Bill Maher Quotes

There's peacetime and there's wartime, and you don't need polarization on wartime issues. You need polarization on all other issues.

Obama seems like he tries to talk everyone into what he believes - and that's part of why we elected him, because he's a calm, reasonable guy - but behind that, there has to be some fight. You have to be able to take a few punches and throw a few punches.

The wound-tight, travel-light Obama has a distaste for the adversarial and the random. But if you stick too rigidly to a 'No Drama' rule in the White House, you risk keeping reality at bay. Presidencies are always about crisis management.

I can't see any difference in government between Bush and Obama apart from the color of their skin.

Ed Miliband is obviously a mild guy. I don't expect him to pretend to be a pugilist.

The president is the leader of the nation. The president brings people together, does the deals, does the trades, knocks the heads together. The president leads.

Foreign policy exactly suits Obama's strong points as a leader, which turn out not to be giving the masses a clear sense of direction and hope, but instead exercising good judgment on a case-by-case basis while thinking many steps ahead of the present moment.

I'm an Obama supporter, no question. But it doesn't mean there's nothing to learn from the other side.

President Obama does not usually accuse Republicans of being too hawkish.

Obama's stern demeanor punctuated by intermittent flashes of his wide, relaxing smile is his greatest weapon in defusing pent-up angst.

General Petraeus is not a miracle worker. He can not be successful unless the president creates greater confidence within his own team about the decisions which the president has himself made.

Do you think when two representatives holding diametrically opposing views get together and shake hands, the contradictions between our systems will simply melt away? What kind of a daydream is that?

When push comes to shove, we all should know most Americans want the same things, but just disagree on how to get there, which is why it should be okay to not panic if the other party wins.

I love Obama's calm and dignity. A lot of people confuse that with being aloof, but I know people that have held that job. It's a 24-hour barrage of information.

I would like Obama to be tougher on going up against the Republicans, I don't think he should try to be so moderate.

Stylistically speaking, Barack Obama could hardly be further from Jimmy Carter if he really had been born in Kenya.

I really don't think there's a lack of good will between members of the parties. I go back a long way with a lot of Republicans, so I don't think it's personal. But there does seem to be a much greater gap in both the philosophy and emphasis on partisan victories as opposed to policy development.

You know, you pick and choose your battles.

Congress suffers a great deal of criticism for its partisan acrimony. But while we may disagree politically, and air our opposition in this chamber, it is the conversation behind the scenes that cements and defines our relationships.

Barack Obama is way smarter than Bush - so way, way smarter than me. Obama is way more charismatic than me.

Given the daunting challenges that we face, it's important that president elect Obama is prepared to really take power and begin to rule day one.

Lincoln would love the fact that Obama is such a great conciliator, trying to transcend ideology.

I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made. And I made some tough decisions. But people know where I stand.

There was a feeling during the years of George W. Bush's presidency that his gracelessness as well as his appetite for war were linked to his impatience with complexity. He acted 'from the gut,' and was economical with the truth until it disappeared.

I am someone who facilitates the President’s ability to make tough decisions.