Ali Ansari Quotes

“Is it unusual?... There’s nothing unusual about the entire national security bureaucracy of the United States feeling like their commander-in-chief is a threat to U.S. national security. That happens all the time. It’s totally usual. Nothing to worry about.

My biggest concern is that America is drifting towards mediocrity and that people don't recognize - and by people I'm meaning Washington - don't recognize the sense of urgency and the fact that I don't think this is a crisis anymore. I think it's an emergency.

Barack Obama is a threat to the continued existence of the United States, and he must be impeached, or resign.

I think there is a break down of trust generally, between people and politicians. I think that's come about for a whole variety of reasons.

As the third anniversary of the September 11th attacks draws near we must ensure our nation is prepared to handle the continued threat of violence and terrorism on our country.

I fear, my Lords, it is too much the temper of this country to be insensible of the approach of danger, until it comes with accumulated terror upon us.

Historically, decisive security action took place only after a disaster had occurred or a specific plot had been discovered.

Every national security threat that has been accepted has then been inflated.

Congress doesn’t act unless there is an emergency.

For the first time in American history, men in authority are talking about an emergency without a foreseeable end. Such men as these are crackpot realists: In the name of realism they have constructed a paranoid reality all their own.

In politics, reform never comes before crisis.

We could tell Americans everything is okay and nothing is going to happen. The fact is, there is a very real threat.

In the world at large we seldom vote for a principle or a given state of affairs. We vote for a man who pretends to believe in that principle or promises to achieve that state. We don't want a man, we want a condition of peace and plenty-- or, it may be, war and want-- but we must vote for a man.

Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be political.

Being mayor of New York was a crisis a week and an emergency every other day.

After 9/11, we had to look at the world differently. After 9/11, we had to recognize that when we saw a threat, we must take it seriously before it comes to hurt us. In the old days we'd see a threat, and we could deal with it if we felt like it or not. But 9/11 changed it all.

The terrorists that attacked us in San Bernardino was an American citizen, born and raised in this country. And I bet you we wish we would have had access to five years of his records so we could see who he was working with...

There is no credit to being a comedian, when you have the whole Government working for you. All you have to do is report the facts. I dont even have to exaggerate.

Politics is a thing that I follow because it determines what is going on in my country, but I vote and deal with politicians with a great degree of jaundiced eye.

I hate politicians. I hate politics. But if I start to go into politics, I think I believe that I can serve more, I can help more people.

Dont teach my boy poetry, an English mother recently wrote the Provost of Harrow. Dont teach my boy poetry; he is going to stand for Parliament. Well, perhaps she was rightbut if more politicians knew poetry, and more poets knew politics, I am convinced the world would be a little better place to live on this Commencement Day of 1956.

American politics can produce great men and women, but it is profoundly insular.

When you've spent half your political life dealing with humdrum issues like the environment, it's exciting to have a real crisis on your hands.

"What war?" said the Prime Minister sharply. "No one has said anything to me about a war. I really think I should have been told. I'll be damned," he said defiantly, "if they shall have a war without consulting me. What's a cabinet for, if there's not more mutual confidence than that? What do they want a war for anyway?"

I feel there’s no need to overstate.