AboutTed Nesbitt Expertise I will answer short, to-the-point questions on all aspects of
American politics -- legislative, executive, and judicial for
the federal government and all fifty states. I use the Lexis-Nexis
database for information concerning court cases in the state courts,
the U. S. District Courts, and the U. S. Supreme Court.
I do NOT have the time to work with lengthy problems or to read
and evaluate papers.
Experience I have been politically in a PAC since 1986 and have served state
government in an information capacity since 1980.
I have been a volunteer at the grammar and writing site at allexperts.com for more than two years.
Question What does it mean to "wag the dog"? What happens when "the tail wags the dog"?
Answer Andrew:
I hope this answer reaches you. I have been trying for four hours to send it, and there has been a problem with the Allexperts system.
The "Phrase Finder," from Sheffield University in England defines "the tail wagging the dog" as "an item or group of minor importance influencing events more than its larger and more important neighbor."
In politics, as in all other areas of life, the least important can be made to SEEM far more important that it really is. For instance, even though the Democrats are in power in both houses of the U. S. Congress, if a few conservative Democrats joined with conservative Republicans, they could -- to a great extent -- block important legislation. The small group [the tail] would actually be in control of the majority members [the entire dog].
Also, there have been instances within the administrations of many of our presidents in which a very few people take control of the president, by gaining his confidence. There have been a couple of instances when the WIFE actually ran the government! So, the president and all his cabinet members [the dog] would be controlled ["wagged"] by the first lady [the tail].
The 1997 movie "Wag the Dog" was based on the premise that important events [a scandal-ridden political campaign], which was the "dog," could be taken from the headlines by the creation of an "imaginary war," which became the tail -- lesser in importance, but far more attention-getting.
