Power

A “carpetbagger” is a politician who runs for office or tries to appeal to a constituency in a geographic area where he or she has no roots or connection.

The term traces its roots back to the Civil …

The term “inside baseball” refers to any subject matter which is considered too highly specialized to be appreciated by the general public.

In politics, inside baseball usually refers to the technical details and the finer points of political strategy, as …

A “recall election” allows voters to oust an elected official, by means of a direct vote,while that official is still  in the middle of their term.

Recall elections are relatively rare and usually take place after the official …

Rough and tumble, attack-dog style political campaigns are sometimes referred to as pitbull politics.

In the same way, a pitbull politician is one who is relentlessly aggressive and doggedly partisan. 

The term dates back at least to the late 20th …

A demagogue is a politician whose rhetoric appeals to raw emotions such as fear and hatred in order to gain power, rather than using rational arguments. 

They often use rhetoric and propaganda to stir up public passion and …

In politics, a “rainmaker” is an individual who can raise campaign funds for others.

Often, a rainmaker is a retired politician who still has a significant following and can make use of those connections for fundraising purposes. Staffers and professional …

An influence peddler is one who uses their political influence to try and win favors for others. An influence peddler is a bit of a wheeler dealer or power broker, trading access in exchange for payment in one form …

A “power broker” is someone who wields indirect political power, either by influencing the outcomes of elections or by exercising influence over key decision makers.

A power broker is not usually motivated by ideals, or by lofty policy goals. …

A “three martini lunch” is a long, leisurely lunch, usually associated with either business or backroom political dealings.

The three martini lunch had its heyday in the middle of the 20th century, when attitudes about alcohol were more relaxed. It …

In politics, a “fat cat” is a rich and influential person, usually one who donates generously to political campaigns. 

The expression suggests that the person is bloated and slightly grotesque, like a cat who’s been over-eating for years and has …

“Nut-cutting time” is when drastic actions are required, because all other methods have failed. The phrase is used in sports as well as in politics.

The term is similar to “crunch time” – it’s a moment when the stakes are …

“Movers and shakers” are those who have power and influence in business, politics, or other segments of the public sphere.

Party leadership, committee leaders, or people with influence among certain demographics can all be considered movers and shakers.

Powerful advisors …

The term “party line” refers to the officially agreed-upon policy positions of a political party.

It can also refer to the way in which members of a political party are expected to support and promote these positions and policies, even …

A muckety muck is a person with the highest status or most power in an organization.

From a political standpoint, this usually refers to someone in the party leadership or with another influential position.

The term is interchangeable with mucky-muck …

Honest graft refers to the money-making opportunities that might arise while holding public office. The activities are, strictly speaking, legal, although they might raise eyebrows or provoke criticism.

The term “honest graft” was coined by George Washington Plunkitt, a Tammany …

An “ego wall” is where people flaunt their political connections by displaying photos of themselves with more famous people.

The phenomenon is also sometimes called the “glory wall” or “me wall.”

Mike Nichols: “The ego wall is where the …

A “grifter” is a con artist, someone who obtains money by swindling or tricking others. In politics, the word refers to people who use the political process as a way to enrich themselves.

Merriam Webster notes that the word first …

“Kingfish” is the nickname for Huey P. Long, the one-time governor of Louisiana.

Long was a divisive figure who played a larger than life role in his state’s politics, and beyond. He continued to loom large even after he was …

To be “thrown under the bus” is to be sacrificed by someone hoping to avoid blame themselves, often in order to make political gain.

It connotes a cynical and hardball strategy whereby an ally or subordinate is scapegoated or abandoned …

“Chicago-style politics” is a phrase used to characterize a supposedly offensive tough, “take-no-prisoners” or “hardball” approach to politics.

As Jacob Weisberg explained:

Chicago-style politics, in common parlance, refers to the 1950s-1970s era of the Richard J. Daley machine…

“Political suicide” is an unpopular action that is likely to cause significant harm to their reputation, electoral success, or power within their organization.

These actions can include making unpopular or controversial decisions, engaging in unethical or illegal behavior, or failing …