Cramer-Krasselt - Cultural Dictionary

astroturf roots

(n.) Events or movements that are portrayed as “grassroots,” but in reality are funded or organized by large organizations, including news media, think tanks and political action committees.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

Following the grassroots momentum of President Obama’s election, activism has reached a groundswell across the political spectrum. Whether demanding smaller government, greater economic regulation or... more

baracksploitation

(n.) The phenomenon of individuals and companies making money from anything involving President Barack Obama, whether honoring or demonizing him.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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beer summit

(n.) The July 2009 meeting between Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.; Cambridge, Massachusetts Police Sergeant James Crowley; and President Obama intended to ease tensions over Sergeant Crowley’s mistaken arrest of professor Gates at his Cambridge home and the public controversy that followed.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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birther

(n.) Someone who believes that Barack Obama is not a U.S.-born citizen, and therefore is not constitutionally eligible for the Presidency.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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caregasm

(n.) Pretending to care and share the same heightened enthusiasm when in a conversation with someone who is passionate about a cause or belief that you don’t really care about.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

coffee grinder

(n.) A pejorative term used by skeptics to refer to the 2010 Coffee Party Movement participants.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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coffee party movement

(n.) A grassroots political group that first sprang up on Facebook in opposition to the Tea Party Movement. The movement advocates political dialogue with substance and compassion and cooperation among elected officials across the political spectrum.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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death panel

(n.) A rumor started by conservatives that took on a life of its own that within the proposed healthcare reform bill existed a government panel to determine who is entitled to health care and who is not.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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deather

(n.) Someone who believes in the Death Panel controversy and uses it as a basis to argue against healthcare reform.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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faux-countability

(n.) The acceptance of blame by someone who is only partially at fault, which prevents acknowledging and resolving the true cause of a problem.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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hand-o-prompter

(n.) The use of one’s hand as a ledger for notes, made famous by Sarah Palin’s use of notes on her hand at the February 2010 Tea Party Convention, in which she mocked President Obama for his use of teleprompters.

The Trend: Sindifference, Shrugging Off Scandals

Despite the new era of responsibility, bad behavior and scandals continue. After seeing so many long-respected people, organizations and companies caught red-handed, people are no longer surprised... more

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helpsters

(n.) Young urban Americans who are becoming increasingly involved in community activism and volunteerism.

The Trend: Holistic sustainability, Green & Beyond

The last couple years have taught us many lessons, one being that each of us needs to take responsibility for the future. In the past, the focus was on environmental sustainability, but today, the concept... more

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hiking the appalachian trail

(v.) An expression used as shorthand for engaging in sneaky cheating, usually with a flimsy cover story, derived from South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford’s attempt to cover up his trip to Argentina and affair with an Argentinean woman.

The Trend: Sindifference, Shrugging Off Scandals

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hopetimism

(n.) The inclination to wish for the best possible outcome.

The Trend: Blame-sharing, Wall Street, Main Street, My Street

Echoing Americans’ frustration with political leaders, the U.S. economic leaders in both the public and private sector have come under scrutiny and blame for the nation’s ills. And while anger still... more

IBGYBG

(n.) Acronym for “I’ll be gone, you’ll be gone,” the thought behind short-sighted and often selfish decisions often practiced pre-recession by those running an organization or business who have no regard for long-term consequences.

The Trend: Holistic sustainability, Green & Beyond

mancession

(n.) The phenomenon of the Great Recession wherein a greater percentage of men are losing jobs compared to women.

The Trend: Gender-less world, Ever-Evolving Gender Roles

For the past several decades, discussion of evolving gender roles focused primarily on women taking on traditionally male roles. Today, as roles of both men and women shift, swap and even splice together... more

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manufactroversy

(n.) A “manufactured controversy” based on false or misleading allegations, which subsequently dominates news cycles and takes on a quality of “truth” as growing numbers of people believe it.

The Trend: Sindifference, Shrugging Off Scandals

nobama

(n.) The sentiment of those who do not support President Obama or his agenda, claiming him to be anti-American, anti-democracy and a socialist.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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obamacare

(n.) A name for President Obama’s controversial push for healthcare reform.

The Trend: Holistic sustainability, Green & Beyond

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obamacize

(v.) To instill a situation with political optimism or to be more persuaded by President Barack Obama’s charismatic personality than belief in his rhetoric.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

obamu

(n.) A Japanese term of encouragement particularly found in tweets and blogs that encourages people to overcome adversity, inspired by Obama’s “Yes We Can.” The term was inspired by and derived from kobamu, a Japanese word for rejection.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

oilpocalypse

(n.) A name for the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast.

The Trend: Sindifference, Shrugging Off Scandals

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OTP

(n.) An acronym critics used to refer to President Obama as a one-term president.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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rangel

(v.) To face or own up to ethical misconduct, which forces you to step down from a position of power. Derived from New York politician Charlie Rangel’s resignation as Chairman from the House’s Committee on Ways and Means.

The Trend: Sindifference, Shrugging Off Scandals

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salahi

(v.) To sneak into an event or party uninvited, inspired by the actions of Tareq and Michaele Salahi, who attended a 2009 state dinner at the White House without an invitation.

The Trend: Sindifference, Shrugging Off Scandals

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tea bagger

(n.) A pejorative term applied by those on the political left to participants of the Tea Party Movement.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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tea party movement

(n.) A grassroots political protest movement that supports fiscal conservatism and opposes expanding government, from President G.W. Bush’s government bailouts to President Obama’s healthcare reform.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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tenther

(n.) A movement and its supporters that use the 10th Amendment as support to argue that the federal government has wrongfully assumed the authority of the states, making federal laws and programs unconstitutional.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

torch and pitchfork

(adj.) Relating to an angry mob or populist group condemning oppressive economic or political conduct.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

truther

(n.) A person who rejects the accounts of the events of 9/11 and believes that the government was involved in causing the events.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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undie bomber

(n.) Nickname for Umar Farouk Abdul Matallab, the terrorist who unsuccessfully attempted to blow up a plane en route to Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day 2009 using a bomb hidden in his underwear.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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young invincibles

(n.) Term the insurance industry applies to Americans age 19–29 who don’t carry health insurance because they believe youth makes them immune to major illness.

The Trend: Populism 2.0, New Politics

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