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 …
The “Washington Read” is the phenomenon by which, through a form of intellectual osmosis, a book is absorbed into the Washington atmosphere, according to the Washingtonian magazine.
“According to former White House speechwriter Dan McGroarty, to qualify as a Washington …
A “watershed election” is an election which represents a major shift away from the current political situation. It’s a turning point.
The word “watershed” literally means the dividing line that separates waters flowing into different rivers.” It’s a land area…
A “wave election” is a term used to describe a significant electoral shift in which one political party makes substantial gains in seats in a legislative body, often resulting in a change of leadership.
The term “wave” is …
“Weasel words” are used to evade a question or an issue.
They are a way to avoid direct statements of fact or principle. It’s similar to pussyfooting.
Weasel words are deliberately ambiguous; their double meaning leaves people guessing as …
A wedge issue is a highly divisive political or social issue.
It can create divisions between a candidate’s supporters or between members of the same political party, which can damage the candidate’s chances of winning elections, since it splits up …
The “well” refers to the area at the front of the chamber where the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other leaders of the House sit.
This area is also known as the “Presiding Officer’s desk” and …
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 …
“Whistle-stopping” is practice of making political speeches or appearances in many different towns during a short period of time.
The term originates from the time when politicians mainly traveled by train and gave speeches from the back of the train …
Technically, “whiz kids” are any brainy, precocious young people with talent and the confidence to use it.
Often, though, the term refers specifically to a group of ten young men hired to work for the Department of Defense in the …
“Wilderness years” are a period of time in a politician’s career when he or she is not holding a position of power. This may happen because the politician has left his or her political party or has taken a hiatus …
A “witch hunt” is a politically-motivated, often vindictive investigation that feeds on public fears.
The origins of the term “witch hunt” can be traced back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when a series of trials and executions …
A “wonk” is a person preoccupied with arcane details of public policy and governance.
For instance, a policy wonk takes an intense interest in the details of policy issues, often demonstrating a level of knowledge and expertise that goes beyond …
To “work the room” is to move through a crowd, greeting people and engaging them in conversation.
Working the room typically involves a lot of handshaking, hugging, or backslapping as well as plenty of visible enthusiasm.
Working the room is …