Republican Dictionary - when the say X they really mean......

[capaylib]

Katrina vander Heuvel (sp?) does a good job starting a glossary of terms republicans use. I think we should add to this list and keep it handy. Here are a few of the ones that really irk me:

death tax - formerly known as the estate tax, which only impacts a small percentage of the population (I believe they recently changed the law to exempt estates worth less than $2 million; it use to be less, I am not sure of the exact figures), death happens to us all, so it is easy for many to think it is bad.

pro abortion - pro choice does NOT mean pro abortion...we can't allow them to continue framing this issue.

partial birth abortion - late term abortion was what it used to be called and as long as I can remember it has been very restrictive and highly regulated

I know I have more.....will post them as I think of them. I hope this link works....no blue underline, might have to cut and paste..I am such a rookie.



http://www.thenation.com/edcut/index.mhtml?pid=1994

on edit:

snip>

BI-PARTISANSHIP, n. When conservative Republicans work together with moderate Republicans to pass legislation Democrats hate.

CLARIFY, v. Repeating the same lie over and over again.

CLEAN, adj. The word used to modify any aspect of the environment Republican legislation allows corporations to pollute, poison, or destroy.

FAIRER, adj. Regressive.

FAITH, n. The stubborn belief that God approves of Republican moral values despite the preponderance of textual evidence to the contrary.

FAITH COMMUNITY, n. Evangelicals, because they are saved, and hawkish conservative Jews, because they are useful. Israel is the bait-on-the-hook just waiting for God to take that Rapturous bite.

FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, n. A Republican who is in the minority.

FREEDOM, n. What Arabs want but can't achieve on their own without Western military intervention. It bears a striking resemblance to chaos.

GROWTH, n. The justification for tax cuts for the rich. What happens to the deficits when Republicans cut taxes on the rich.

HONESTY, n. Lies told in simple declarative sentences: "Freedom is on the march."

HUMBLE FOREIGN POLICY, n. The invasion of any sovereign nation whose leadership Republicans don't like.

HUMBLED adj. What a Republican says right after a close election and right before he governs in an arrogant manner.

MORAL VALUES, n. Hatred of homosexuals dressed up in Biblical language.

MANDATE, n. What a Republican claims to possess when only 49 percent of the voting public loathes him instead of 51 percent.

THE MEDIA, n. Immoral elitist liberally-biased traitors who should leave Republicans alone so they can complete God's work on Earth in peace and quiet, behind closed doors.

PHILOSOPHY, n. Religion.

SIMPLIFY, tr. v. To cut the taxes of Republican donors.

SLAVE, n. A person without legal rights, e,g. a fetus.

BONUS DEFINITION: NEOCONSERVATIVES, n. Nerds with Napoleonic complexes.
<snip

[ClassWarrior]

1. This is awesome. Do post more please...

Some DUers are thinking of starting a Language forum. This could be very useful.

Thanks...

NGU.

[another5bdem]

19. That sounds great

I'd be interested in checking that out.

On another note, I am new here and was hoping for some translation help...

n/t?
asfd?
kick? (Nominate for homepage?)

Any others that I should know so as not to embarrass myself? If there is a centralized glossary somewhere I will be glad to go check it out and stop botherin' you folks. :-)

Thanks

[capaylib]

20. I have some of those too

n/t means no text....the signifance is somewhat lost on me, but I think it means without bells and whistles

I think you kick it by continuing to post in the thread and there is a button to nominate at the bottom of the original post. I worked through IMHO, in my humble opinion and LOL, which I though for the longest was "lots of love", but figured out was laughing out loud. You can do a search on internet acroynms and figure some of them out. The one I still can't figure out is MEME...anybody...clue me in.

[another5bdem]

24. Thanks!

[barackmyworld]

2. "family values"

= "WE HATE GAY PEOPLE"

[Hello_Kitty]

3. "No child left behind"

Means we're gonna eventually shut down all the public schools and funnel tax dollars into faith-based indoctrination camps.

[aroach]

7. Halfway there now

Public schools are already indoctrination camps. That's why my kids are homeschooled.

And, yes, there are liberal homeschoolers who voted for Kerry...

[Hello_Kitty]

8. I believe you and don't blame you. n/t

[UdoKier]

4. In Republicanese, "reform" = "destruction"

As in "Social Security reform"

Tax relief = tax cut for rich & corporations & corresponding tax burden shifted to regressive state/local taxes OR ballooning the deficit so our kids can pay for it.

family values= forcing Xianity on all Americans via theocracy

faulty intelligence= fabricated/distorted lies blamed on the CIA

conservative= borrow & spend republican

school choice = voucher schemes to give rich folks a discount on private school and defund public schools for everyone else.

defense of marriage = way to prevent the 'WRONG' people from marrying

"expert on XXX from XXX Foundation" = republican hack on TV - hired to parrot RW talking head's GOP spin.


