Mugwumpery

[nq:1]George Will, in the latest Newsweek, in talking about people acting like politcal virgins, says "Now, let us not lapse into modern mugwumpery." What does he mean? The dictionary defines it as "a person who acts independently or remains neutral, especially in politics".[/nq]
The traditional explanation of this term is that it refers to someone who sits on the fence, with his mug on one si

[nq:1]George Will, in the latest Newsweek, in talking about people acting like politcal virgins, says "Now, let us not lapse into modern mugwumpery." What does he mean? The dictionary defines it as "a person who acts independently or remains neutral, especially in politics".[/nq]
What a poor dictionary! The original political mugwumps were Republicans who supported the Democratic candidate, Gr

[nq:2]George Will, in the latest Newsweek, in talking about people ... person who acts independently or remains neutral, especially in politics".[/nq]
[nq:1]What a poor dictionary! The original political mugwumps were Republicans who supported the Democratic candidate, Grover Cleveland, in the 1884 ... a voter stradling a fence "his mug on one side of the fence and his wump on the oth

[nq:2]George Will, in the latest Newsweek, in talking about people ... person who acts independently or remains neutral, especially in politics".[/nq]
[nq:1]The traditional explanation of this term is that it refers to someone who sits on the fence, with his mug ... other. Unfortunately, this is not true. If you want to know the real etymology, you can look it up yourself.[/nq]
I've never

(snip discussion of "mug on one side and his wump on the other")
[nq:1]Still, I can't say whether Bob Petley made up the joke or someone else did. And if it did ... I would be pleased to be convinced of that. Maybe our ProQuest Pals could date how old that line is.[/nq]
I just remembered one book I own that might have contained it, and it does. "Still More Boners" (Viking, NY, 193

[nq:2]The traditional explanation of this term is that it refers ... know the real etymology, you can look it up yourself.[/nq]
[nq:1]I've never known that explanation. I've always thought of them as members of one party that supported the other. Since the term was associated with the era of President Benjamin Harrison (a fellow Hoosier), it's brought up in Indiana schools.[/nq]
Close, but

[nq:2]I've never known that explanation. I've always thought of them ... Harrison (a fellow Hoosier), it's brought up in Indiana schools.[/nq]
[nq:1]Close, but not quite. The term in American politics first referred to Republicans who refused to support Blaine for President in 1884[/nq]
? 1885, no?
[nq:1]with no suggestion that they supported anyone else. The point is they the "great c

[nq:1]It is a form of elitism only approximated by so-called "independents." A Mugwump puffs himself up and declares that all ... data are to be believed votes a straighter party ballot than most people who openly identify with a party.[/nq]
So you'd might be a mugwump if you looked at the current crop of Democratic candidates, and suggest that you aren't voting in the Democratic primary becau

[nq:2]Close, but not quite. The term in American politics first referred to Republicans who refused to support Blaine for President in 1884[/nq]
[nq:1]? 1885, no?[/nq]
no.
[nq:2]with no suggestion that they supported anyone else. The point is they the "great chiefs" were too self-important to enter the fray.[/nq]
[nq:1]Take into account that Harrison followed Cleveland and defeated

[nq:2]George Will, in the latest Newsweek, in talking about people ... person who acts independently or remains neutral, especially in politics".[/nq]
[nq:1]The traditional explanation of this term is that it refers to someone who sits on the fence, with his mug ... other. Unfortunately, this is not true. If you want to know the real etymology, you can look it up yourself.[/nq]
From O Brav