The Gimlet Eye

Beltspeak

ONE OF the perks of being a member in good standing of the Washington establishment is that you never have to expend too much energy on conversation. Before long you learn to speak in a kind of shorthand, capable of conveying large amounts of information in a few choice words. Say we’re talking about the defense budget. I mention cost overruns for the B-2 bomber. You smile wanly and say: “Six-hundred- dollar toilet seats.”

About the Author

Andrew Ferguson

Andrew Ferguson, a former columnist for NR, is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

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Beltspeak

ONE OF the perks of being a member in good standing of the Washington establishment is that you never have to expend too much energy on conversation. Before long you learn to speak in a kind of shorthand, capable of conveying large amounts of information in a few choice words. Say we’re talking about the defense budget. I mention cost overruns for the B-2 bomber. You smile wanly and say: “Six-hundred- dollar toilet seats.”