A “Farley file” is a log kept by politicians on people they have met previously.
It’s named for James A. Farley, who was Franklin Roosevelt’s campaign manager and later became chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Farley kept a …
The term “gerrymander” refers to the practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts in order to benefit a particular political party or group.
This is typically done by drawing the boundaries of the districts in a way
Pork barrel projects describes the appropriation of government spending for localized projects, usually secured primarily to bring money to a representative’s district.
The term first came into use as a political term just after the Civil War. It’s derived from …
The act of spreading negative rumors about a political candidate, in order to discredit him or her in the eyes of voters. This can also be called a whispering campaign. According to Merriam Webster, the phrase dates back to …
Astroturfing is an artificially-manufactured political movement designed to give the appearance of grassroots activism.
It involves presenting a biased or skewed view of public opinion as if it were a genuine, grassroots movement, when in fact it is a coordinated …
Logrolling refers to a quid pro quo exchange of favors.
In politics, it generally refers to vote-trading by lawmakers to ensure that each legislator’s favored provisions have a higher chance of passing.
Specifically, logrolling means combining several provisions …
“Dog whistle politics” is the practice of sending out coded political messages or subtle signals, which are designed to be understood only by a narrow target audience.
In their literal form, dog whistles are instruments that emit high-pitched …
“Hardball” is a no-nonsense attitude or approach to getting what you want in politics.
It’s a term borrowed from the sport of baseball, where it refers to the actual hard ball used in the game as opposed to the softer …
A “smoke-filled room” is used to describe a situation where politicians or other powerful individuals gather in a private, enclosed space to make important decisions or negotiations without public scrutiny.
The term originated in the early 20th century, …
An October surprise is a news event which takes place shortly before a closely-watched election and which may influence the election’s outcome.
Usually, the term in reference to a presidential election, although it can be applied to any election.
The …
In politics, a fishing expedition is a pejorative phrase to describe an investigation that lacks a clear scope and defined purpose.
Fishing expeditions are usually carried out by members of one political party looking for damaging information about members of …
A bully pulpit is a public office or position of authority that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter.
In theory, the expression could refer to any position of authority. …
A “big lie” is an extreme distortion of the truth, used for the purpose of spreading propaganda. It is often somewhat outrageous.
In theory, people will more easily believe a big lie than a smaller one, because most people assume …
An armchair strategist is a person who creates plans and military strategy without being directly involved in the area. The term is often used in a derogatory manner.
“Armchair general” is often used interchangeably with armchair strategist. Terms like “armchair …
“Salami tactics” refers to a divide and conquer approach, which aims to split up the opposition.
The expression evokes the idea of slicing up one’s opposition in the same way as one might slice up a salami.
The phrase was …
The “can’t win technique” is a campaign strategy used during the primary season. Typically, it means telling delegates and voters that your rival can’t possibly win the general election. The idea is to present one candidate as more electable, while …
In politics, a big tent refers to an inclusive party which encourages a wide swathe of people to become members. The opposite of “big tent” would be a party which is narrowly focused on only a few issues, or which …
“Running between the raindrops” is to dodge or deflect repeated political attacks.
These politicians are seen as skillful or even lucky, as they seem to evade the fallout that others might face in similar circumstances.
They may utilize various tactics, …
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group. It makes them question their own memory, perception and sanity.
The tactic relies on persistent denial, contradiction and …
A “stalking horse” is a candidate put forward in an election to conceal an anonymous person’s potential candidacy.
If the idea of the campaign proves viable, the anonymous person can then declare their interest and run with little risk of …
“Rumsfeld’s Rules” are a series of aphorisms, sayings, and observations about life in leadership, business, and politics by Donald Rumsfeld, who was a Congressman, Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense during his long, storied career.
These rules were …
“Entryism” is a political tactic of joining an organization with which you do not agree with the intention of changing it from the inside.
In his 1959 book Masters of Deceit, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover described entryist tactics …
The term “alternative facts” was a phrase coined by White House adviser Kellyanne Conway to defend a false statement by press secretary Sean Spicer about the attendance of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
When pressed during an interview to explain why …
Strategery is a fictional word coined by comedy writer Jim Downey in a now famous Saturday Night Live sketch written to lampoon former president George W. Bush during the election cycle of 2000, when he was still a candidate.
The …
The “Washington Monument strategy” is named after a tactic used by the National Park Service to threaten closure of the popular Washington Monument when lawmakers proposed serious cuts in spending on parks.
Roll Call calls it “an old legislative ploy …
A Rose Garden campaign is when an incumbent president takes advantage of the power and prestige of his office to help him run for re-election.
The phrase originally referred to a president staying on the grounds of the White House …
Plausible deniability is the ability to deny any involvement in illegal or unethical activities, because there is no clear evidence to prove involvement.
The lack of evidence makes the denial credible, or plausible.
The use of the tactic …
A “Sister Souljah moment” is a public repudiation of an extremist person or statement perceived to have some association with a politician or his party.
It’s a strategy designed to signal to centrist voters to show that the politician is …
Aardvarking is recruiting candidates for public office with the main objective of having their names begin with the letter A.
The practice of aardvarking is rooted in the idea that people have a natural tendency to favor options that appear …
A leak in politics is the spread of secret, often unfavorable, news about a politician to the media by someone in his or her inner circle.
It’s usually an unauthorized release of confidential or sensitive information to the media.
The …
“Triangulation” is when a political candidate presents his or her views as being above and between the left and right sides of the political spectrum.
It’s also sometimes called the “third way.”
This approach is often used by …
“Netroots” is grassroots political activism organized through blogs and other online social media.
Netroots activism emerged as a powerful force in U.S. politics during the 2000s, harnessing the potential of the internet to mobilize like-minded individuals, raise awareness, and exert …
A photo-op is short for a “photo opportunity,” an event specifically staged for television news cameras or photographers to increase a politician’s exposure.
A photo-op serves as an opportunity for politicians or public figures to engage in activities or settings …
The use of a “killer amendment” is a legislative strategy of using an amendment to severely change a bill’s intent for the purpose of killing a bill that would otherwise pass.
The member proposing the amendment would not vote in …
A “red herring” is a political diversion which draws attention away from something of significance.
It’s often used by politicians or political parties to distract from a controversy or difficult situation by introducing a new or unrelated issue.
A red …