There are a MILLION of them.

[Conmander in Cheat]

11. You WIMP!!!

Use "Slash-and-Spend": It has more punch than "borrow and spend" and better suits politicians who slash taxes on the rich and somehow manage to spend 40% more on non-military spending (On what? Everything important is cut and/or underfunded.) than their predecessors.

[Mike Niendorff]

5. "Reform : "

"To aggressively damage and corrupt, under the guise of correction."


MDN

[capaylib]

6. and here are some more

freedom fighters - anyone, using any means, fighting for their agenda

terrorists - anyone, using any means (usually easily identified by skin color, religious beliefs or political affiliations) fighting against their agenda

[capaylib]

9. environmental double speak

healthy forests - great for corporations, bad for forests

Damn, the others escape me right now, clean skies, blue skies, pie in the skies!

Ownership Society - great for those who can afford the buy in and the risk. Who will be the owners for those that don't have enough capital to weather the storm?

Privatization - allow corporations to take over...everything....I mean everything for huge profits.

Subsidizing - corporate welfare, corporate R/D costs, helping corporate america's bottom line

States Rights - code phrase for red states to GO FOR IT! The right for States to taketh, what the feds giveth with the minuscule tax cuts for the majority of american people.

[Conmander in Cheat]

12. My def'n of ownership society...

Allowing our society to be owned by Hu Jintao and Crowned Prince Abdullah.

[Conmander in Cheat]

10. Hmm...

Liberal/Librul -- "Insult" thrown at an idea they can't counter so as to demonise it with buzzwords. Also used to insult sane politicians, regardless of ideology (i.e. Bill Clinton).

[zmdem]

13. Let's play devil's advocate

Death Tax - The decedent already paid income tax on this this money, why shouldn't he be able to pass along what is left w/o the recipient paying more ?

Abortion - let's get rid of the euphemisms on both sides, OK ? Forget Pro-life, Pro-choice. It's abortion, pro/con.

As to the defintion of "moral values", sure Democrats just need to keep telling themselves what Ms. vander Heuvel says. Let's find ourselves a nice place in the wilderness. Frankly, let's leave camping as a summer vacation, not a political philosophy.

[capaylib]

15. Death Tax

Yes, I agree that the Estate Tax law can seem unfair to the newly wealthy and those with only a few million. However, it is in place to make sure that the super wealthy can't keep their wealth protected from taxes generation to generation. My point is, IMHO, that the people affected by this tax law are very few and yet I hear people that make less than $50-60K talking about the unfairness of the "death tax"....

I don't think Pro-choice is a euphemism, I think it pretty much sums it up, where as "pro-life" implies that the other side is "pro-death" not "pro-choice"

Whatever your opinion is of Ms. vander Heuvel, it does not negate here dictionary, you can add other definitions if you like.

You devil you....

[capaylib]

17. more on abortion pro/ con

I would accept that definition if the understanding of "abortion" is the right to have or not have one. Saying one is pro abortion conjures visions of baby killers to those that believe life begins at conception.

[capaylib]

14. weak on defense

weak on defense - wants fiscal responsiblity and common sense from the war machine, wants to slow the proliferation of WMD's everywhere...not just "over there"

coaliton - even one more than us

global test - silly idea that we aren't alone on this planet and need some consensus (definition of consensus same as coalition above)

[Bluebear]

16. "Modernize" as in Social Security

Modernize = do away with

"We're gonna MODERNIZE this here Social Security, it's it's it's TAHM for an overhaul, for this modern tahm and today's reality wall PROTECTIN' seniors, to to to allow young employed America CHOICES blah blah blah."

[capaylib]

18. support our troops

support our troops - give lip service to their wonderful service to our country, while providing inadequate protection in combat and cutting their benefits

[capaylib]

21. Family Values

family values - faith oriented, married (in case wondering..between a man and a woman), afraid of others, lacking tolerance, asking no questions

[capaylib]

22. I'm talking to myself...keeping it kicked..I think

unemployed - those currently collecting unemployment

underemployed - shut up already, Burger King is a great career opportunity, maybe you should get retrained

employed - anyone receiving any income, including eBay and garage sales

[capaylib]

23. Freedom is on the march

Freedom is on the march - Imperialism and empire building is alive and well