Washington Monument Syndrome (Washington Monument Strategy)
The "Washington Monument syndrome" (or "Washinton Monument strategy") is when an agency, faced with budget cuts, decides to cut its most popular programs, making the cuts very…
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“If (...) then the terrorists win”
"If (we change our behavior or sacrifice our freedoms), the terrorists have won" became a popular phrase after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.…
“I Love NY” (“I Love NY More Than Ever”)
"I Love New York" is a New York State promotional campaign, trademarked from July 15, 1977. The campaign includes the now-iconic "I (heart) NY" logo by Milton Glaser and Bobby…
“It’s so hot, the trees are whistling for dogs” (heat joke)
The extremely hot Texas weather has been the subject of many jokes, such as: . "It's so hot, the trees are whistling for dogs". "It's so hot there that the trees are…
Rose Garden Strategy
The White House Rose Garden borders the Oval Office and the West Wing. The term "Rose Garden strategy" (or "Rose Garden campaign") was popularized in September 1976, when…
Church of the Painful Truth
Libertarian radio talk show host Neal Boortz has called himself a "high priest of the Church of the Painful Truth" since at least July 2000. There is no official "Church of the…
Cartoon News Network (Cable News Network or CNN nickname)
CNN began in 1980, with the letters representing "Cable News Network." The disparaging nickname "Cartoon News Network" has been cited in print since at least October 2000, but…
Iron Triangle
A political "iron triangle" is when a special-interest lobby, the Congressional committee that the lobby appears before, and the bureaucracy that the committee reports to all affect each…
Flip-Flop (Flip-Flopper)
A politician is called a "flip-flopper" when he or she "flip-flops" (changes position) on an issue. The terms come from the 19th century; an older term is…
“In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act”
"In a time/state of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" is a statement often attributed to author George Orwell (1903-1950). The saying doesn't appear in his…
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies”
"Truth is treason in the empire of lies" was written by Ron Paul, a candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, in his book, The Revolution: A Manifesto (2008). The saying…
Ponzimonium (Ponzi scheme + pandemonium)
The word "ponzimonium" (Ponzi scheme + pandemonium) was coined by Bart Chilton, a commissioner on the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), in March 2009. Chilton…
Timber (Political Timber; Gubernatorial Timber; Presidential Timber)
The word "timber" has meant "a personal quality or character" since at least 1612. Political "timber" has long been spoken of in American politics. The term…
Helicopter Drop or Helicopter Printing Press (“Helicopter Ben” Bernanke)
The economist Milton Friedman (1912-2006) wrote, in 1969, about dropping money from a helicopter to stimulate the economy. In November 2002, Ben Bernanke (then a member of the Board of Governors of…
A great place to hang your hat (Paris, Texas slogan)
The city of Paris, Texas constructed a 65-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower in 1993. A red cowboy hat rests at the top of the tower. Paris has used the slogan "A great place to hang your…
Harlem Hilton (FDNY Engine 69, Ladder 28)
FDNY Engine 69, Ladder 28, Battalion 16 is located at 248 West 143rd Street, in a building built in 1917. The firehouse has been called the "Harlem Hilton" since at least 1980. There is…
Substandard & Poor or Substandard & Porous (Standard & Poor’s nickname)
Standard & Poor's (S&P) is one of the "big three" credit-rating agencies, along with Moody's and Fitch. On August 5, 2011, S&P received much criticism for…
“First the free market dies, then dies democracy”
Folker Hellmeyer, the chief strategist with Bremer Landesbank, was quoted on a German website on October 12, 2008: "Erst stirbt der freie Markt, dann stirbt die Demokratie.""First…
Bank of Failmerica (Bank of America nickname)
Bank of America is one of the Big Four of America's banks (along with Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo). The United States of America has been called "Failmerica" (fail +…
“Let the people know the truth and the country is safe”
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln told the Boston (MA) Journal in July 1864: "I have faith in the people. They will not consent to disunion. The danger is, that they are misled. Let them know the…