Straw Poll (Straw Vote)
A "straw poll" (or "straw vote") is a vote on a candidate or issue; straws are not used tally the votes, but straws might originally have been used. The early straw votes were…
Stump Speech
A "stump speech" originally was a speech (often given by a political candidate) where the speaker stands on a tree stump. The term "stump speech" has been cited in print since…
Stupid Party (Republicans) & Evil Party (Democrats)
An old Washington joke is that the Republicans are called "the stupid party" and the Democrats are called "the evil party." When the Republicans and Democrats get together on…
Subpoena Cannon
The Democrats won control of the House of Representatives after the November 2018 election. Axios reported "Democrats load "subpoena cannon" with 85+ Trump target" by Mike Allen…
Suckretary (suck + secretary)
"Suckretary" (suck + secretary) is a derogatory term that originally described a female secretary working under a male boss. However, "suckretary" has also been used to deride…
Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS)
"Sudden Adult Death Syndrome” (SAD or SADS, similar to SIDS for infants) is when an adult dies suddenly and unexpectedly. The term is usually used to hint at the probable cause of…
Sudden Athlete Death Syndrome (SADS)
"Sudden Athlete Death Syndrome” (SAD or SADS, similar to SIDS for infants) is when an athlete (active or recently retired) dies suddenly and unexpectedly. Athletes are thought to be young…
Sudden Invented Death Syndrome (SIDS)
"Sudden Invented Death Syndrome” (SIDS, the same acronym as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is when an adult dies suddenly and unexpectedly. This term is usually used to hint at the probable…
Sudden Invented Syndrome Syndrome (SISS)
"Sudden Invented Death Syndrome” (SIDS, the same acronym as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is when an adult dies suddenly and unexpectedly. This term is usually used to hint at the probable…
Suddenlyitis
"Suddenlyitis" is when someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly, such as a young person thought to be in good health. The term is usually used to hint at the probable cause of death -- the…
Super Congress
The term "Super Congress" was introduced on July 24, 2011, and became part of the deal to increase the debt ceiling. A special committee or "Super Congress" of 13 persons…
Supreme Dorks (U.S. Supreme Court nickname)
The U.S. Supreme Court was established in the United States Constitution in 1789 and is the highest federal court in the Untied States. "Supreme Dorks" is an unflattering nickname that…
SWATing (Swatting)
"Swatting" (also "SWATing" or "SWATting") is when someone calls emergency service (such as "911") from an undetectable location to report a nonexistent crime…
Swing State
A "swing state" is one of the fifty states of the United States that could support (or "swing" to) either one of the two political parties, Republican or Democrat. Political…
T-triple-P (titles, power, pork and patronage)
"T-triple-P" is New York State government slang for "titles, power, pork and patronage." The acronym was coined by Brooklyn Democratic State Senate Leader John Sampson on July…
Tammany Hall
(Oxford English Dictionary)Tammany a. The name of the central organization of the Democratic party in the City (formerly also in the State) of New York, located in Tammany Hall, in 14th Street, New…
Tammany Tiger
Thomas Nast is also given credit for the Tammany tiger, and again, this is incorrect. Certainly, his November 11, 1871 Harper's Weekly political cartoon is perhaps the most famous in American…
TANJ (There Ain’t No Justice)
"There ain't no justice" is a phrase that dates to at least the 1850s. "There Ain't No Justice" was the title of several "Moon Mullins" newspaper comic…
TANSTAAFMWH (There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Minimum Wage Hike)
"TANSTAAFL" stands for "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." "TANSTAAFMWH" means "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Minimum Wage Hike.…
Tariffgeddon (tariff + Armageddon)
"Tariffgeddon" (tariff + Armageddon) is a portmanteau word to describe the chaos following the imposing of tariffs the start of a trade war. "This piece I did on the money and other…