Politicaldictionary - politicaldictionary.com - Taegan Goddard's Political Dictionary
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Akinize 13 Jun 2013 | 11:41 pm
Attempting to diminish a political foe by likening his or her words to remarks on “legitimate rape” made by former Missouri Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) while seeking a U.S. Senate seat in 2012. Bill Lambre...
nuclear option 6 Apr 2013 | 08:54 pm
When the presiding officer of the U.S. Senate disregards a rule or precedent. This most commonly refers to an effort by the Senate to end a filibuster by a simple majority, even though rules specify ...
plausible deniability 27 Mar 2013 | 09:39 pm
The ability to deny blame because evidence does not exist to confirm responsibility for an action. The lack of evidence makes the denial credible, or plausible. The use of the tactic implies forethoug...
Hastert rule 3 Jan 2013 | 10:48 pm
A philosophy that requires the “majority of the majority” to bring up a bill for a vote in the House of Representatives. Republicans have used this rule consistently since Speaker Dennis Hastert wiel...
six year itch 7 Dec 2012 | 08:28 pm
The election held in the 6th year of a president’s tenure in which the party holding the White House historically loses a substantial number of House and Senate seats. The Atlantic: “For decades poli...
elastic state 25 Nov 2012 | 07:23 pm
A state whose voting outcome in a presidential election is relatively sensitive or responsive to changes in political conditions, such as a change in the national economic mood. Nate Silver: “Elastic...
dark money 27 Jul 2012 | 12:52 am
Funds used for a political campaign that are not properly disclosed before an election. The term was apparently coined by Mother Jones. SEE ALSO: money bomb by-election October surprise
deduct box 11 Jul 2012 | 03:21 am
The locked box where legendary Louisiana Gov. Huey Long kept “deducts” from state employee salaries to fund his political operation. Estimates suggest Long collected between $50,000 to $75,000 each e...
press gaggle 7 Jun 2012 | 04:05 am
An informal briefing by the White House press secretary that is on the record but video recording is not allowed. It can occur anywhere, such as on Air Force One, but it often describes the informal i...
wonk 26 May 2012 | 08:07 am
A person preoccupied with arcane details of public policy. SEE ALSO: inside baseball sacred cow glad-hander
