political speech

is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.

Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. George Orwell

is oratoracal Muzak, with verb-free sentences like 'our people, prosperous and secure' conveying little but a sense of well-being.

I noticed first the verb-free sentences, which Tony Blair still uses today: 'Our people, prosperous and secure. Our children, meeting the challenge...' He might use up to 200 in one speech, making it sound like oratorical Muzak, conveying little but a sense of wellbeing.

is good not when it proves that a man is telling the truth but when no one else can prove it's a lie.

a good political speech is not one in which you can prove that the man is telling the truth... it is one where no one else can prove he is lying.

is not about words chosen for the sake of their meaning, rather, more and more, it is phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house..

[Political] prose consists less and less of words chosen for the sake of their meaning, and more and more of phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house.

is, largely, the defense of the indefensible which is why it consists largely of euphemism, question-begging, and sheer cloudy vagueness.

In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible... Thus, political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging, and sheer cloudy vagueness... Political language [is] designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable.

Political language .. .is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.

is like steer horns. A point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between.

Political speeches are like steer horns. A point here, a point there, and a lot of bull in between.

is usually just baloney disguised as food for thought.

Political speeches are usually just baloney disguised as food for thought.

political speech, n.All

political speech