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Taegan Goddard's Political Dictionary

The language of politics and power

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Political words have the power to confound, obscure, and even inspire. Taegan Goddard's Political Dictionary takes apart the language of politics to uncover its deeper meanings and broader significance.

turkey farm


A government agency or department staffed primarily with political appointments and other patronage hires. A Vanderbilt University study notes that “In every administration certain agencies acquire reputations as ‘turkey farms’ or ‘dead pools.’ Positions in these agencies get filled with less qualified administrators, often by presidents under pressure to find jobs for campaign staff, key [...]

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gobbledygook


A term coined by Rep. Maury Maverick (D-TX) for obscure and euphemistic bureaucratic language. World Wide Words: “He used the word in the New York Times Magazine on 21 May 1944, while he was chairman of the US Smaller War Plants Committee in Congress, as part of a complaint against the obscure language used by [...]

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    activism alliances American Revolution bureaucracy campaigning conservatives corruption debates Democrats demographics dirty tricks election administration Executive Branch foreign affairs fundraising governing House investigations journalism liberals lobbyists losers media political science polling power public policy Republicans scandal Senate speech staffer strategy U.S. Constitution voting war
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