European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 7, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse To Alia from by Robert m. Andrews up staff writer every four years americans recalled upon to learn a special Lan Guage in order to understand the activities of their political parties in the process of selecting presidential Candi dates. For citizens who May have difficult remembering the difference Between a steamroller and a bandwagon Here is refresher course in the shop talk of political conventions bandwagon a movement toward Success of a candidacy. Delegates to convention always watch anxiously for a bandwagon to climb aboard to avoid being left with the loser and his friends. Buttonhole moving to Arm twisting. Bolt to quit a political party overan Issue or candidate. Take a walk has been used for the same purpose with defect becoming stylish in re cent Campaign to advertise the merits and Advance the chances of apolitical candidate. A Booklet Accord ing to William Safire in the new Lan Guage of politics is a Boom that makes Only a plaintive popping approach Dele Gates seeking support for a be done with finesse or it can become meeting of convention delegates usually to deride which can i presidential fever breaking out dilate to support. Proceedings Are secret at least until the loser s sup porters can find a reporter to talk horse an aspirant for the presidency Given Little Chance for Suc Cess by the experts. The experts some times Are mistaken in which Case Adark horse May become a front runner deadlock the Point at which convention is unable to choose a Candi Date usually after a number of is a condition which dark horses seek hoping the convention will then Star looking for a Compromise candidate. Delegates the men and women 1,333 republicans up to 3,099 democrats who vote on the nominees at the conventions. Regarded As very important people by everyone except Conven Tion managers who frequently give them the worst seats in the agreement Between politicians often seen As wheel and left out of deals often attach such adjectives As cynical or movement to nominate a politician who has made no Effort a least in Public to seek office. Genuine drafts occur at least As frequently a full eclipses of the Sun. Dream ticket a politician s idea of a presidential vice presidential combination that seems sure to win. It frequently pairs two candidates of sharply different views and personality. Wednesday August 7, 1968 Ivorite son a governor or other political figure to whom a state s Dele gation is pledged As though he were a serious presidential candidate. Frequently used by politicians to keep the votes of a delegation United until a Deal Cali be made to climb aboard someone bandwagon. Floor fight a convention dispute that cannot be settled without debate and voting by the delegates at a Public session. Seldom successful but often the most exciting event of a candidate believed to be leading for the nomination or election. Candidates who believe they Are unbeatable front runners sometime Send up As also Hack an undistinguished politician who follows the orders of a political machine without question. Derives fro the broken Down horses that used to pull Hackney speaker chosen to begin the convention with an inspirational speech to the delegates. When a Keynoter gets carried away with his own oratory the term windbag comes into political Powers working in secret who make the kind ordeals that can transform a dark horse into a of the phrase ". Hoping lightning will strike mean ing the wish of a dark horse that Dele Gates will suddenly turn to him As Compromise candidate. Machine a firmly entrenched successful political organization depending upon favors and patronage to keep it members Loyal. The natural habitat of the the galleries an at tempt to help a candidate s chances by filling Spectator seats with his support ers to cheer for him and boo his of political party s pro Gram for action review of previous accomplishments and indictment of the opposition. In irreverent use something to stand on while campaigning and to ignore fever the Afflic Tion that makes men want to be presi Dent it also has been culled a itch curable Only on the first tuesday after the first monday of november in leap the ing a convention Roll Call to ask each the stars and stripes climbing aboard the member of a delegation How he provided some hilarious moments of unconscious humor in the past but indecent conventions delegations have had to leave the floor to poll their members. Roll Call the process of calling the states names in alphabetical order for purposes of nominating candidate Sand voting on nominees. Frequently state delegation chairmen attempt speeches extolling their candidates or their state s attractions before announcing the vote. Running mate the vice presidential candidate. Has been the source of much political humor including references to old what s his name As the second Man on the ticket. Smoke filled room locale of any private meetings at which King makers make important decisions forthe convention. Derives from the 1920 Republican convention when Warre Harding was chosen by gop leaders for the presidential nomination. Young turks the rebellious fac Tion in a political party regardless of age or ethnic background. The opposite of the established leadership often called the old the astute Reader will note that the currently fashionable term new politics has been omitted from this is simple As convention time came up the new politics became largely undistinguishable from the old. Running mate or old what s his name. Page 11
