A phrase coined by William Safire, when he was a speechwriter for Spiro Agnew. It referred, in general, to "liberals" (i.e. anyone who disagreed with the Nixon administration, and with Agnew - Nixon's pitbull - in particular) and the "liberal media". Having won the hearts and minds of voters via the populist route, Nixon and Agnew felt the need to keep up the attack on the "effete snobs" (another Safirism?) who would ruin America; then Dick or Ted would play another 18 holes.