Hatchet Jobs And Hardball: The Oxford Dictionary Of American Political Slang

Rating:
Summary: Outside the beltway? All over America!
Review: As the editor of this book, I'm happy to contradict the review below. We spent months combing through Oxford University Press' vast lexicographical resources to pick the best American political terms that qualified as slang and could be substantiated in the time and space available. Chinaman, usually found in the phrase "have a Chinaman," does indeed seem to be a Chicago political term, going back to at least 1973, and means "to have political influence." The reason it was not included, however, is that at the time of publishing, we had a single citation for it. Too many other better-substantiated terms took precedence. Fetcher, on the other hand, is almost too common to be considered slang, and so was not included, although juice bill, which means the same thing, is included in the book.

Rating:
Summary: Best Political Language Book Available Anywhere
Review: Grant Barrett's HATCHET JOBS AND HARDBALL is the best political language book available anywhere.

I must admit that I know Barrett, and some of my work can be found here as the earliest citations for "beep" and "John Q. Public" and more.

With respect to the "Windy City" comments below, this is not a book of regional political slang. There are many thousands of short-lived, localized political words and phrases and nicknames. To record them all would be exhausting, probably impossible and probably pointless. This is a national book, intended for a modern audience.

Barrett has used the latest word-searching technology (Pro Quest Historical Newspapers and NewspaperArchive, for example) that has been available only in the past year. The book's citations are exhaustive and up-to-date, the best that can be found.

The book is clearly laid out and easy to flip through. It does what it promises to do, and for that receives four stars.

Only a "piebiter" could ask for more. Look it up!



Rating:
Summary: Hate Politics. Dig the book.
Review: I really don't like political slang basically because I never know what the hell people from the "beltway" are talking about on the news. I finally have a resource that will tell me what one of those cloistered freaks taking charge of my government are talking about.

Rating:
Summary: a timely dictionary!
Review: I was given this book as a gift, and was a little shocked - as I love words, but I am not necessarily very politically minded...although I am trying - and I found this book to be truly enjoyable! I can use it when I try to seem "up" on politics and people are impressed! I have enjoyed reading the stories of where and when the terms started to come into use, and it's all thoughtful and well written!

Rating:
Summary: Now YOU can speak the language!
Review: There is the language of America: English. Then there is the language of American Politics: Find all the words/phrases in "Hatchet Jobs and Hardball" Quite the valuable dictionary to have - regardless if you're the average Jane or Joe, or someone who is considering a career in public office. This book is one which serves a great purpose to those who are, in one form or another, in the political arena.

There is an introduction by the dynamic duo, James Carville and Mary Matalin, followed by a brief "guide" to the dictionary and 8 brief essays regarding politics before one gets to the actual dictionary. It is a phenomenal and handy book to have!

I love it and carry it with my in my bag all the time!

Rating:
Summary: Get out of the Beltway
Review: This book purports to be a Dictionary of American political slang but should be entitled "Washington D.C." political slang. To test out the book, I looked up some commonly used Chicago political slang terms. None of them appeared in the book. Had the author bothered to look outside the Beltway, he could have found words like "chinaman" (a political sponsor/source of clout) and "fetcher" (a legislative bill proposed solely for the purpose of generating campaign contributions from an affected industry).

Rating:
Summary: For politcal junkies to armchair lexicographers
Review: This is an entertaining and informative book that transcends its "reference" status. It's an exhaustively researched illustration of how political discourse (not to mention politics) has changed over the past 250 years.