There's an interesting article in Slate that caught my attention yesterday. It's a discussion of "politically loaded terms" -- "two- and three-word phrases that ... can be uniquely identified with either Republican or Democratic members of Congress" -- culled by two University of Chicago scholars from floor speeches recorded in the 2005 Congressional Record. The listed phrases are those used most frequently to either rev up the base or obfuscate, or which merely indicate the parties' topical obsessions.
It's a fascinating little list, and while reading the Republican phrases I got to playing a bit of instant word association, writing down whatever sprang to mind. Democrats have their list, too, but I like picking on Republicans. They're not good enough, they're not smart enough, so gosh darnit they deserve it.
Here's my list: originals on the left, upshots on the right. Try one of your own. It's wholesome fun for the whole family!
(Note: Some phrases in the original list, either duplicated with minor variations or incomprehensibly obscure in meaning, have been omitted. And remember, the listed phrases are from 2005, so some are undergoing a bit of ... reconsideration.)
"Politically Loaded Phrases -- Republicans"
stem cell -- stump sell
natural gas -- what comes out of their mouths
death tax -- plutocratic call to jihad
class action -- what their actions lack
war on terror -- war on civil liberties
embryonic stem -- size of a Republican heart
tax relief -- explosive debt
boy scouts -- neoconservatives
hate crimes -- universal healthcare, public education, etc.
global war -- campaign bliss
medical liability -- your problem only
highway bill -- reelection cash
democratic leader -- treasonous asshole
federal spending -- reelection cash
tax increase -- something hidden
raise taxes -- ignored necessity
illegal immigrants -- the Democratic base
percent growth -- an illusion
personal accounts -- old-age poverty
saddam hussein -- a campaign ad
pass the bill -- pass the buck
private property -- it's all theirs
border security -- a Berlin Wall
president announces -- president mispronounces
human life -- what's expendable after birth?
chief justice -- something you won't ever get
human embryos -- pure, electoral gold
cell research -- Devil worship
property rights -- what's more important than people?
budget committee -- free-for-all
consent decrees -- imaginary mandates
crimes law -- electronic-voting legislation
post office -- an unfortunate government success
european union -- old enemies
president business -- synonyms
terri schiavo -- whoops!
temporary worker -- everybody, someday
war on terrorism -- war on language
retirement accounts -- booty for looting
government spending -- reelection cash
national forest -- an eyesore
minority leader -- Pelosi in blackface
urge support -- buy votes
cell lines -- prisons, the perfect boondoggles
action lawsuits -- intolerable fairness
economic growth -- more and bigger yachts
food program -- free ketchup!
legal system -- corporate protection
nuclear power -- something Bush can't pronounce
democrat leader -- childish adjective
witnesses may testify -- a real fear
savings accounts -- what few have
iraqi people -- military targets
forest service -- an oxymoron
law we can change -- legitimate-voter registration
immigration reform -- "Sorry, We're Closed"
indian affairs -- what they'd all like to have
ten commandments -- courthouse prop
un reform -- Boltonmania!
personal retirement accounts -- Wall Street manna
energy and natural resources -- corporate giveaways
global war on terror -- Baghdad
change hearts and minds -- grab 'em by the balls
class action fairness -- pure anathema
committee on foreign relations -- rubber stamp
deficit reduction bill -- propaganda crappola
repeal of the death tax -- the Holy Grail
highway trust fund -- an exploitable natural resource
medical liability reform -- you're on your own
health savings accounts -- subsidized inanity
housing and urban affairs -- commie plots
million jobs created -- WDCD (What Did Clinton Do?)
national flood insurance -- disappearing ink
oil for food scandal -- Boltonmaniacal heaven
temporary worker program -- your next job
percent growth rate -- a fun statistic to play with
american farm bureau -- true believers
gross national product -- the Bush Dynasty
social security reform -- cat food for all!
export import bank -- campaign cash laundrymat
price of natural gas -- what you can't afford
social security system -- a hated New Deal success
committee on homeland security -- Pork Central
million illegal aliens -- more than the margin of defeat
california supreme court -- socialist coven
term care insurance -- incumbency
tongass national forest -- oil field
supreme court of texas -- supreme executioner
justice priscilla owen -- what passes for moderation
justice janice rogers -- see above
american bar association -- it's set too low
growth and job creation -- Bushian fairy tales
grand ole opry -- National Symphony
reform social security -- defeat socialism!
supply of natural gas -- tomorrow's floor speech
chief of naval operations -- GOPer with rubber duckies
underground storage tank -- slush fund
partial birth abortion -- a scoundrel's last refuge
judicial confirmation process -- 15-minute questions
national security issue -- any unconstitutional conduct
law enforcement and intelligence -- one not the other
justice william rehnquist -- Saint and Office Giver
medical liability crisis -- your next hospital visit
judge alberto gonzales -- the Spanish Inquisitor