Month: August 2026

We, in this time and place, are stuck with a paradox. On one hand politics is really nothing but words. A relentless, annoying, divisive torrent of words. On the other hand, politicians like to play with the meaning of words until we’re not sure what they actually mean. So when we really start to pull apart modern politics, we find frighteningly little.

Thinking about this seriously for anything more than a minute or two will leave you with a headache worthy of a Kennedy and the pessimism of Nixon.

But what if it was a little fun? Maybe then we could pull apart some of the language without having to feel like we’re swinging hammers at one of society’s load-bearing walls.

Toward that end, I’m offering a Usage Dictionary of American Politics – Part 1. 

If you haven’t stumbled across one before, a usage dictionary is one that doesn’t focus on objective definitions of words, but is more about how a word is used, by whom and whether that usage is correct or not. 

Let’s start off with a few easy ones.

Billionaires 

Republican usage: When referring to politically conservative billionaires, it indicates a subset of people whose successes in business are immediately and unquestionably transferable to all long-standing, possibly unsolvable problems. This particular definition is, in large part, embraced by billionaires themselves. In the rare case where Republicans are referring to a billionaire who is not politically aligned with their party, it carries the meaning of “the establishment.” (See separate entry.)

Democratic usage: Often refers to those who are to be punished for achieving what is promised to those who have not yet done so. It often serves as an indirect reference to wealthy conservatives (particularly males) who are on the other side of the political spectrum regardless of actual worth.

Establishment

Republican usage: Those who reject the speaker’s ideas. Usually includes “career politicians” but exempts the career politician who is speaking. 

Democratic usage: Those who find success through structure. Often reinforced with clarification of who is in the establishment such as “billionaires,” (see separate entry) etc. And often set in opposition to “the people.”

“Vance’s allies are keenly aware of and monitoring the online attacks, but his team says the criticism sends a signal to the conservative base that establishment Republicans and opponents they label as neoconservatives hate Vance. That, they say, could ultimately strengthen his standing in a GOP primary. Loud Washington establishment voices form an online cacophony,’ said Steve Cortes, a conservative commentator supportive of Vance, ‘but they do not remotely represent the consensus views of Republican voters.’” Washington Post, “Knives are out for Vance in the GOP. His allies say it’s a coordinated ‘op.’” 7/2426

“On June 9th, 156,084 Mainers voted for a new kind of politics. One that is representative of people down here in the real world – not billionaires, oligarchs, or the political establishment….My name may have been on the ballot, but that ballot line belongs to the people of Maine.” Graham Platner Withdrawal of Candidacy – US Senate letter, 7/10/26

Pope Leo XIV 

Republican and Democratic usage: The leader of the third largest religion in the world, who is to be praised for the most part, but with whom it’s important to contrast when politically beneficial.

J.D. Vance usage: The leader of J.D. Vance’s second-most important religion.

“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope, what excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country.” Truth Social May 2025

“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy” “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.” Truth Social April 2026