Peter Kobs's definitions
1. The irrational fear of a new influenza virus, stoked by hysterical news reporting and inaccurate information. 2. A way to increase ad sales and viewership on 24-hour news channels.
Susan is suffering from a bad case of Flu Fright. She's cancelled all of her committee meetings and refuses to come to work.
by Peter Kobs April 30, 2009
Get the Flu Frightmug. 1. An angry, sometimes violent, demonstration against health care reform at the local level.
2. A mob that turns out at a Congressional "Town Hall" meeting to oppose the President Obama's health care reform initiative. Many such mobs are organized in advance by conservative lobbying groups supported by the pharmaceutical and insurance industries.
3. A loud, boisterous act of political opposition designed to overwhelm the conversation about health care reform by using shouting and physical intimidation.
2. A mob that turns out at a Congressional "Town Hall" meeting to oppose the President Obama's health care reform initiative. Many such mobs are organized in advance by conservative lobbying groups supported by the pharmaceutical and insurance industries.
3. A loud, boisterous act of political opposition designed to overwhelm the conversation about health care reform by using shouting and physical intimidation.
John actually supports health care reform, but he wasn't able to speak because the Town Hall Meeting turned into a Health Care Riot.
by Peter Kobs August 7, 2009
Get the Health Care Riotmug. 1. An avowed atheist who (secretly) turns to prayer during times of serious illness, extreme danger or personal crisis.
2. The theological equivalent of a strict vegetarian who will eat a steak sandwich (on the sly) when facing extreme hunger.
3. A way of "covering all your bases" during an emergency.
2. The theological equivalent of a strict vegetarian who will eat a steak sandwich (on the sly) when facing extreme hunger.
3. A way of "covering all your bases" during an emergency.
Becky says she doesn't believe in God, but she's really a Praytheist. After she was diagnosed with lymphoma, she started praying again in private.
by Peter Kobs January 20, 2010
Get the Praytheistmug. 1. A public relations strategy frequently used by government agencies, corporations and law enforcement officials. It means "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
The goal is to delay any public disclosure of information as long as possible by releasing half-truths, distortions and useless information to the media.
Origin of the Metaphor: Farmers use manure, millet and recycled wood chips to grow mushrooms in dark, steamy rooms. Hence, "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
The goal is to delay any public disclosure of information as long as possible by releasing half-truths, distortions and useless information to the media.
Origin of the Metaphor: Farmers use manure, millet and recycled wood chips to grow mushrooms in dark, steamy rooms. Hence, "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
Detective: "That reporter from the News-Tribune keeps calling me about our runaway child case. What should I do?"
Police Chief: "Try the Mushroom Method. He'll lose interest after a few days and move on to something else. I've seen it work a million times."
Police Chief: "Try the Mushroom Method. He'll lose interest after a few days and move on to something else. I've seen it work a million times."
by Peter Kobs July 19, 2010
Get the Mushroom Methodmug. 1. The act of re-employing someone (who was previously laid off) as a temp worker, usually at a lower wage scale.
2. What happens to many people who have lost their permanent jobs following the crash of 2008.
3. Another sign of the harsh economic times in which we live.
2. What happens to many people who have lost their permanent jobs following the crash of 2008.
3. Another sign of the harsh economic times in which we live.
Acme Industries is having a Reployment Fair at the hotel downtown. They'll re-hire you as a temp at about half of what you were earning last year.
by Peter Kobs December 7, 2009
Get the Reploymentmug. 1. A new form of capitalism that emphasizes government intervention in the economy to rescue and restructure large companies that are deemed "too big to fail" because of the systemic risk they pose to the nation.
2. The opposite of Marxism, which anticipates the collapse of the entire capitalist system and the seizure of all "means of production" -- healthy companies included.
3. An economic system that prevents large, poorly managed companies from destroying the entire country.
2. The opposite of Marxism, which anticipates the collapse of the entire capitalist system and the seizure of all "means of production" -- healthy companies included.
3. An economic system that prevents large, poorly managed companies from destroying the entire country.
Obama has been called a "socialist," but history will show he's really a clever student of "Neocapitalism."
by Peter Kobs May 25, 2009
Get the Neocapitalismmug. 1. A political theory invented by arch-conservative Joseph Overton, VP of the anti-tax Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan. (Overton died in 2003 when his ultra-light airplane crashed.)
2. The name of a poorly-written novel by right-wing talk show host Glen Beck. Published in early 2010, the book is a cautionary tale about leftist radicals taking over the government through incremental change.
In theory, the Overton Window represents the boundaries of "acceptable" public policy and discourse -- what a politician can support without seeming too "extreme." Opposing forces try to broaden this window (or shift it to one side) to make formerly "radical" ideas seem more "mainstream."
Overton's theory has a decidedly pro-business, anti-regulation slant. Something is either "more free" or "less free" in his view. He never mentions "more just" or "more fair" or "more practical." In fact, the entire theory tailor made for paranoid people and right-wing lunatics who think Obama is a totalitarian Marxist dictator bent on world domination.
2. The name of a poorly-written novel by right-wing talk show host Glen Beck. Published in early 2010, the book is a cautionary tale about leftist radicals taking over the government through incremental change.
In theory, the Overton Window represents the boundaries of "acceptable" public policy and discourse -- what a politician can support without seeming too "extreme." Opposing forces try to broaden this window (or shift it to one side) to make formerly "radical" ideas seem more "mainstream."
Overton's theory has a decidedly pro-business, anti-regulation slant. Something is either "more free" or "less free" in his view. He never mentions "more just" or "more fair" or "more practical." In fact, the entire theory tailor made for paranoid people and right-wing lunatics who think Obama is a totalitarian Marxist dictator bent on world domination.
The Overton Window is yet another idiotic theory masquerading as a "breakthrough" in political understanding. Its leading proponent is Glen Beck of Fox News...'nuf said.
by Peter Kobs July 20, 2010
Get the Overton Windowmug.