics, military) Initialism of authorization for use of military force.


Irangate

With warships facing off in the Persian Gulf, the Irangate Follies smearing itself across the network airwaves and puppet Contra leaders laughing openly at Americans stupid enough to send them money, there is a good deal to be angry and concerned about.

1987 August 22, Tom Grabosky, “Who Hears an Orton?”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 6, page 7:


Retardican

They're keeping him under wraps so nobody has time to rig the polling machines. They'll pop him out two days ahead of the elections. The typical Retardican will hear just one thing: Reagan. They'll vote for him automatically and mindlessly, in the same way they react (negatively, as trained) to news about stem cell research.

2004 June 28, Doug Kanter, “Re: OT: Ron Reagan”, in rec.boats (Usenet):

All across the world, families came together and most people agreed, Retardican and Homocrat alike, it was a beautiful time to be alive on the planet Earth, wars or no wars, end or no end.

2006, Michael Soltys, The Grass is Green, page 244:

The Demoncrats versus the Retardicans. Nothing is more bizarre than the body swapping of the Democrats and Republicans.

2020, Steve Madison, What's Eating You? How the World Is Screwing You Up:

Republican Party
w:Republican Party (United States)

(US politics, slang, derogatory) A Republican (a member or supporter of the Republican Party of the United States), seen as having no intelligence.


Retardican

Did you notice how the real mouthpiece of the Retardican plutocrat fascists, Dr. Arm(tm) has nothing to contribute to this thread now that the discussion does not invove heavy breathing and name calling?

2000 December 28, Douglas King, “Oil Exploration.... more side chatter”, in alt.sailing.asa (Usenet):

Has anyone besides Drudge (and his followers) reported this story? I think you can file it with last month's Kerry-banged-an-intern story. Can't wait to see what you Retardican clowns come up with next.

2004 March 23, Plankton, “Re: The arrogance of Kerry”, in alt.fan.howard-stern (Usenet):

Amazing how these Retardican tools, who preach distrust and hatred of ALL government, think it's religious to believe everything the Nixonite Retardican Dumbya government says...except when that same government utters an official discouraging word against Herr Bush.

2006 January 17, trim...@dc.net, “Re: Here you go, GOP Shills!”, in dfw.politics (Usenet):

(US politics, slang, derogatory) Republican (of or pertaining to the Republican Party of the United States).


Rethuglican

I have often said that it is the intent of the Rethuglicans to bankrupt the system so that there is no money for social programs!!!

2002 June 16, John H. Fisher, “Re: Rats up to old same ole' tricks again.”, in alt.politics.democrats (Usenet):

Whever^([sic]) you read something written by a Neocon/Rethuglican, remember, they may brag about how great they are, but they ain't in Iraq.

2005 January 11, NoSpamAllowed [username], “Re: Foolish, Naive American Politicians Will Receive No Muslim Gratitude For Tsunami Aid”, in alt.politics.democrats (Usenet):

Never as many as you ChickenHawk Rethuglicans, who send other people's kids off to do what you were too scaredy-cat to do yourselves.

2009 January 20, Iarnrod [username], “Re: Most Of American Military Suspicious Of Obama AsCommander-In-Chief”, in alt.politics.democrats (Usenet):

(US politics, slang, derogatory) A member or supporter of the Republican Party of the United States.


Chimpy

From chimp + -y, comparing Bush's appearance or facial expressions to a chimpanzee's.

I wonder how all those testosterone-laden combat virgins feel now, after supporting a scumbag like Chimpy and then watching him cut funding for vets....

2003 June 17, Hoss Cartright, “Chimpy and Veterans”, in az.politics (Usenet):

The day that George W. Bush first slimed his way into the Oval Office must have been a happy one indeed for the radical Iranian handlers behind Chalabi's INC operation. They knew Chimpy was exactly the sort of sucker they needed: Intellctually lazy and stupendously vain.

2004 May 23, Doctoroe, “Re: How many Bushies does it take to change a lightbulb?”, in talk.politics.misc (Usenet):

Bush would've told Murkins they were traitors for not wanting his bailouts, CEO Bonuses, Wars, Cheney and Jebya's conflicts of interests and exposing spies who refused to lie for Chimpy.

2010 January 12, Palin On Beaver News, “Nobody Voted For it. Nobody Wants it. He campaigned AGAINST it.”, in talk.politics.misc (Usenet):

(US politics, derogatory) George W. Bush (born 1946), the 43rd president of the United States (2001–2009).


