politickers
Those seeking office
Politickers are people who engage in political maneuvering or campaigning, often with connotations of scheming or self-serving behavior.
The term suggests someone more focused on political gamesmanship than on governance or policy: The real work gets done after the politickers leave the room.
Less neutral than "politicians"—it emphasizes the wheeling and dealing.
Those seeking selection
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- electionOrganized public voting
- ralliesGathers or recovers
- stumpTrunk base after felling
doorstep · grassroots · precincts · voting · ballots · constituents · platform · manifesto
Crafty and calculating
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- backroomPrivate space for dealings
- dealmakingNegotiating mutual agreements
- horse-tradingShrewd, tough negotiating
maneuvering · manipulation · machinations · calculation · positioning · opportunism · gameplan · strategizing
Advocating to decision-makers
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
favoritism · palm-greasing · kickbacks · corruption · bribery · special interests · revolving door · fundraising
People occupying appointed positions
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- incumbentsCurrent holders of positions
- bureaucratsAdministrative government employees
- appointeesPeople assigned to positions
legislators · lawmakers · representatives · senators · councilors · aldermen · commissioners · mayors
Delivering pompous addresses
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
- propagandaBiased information for influence
spin · platitudes · hyperbole · euphemism · obfuscation · pontification · sophistry · sloganeering
candidates
Those seeking selection
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- electionOrganized public voting
- ralliesGathers or recovers
stump · doorstep · grassroots · precincts · voting · ballots · constituents · platform · manifesto · endorsement
scheming
Crafty and calculating
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
- backroomPrivate space for dealings
- dealmakingNegotiating mutual agreements
horse-trading · maneuvering · manipulation · machinations · calculation · positioning · opportunism · gameplan · strategizing · plotting
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- advocacyPleading for a cause
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
nepotism · favoritism · palm-greasing · kickbacks · corruption · bribery · special interests · revolving door · fundraising · donors
officeholders
People occupying appointed positions
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- incumbentsCurrent holders of positions
- bureaucratsAdministrative government employees
appointees · legislators · lawmakers · representatives · senators · councilors · aldermen · commissioners · mayors · governors
speechifying
Delivering pompous addresses
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
propaganda · spin · platitudes · hyperbole · euphemism · obfuscation · pontification · sophistry · sloganeering · pandering
politickersnonvoters
People who don't cast ballots
bystanders · fence-sitters · spectators · civilians · neutrals
politickersstraight shooters
Forthright, honest individuals
straight talkers · truth-tellers · honest brokers · statesmen · stateswomen
politickerspublic servants
Government-employed workers
idealists · true believers · statesmen · stateswomen · reformers