Robin Lakoff quotes:

Reagan's genius as a communicator lies in his use of ambiguity. ... Ambiguity is the mother of Teflon.

Language uses us as much as we use language.

As children, women are encouraged to be "little ladies." Little ladies don't scream as vociferously as little boys, and they are chastised more severely for throwing tantrums or showing temper: "high spirits" are expected and therefore tolerated in little boys; docility and resignation are the corresponding traits expected of little girls. Now, we tend to excuse a show of temper by a man where we would not excuse an identical tirade from a woman: women are allowed to fuss and complain, but only a man can bellow in rage.

All language is political ...