Political Quotations – Set 2

Oct 11, 2008
  1. Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers. – Mignon McLaughlin, author.

  2. When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves. – Confucius (551-479 BC).

  3. At the end of a long and probably very boring meal (at a formal dinner), (British Prime Minister) Macmillan turned to Madame de Gaulle and asked politely what she was looking forward to in her retirement. Quick as a flash the elderly lady replied: “A penis.” Macmillan had been trained all his life never to appear shocked, but even he was a bit taken aback. After drawling out a series of polite platitudes, – “Well, I can see your point of view, don’t have much time for that sort of thing nowadays” – it gradually dawned on him to his intense relief that what the old girl had actually said was “happiness.” – Paul Foot, in the essay A New Definition: The Quality of Life, British Medical Journal, VOLUME 321, DECEMBER 2000.

  4. The moral test of a government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life — the children; the twilight of life — the elderly; and the shadows of life — the sick, the needy and the handicapped. – Hubert Humphrey, Vice-President of the United States 1965-69.

  5. When I joined the Labor Party, it contained the cream of the working class. But as I look about me now, all I see are the dregs of the middle class. When will you middle class perverts stop using the Labor Party as a cultural spittoon? – Kim Beazley Snr to an ALP State Conference, circa 1970.

  6. Any time we kick the Prime Minister in the behind, we know who gets concussion, Senator Heffernan – Labor Senator Robert Ray to Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan during debate in the Australian Senate, 1999.

  7. If there was a university degree for greed, you cunts would all get first-class honours. – Australian Treasurer Paul Keating in 1985 after backbenchers had complained about having to substantiate, for tax purposes, their electoral allowances.
  9. If ignorance ever reaches $40 a barrel, I want the drilling rights to his head. – a political opponent on President George Bush.

  10. Just because he’s paranoid doesn’t mean there aren’t people out to get him. – Henry Kissinger on Richard Nixon.

  11. Everywhere I go around Australia people know that something is
    wrong.     – Liberal Party leader, Bill Snedden, on the hustings in the 1974 election.

  12. Lyndon, I’d feel a whole lot better if just one of them had once run for sheriff somewhere. – Reaction of House Speaker Sam Rayburn to Vice-President-elect Johnson’s description of the glittering talent of JFK’s inner foreign policy circle.

  13. In order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant. – Charles De Gaulle.

  14. ….he reveals that he has been a poor politician, a bad judge and a malevolent individual. – Gough Whitlam on Garfield Barwick (“Abiding Interests”, p44)

  15. We have no political prisons. We have political internal exiles. – General Pinochet, Chilean dictator, 1976.

  16. He is lofty, and I am eminent. – Gough Whitlam, comparing himself to Malcolm Fraser, 1975.

  17. It is the first time the burglar has been appointed as caretaker. – Gough Whitlam, 11th November 1975, following his Dismissal by the Governor-General, Sir John Kerr.

  18. Some of us do not accept the Establishment myth that bad laws must be obeyed. – Tom Driberg, British MP, 1972.

  19. Violence is as American as cherry pie. – Stokely Carmichael.

  20. In a political fight, when you’ve got nothing in favour of your side, start a row in the opposition camp. – Huey Long.

  21. I have more influence now than when I had the power. – Gough Whitlam, 5 July 1997.

Filed Under: Political Quotations Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Political Quotations – Set 1

Oct 10, 2008
  1. Intellect alone is a dry and rattling thing. – Ilka Chase, American author, actress, humorist (1905-1978)

  2. During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. – George Orwell, writer (1903-1950)

  3. Whenever ‘A’ attempts by law to impose his moral standards upon ‘B’, ‘A’ is most likely a scoundrel. – H.L. Mencken, writer, editor, and critic (1880-1956)

  4. History is the record of an encounter between character and circumstances. – Donald Creighton, Canadian historian (1902-1979)

  5. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. – The Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776

    6. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Political Quotations Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Times Of London On Howard’s Roman Holiday

May 30, 2003

This is the text of an editorial from The Times of London.

When in Rome: The Australian Prime Minister’s impressive hotel bill

It takes a lot to shock an Australian. Indeed, about 500,000 volts are normally required to have any impact. But Senator Robert Ray spoke for a nation yesterday when he pronounced himself utterly “shocked” by the A$45,000 (£18,000) bill acquired by John Howard, the Prime Minister, for his four-night stay in the Royal Suite of the St Regis Grand Hotel in Rome. The Italian Government appears to have been equally stunned as it has, contrary to protocol, refused to pick up the tab. It has not helped that Mr Howard is also under fire for laying down a wine cellar at public expense four years ago. This was sold as a long-term investment for dealing with the demands of foreign dignitaries. Alas, as one envious Opposition spokesman put it: “They’ve guzzled the lot.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Foreign Policy - Aust, Howard Tagged With: , , ,

Correspondence and Agreed Order in the Settlement of Clinton’s Case

Jan 19, 2001

This is the text of correspondence exchanged yesterday in which President Clinton reached a settlement with the independent counsel, Robert Ray.

These are the letters exchanged between David E. Kendall, a lawyer for President Clinton, and Robert W. Ray, the independent counsel, in which they agreed to a settlement. Also included is the order that the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Ark., issued yesterday, suspending for five years the president’s right to practice law in Arkansas. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clinton, Impeachment Tagged With: , , , , ,

Statement From Special Prosecutor Robert Ray On President Clinton

Jan 19, 2001

This is the text of a statement by Special Prosecutor Robert Ray.

The statement, on President Clinton’s last full day in office, acknowledges that Clinton has admitted giving evasive and misleading answers to questions in the Paula Jones deposition and has agreed to a five-year suspension of his law licence.

“The nation’s interests have been served and, therefore, I decline prosecution,” says Ray.

Text of statement by Robert Ray, the Special Prosecutor, made on President Clinton’s last full day in office.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Fifteen months ago, I promised the American people that I would complete this investigation promptly and responsibly. Today I fulfill that promise. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clinton, Impeachment Tagged With: , , ,