Wherever there is a big candidates' debate there is Spin Alley. After the debate, journalists have to write stories, produce TV packages. For this they need quotes and authorized knowers who can talk on camera.
There to provide such are the spinners: hired guns, stand-ins, soulmates who agree to meet the press after the debate to explain why their candidate "won." Of course this is a verdict known in advance; however that fact too is known in advance, so no one really minds. Spin Alley will live again in whatever large, air-conditioned room is next designated for the ritual. Unless it's stopped.
There to provide such are the spinners: hired guns, stand-ins, soulmates who agree to meet the press after the debate to explain why their candidate "won." Of course this is a verdict known in advance; however that fact too is known in advance, so no one really minds. Spin Alley will live again in whatever large, air-conditioned room is next designated for the ritual. Unless it's stopped.
After the debate, I took the press shuttle back to the media center -- and to the small section therein blatantly designated "Spin Alley," ringed on three sides by bare-bones makeshift broadcast platforms and stuffed to capacity with reporters, camera crews and politicos. Everywhere you looked there were clusters of media people surrounding spinners and surrogates, whose names were printed on laminated red signs held high above the crowd by aides. I felt like I was standing in the middle of one of my own damn cartoons come to life.
by Arunabh Das April 24, 2005
Get the spin alleymug. In business, something (an idea, or plan, usually) set up to be knocked down. It's the dangerous philosophy of presenting one mediocre idea, so that the listener will make the choice of the better idea which follows.
It backfires with some frequency, as the listener (out of sheer perversity) will insist on the straw dog.
by Arunabh Das April 22, 2004
Get the straw dogmug. A long sales pitch by a person who wants to sell you on an idea or convince you about what kind of person he is. Usually used for picking up chicks or selling you car insurance.
See also shtick
See also shtick
If you want to get some, you have to have a to start with a good opener and follow it up with a good shpiel.
by Arunabh Das February 20, 2009
Get the shpielmug. The Afghanistan-Pakistan problem. This is term used by the U.S. to refer to the war-on-terror in Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. The general consensus amongst political pundits is that there is not a separate strategy that needs to be followed for dealing with Pakistan and for dealing with terrorism in Afghanistan but that there must be a unified approach known as the Afpak Approach.
by Arunabh Das January 25, 2009
Get the afpakmug. by Arunabh Das March 08, 2004
Get the americanamug. by Arunabh Das March 06, 2005
Get the the celery dances at midnightmug. The cool, streetslang word for homepage / website. Webcrib is exactly what the name implies. Your homepage, webpage, website but "cooler".
by Arunabh Das February 18, 2009
Get the webcribmug.