“Don’t back no losers” (“Don’t make no waves, don’t back no losers”)
Milton L. Rakove's book, Don't make no waves; Don't back no losers: An insider's analysis of the Daley machine (1975), included these classic Chicago political rules: "I…
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Hipster Express (Knowit Express buses from Brooklyn to Washington, DC nickname)
The Knowit Express announced bus service from Washington, DC (U Street Corridor) to Brooklyn (Park Slope), beginning October 22, 2010. It was dubbed the "Hipster Express" (cited in print…
“Never make forecasts, especially about the future”
"Never make forecasts, especially about the future" is a joke told by economic forecasters. Variations of the saying include "It's tough to make predictions, especially about…
Mini-Madoff (Mini-Me + Bernard Madoff)
Bernard Madoff was arrested on December 11, 2008 and charged with running what some have called the largest Ponzi scheme in history (totaling $65 billion by some estimates). "Mini-Me" was…
Robosigning (Robosigner)
A "robo-signing" scandal made national news on September 22, 2010. Banks had hired "robo-signers" ("robo" for "robot") who signed off on thousands of…
Paramount Issue
A "paramount issue" is a political issue that's more important than all others; a "paramount issue" usually involves a war or the economy. The term "paramount…
Hot-Button Issue
A "hot button issue" (also "hot-button issue") is an emotional, explosive, highly divisive political issue (such as abortion). The issue touches a "hot button" (like a…
“If you took all the fools out of the Lege, it wouldn’t be a representative body”
"If you took all the fools out of the Texas Legislature (Lege), it wouldn't be a representative body" is a remark that has been cited in print since at least 1986. Texas writer Molly…
Sammy Scheme (Uncle Sam + Ponzi Scheme)
Financial manager and Pacific Investment Management (PIMCO) co-founder William H. Gross coined the name "Sammy scheme" ("Uncle Sam" + Ponzi scheme) in PIMCO's November 2010…
“The party in power is smug; the party out of power is insane” (Jane’s Law)
Megan McArdle (writing as "Jane Galt") wrote this on the blog Asymmetrical Information on May 21, 2003: "Jane's Law: The devotees of the party in power are smug and arrogant.…
“Knows where the bodies are buried” (to know inside information)
A person who murders people "knows where the bodies are buried." A person in government, business, or organized crime can know organizational secrets (not always criminal secrets, but…
“First get on, then get honor, then get honest”
"A lawyer must first get on, then get honor, and then get honest" is an old legal saying, usually given "anonymous" authorship. The saying has been recorded in print by at least…
Muffington Post (Huffington Post nickname)
The Huffington Post was started on May 9, 2005, by Arianna Huffington and others. The website features liberal/progressive news and opinion. The nickname Muffington Post (possibly from…
Bradley Effect (Wilder Effect; Dinkins Effect)
The "Bradley effect" is named after Tom Bradley, who was leading in the polls for California governor in 1982, but lost a close race to George Deukmejian. The "Bradley effect"…
“The fastest way for a politician to become an elder statesman is to lose an election”
"EARL'S PEARLS: The fastest way for a politician to become an elder statesman is to lose an election" is a line from the "It Happened Last Night" column by Earl Wilson in…
“Would you like some cheese with that whine?”
Wine and cheese is a popular combination. "Would you like some cheese with that whine?" is a joke saying that dates in print to at least 1991. The saying was made popular in the early…
“In politics, your enemies can’t hurt you, but your friends will kill you”
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikiquote: VoltaireFrançois-Marie Arouet (1694-11-21 – 1778-05-30), better known by his pen name Voltaire, was a French writer, deist and…
“A liberal is a person whose interests aren’t at stake at the moment”
"A liberal is a person whose interests aren't at stake at the moment" is a statement that appeared in the November 1966 Reader's Digest. The saying was attributed to Willis…
“Chicken today, feathers tomorrow”
"Chicken today and feathers tomorrow" (or "chicken today, feathers tomorrow") means that one can be successful one day (and eat chicken) and unsuccessful the next (and have…
“To have your head in the sand, you have to first be on your knees”
David Icke, an author of "New Age conspiracism," was on the Alex Jones Infowars radio show on October 24, 2010, repeating a favorite phrase: "To have your head in the sand, you have…