GPUSA

United States of America
United States of America#English

(US politics) Initialism of Green Party of the United States of America.


South Park Republican

South Park Republican (plural South Park Republicans)

Coined by commentator Andrew Sullivan in 2001.

(US politics, colloquial) A member of a generation of young people holding center-right political beliefs more or less aligned with those portrayed in the American animated television program South Park.


트럼프

[tʰɯɾʌ̹mpʰɯ]

도널드 트럼프

A transliteration of the English surname Trump.


Republicunt

He shot my husband a smirk, not letting me go. "Jesus, Dean, you married a feminazi?"
I smiled sweetly. "Beats a Republicunt."

2010, Cornelia Read, Invisible Boy, Grand Central Publishing, published 2010, →ISBN:

Speaking of money, ever since the Republicunts came back into office after Clinton in 2000, most people just do not have the extra money to see a Pro Domme like they used to.

2011, Davina Rhine (quoting Andi), Rebel Moms: The Off-Road Map for the Off-Road Mom, Rebellion Press (2011), page 573

“Dude, is that the president? Get that Republicunt off the TV, will you?”

2014, Scott Sigler, Pandemic, Crown Publishers, published 2014, →ISBN:

(US politics, slang, vulgar, derogatory) A member or supporter of the Republican Party of the United States.


Second Amendment

Chip called from New Hampshire to tell me about Jack's representing me at the National Rifle Association meeting. Jack not only told them I was a hunter all my life and a good shot, but also said in a loud voice, "My daddy will approve anything you want to do in the woods."[…]
The key words were "in the woods." The NRA, basing its argument on the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution regarding the right to bear arms, has acquired tremendous influence within the U.S. Congress and among state and local governments.

2011 [1980 February 19], Jimmy Carter, White House Diary, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, pages 402–403:

The Second Amendment “means nothing if the government can prohibit all persons from acquiring any firearm or ammunition,” Judge Lawrence VanDyke wrote. “But that’s what happened in this case.”[…]
Firearms Policy Coalition vice president of programs Adam Kraut said in a statement that the cases resulted “when authoritarian governments used COVID as an excuse to attack Second Amendment rights.”
The 9th Circuit opinions “confirm our claims that the COVID closures of gun stores and firing ranges violated the Second Amendment rights of Californians,” he said.

2022 January 20, Don Thompson, “California’s COVID gun store shutdowns ruled illegal”, in AP News, archived from the original on 2022-01-20:

right to keep and bear arms
right to keep and bear arms

The amendment to the constitution of the United States pertaining to the right to keep and bear arms.

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution


Tuesday Group

(US politics) An informal caucus of approximately 50 moderate Republican members of the House of Representatives in the 114th Congress (2015-2017).


Obamageddon

It is still very possible that he will surprise us and develop into a great leader, the chosen one we so desperately seek to lead us from the darkness of Obamageddon, the Barracolypse.

2011, Mark Easely, "President Perry", The Observer (Notre Dame and Saint Mary's), Volume 45, Issue 4, 26 August 2011, page 10

He has turned American tax policy in the direction that Europe's been going for the past fifty years. Great Obama Depression, here we come. We're one step closer to Obamageddon.

2013, Wayne Root, The Ultimate Obama Survival Guide: How to Survive, Thrive, and Prosper During Obamageddon, Regnery Publishing, →ISBN:

I remain deeply skeptical of people amassing weapons against a coming Obamageddon.

2013 June 6, Christopher Swindell, “Can We Put Guns Down and Talk?”, in The Charleston Gazette:

(US politics, derogatory or humorous) The decline or fall of the United States caused by the presidency of Barack Obama.


Obamanation

Beck has become the chronicler of all that the Tea Party sees is wrong with the 'Obamanation' that is America today.

2012, Michael Brissenden, American Stories: Tales of Hope and Anger, University of Queensland Press, →ISBN, page 11:

Recovery from the national emergency of these Obama years will require a huge amount of careful decision making, from domestic to international, unwinding the Obamanation the USA has been saddled with.

2012, Dan S. Wible, Halftime in America: The Challenge Years: Fighting to Stop Progressive Tyranny in the United States, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 393:

However, if four years of Jimmy Carter did not destroy our nation, four years of Obamanation won't either.

2013, Frank A. Kaye, Red Gray and Blue, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 5:

(US politics, derogatory) The presidency of Barack Obama, viewed as detrimental to the United States.