Dick Morris Quotes

A short exposure to the convention convinced me that the Internet may save the Democracy in that it is a way for the people, for the citizens, to have some direct influence on the government.

We have an electronic democracy.

We ought to change polls, not to follow polls.

Polling can undermine the ability of officials to lay out, debate, analyze, and implement their plans. By turning to instant [electronic] polls we would eliminate the captain and the officers and leave every shipboard decision to the passengers.

Policy makers do the right thing only if the public makes as much noise as possible.

The Internet has brought democracy to so many other things. It's about time the Internet brought democracy to democracy.

Remember, the Congress doesn't get as many opportunities to make an impression with the public.

I tell people, 'If you want to send a message to the White House, call my house.'

Americans really expect to interact with our government digitally.

Let a bill, or law, be read, in the one branch or the other, every one instantly thinks how it will affect his constituents.

Journalists should denounce government by public opinion polls.

Public agencies should be criticized.

Polls move money as much as money moves polls.

All law is a dead letter without public opinion behind it.

declaring itself in ways more impressive to the tremulous politician than the most convincing argument.

We can't have a referendum on every important question. This is a republic, not a democracy. This is Chicago, not California.

the only vehicle through which we can get a clear-cut and unequivocal decision of the people.]

In a democracy, as a matter of course, every effort is made to seize upon and create publick opinion, which is, substantially, securing power.

Our leaders now are entirely spooked by polls.

Our government has become a system rather than a living expression of the popular will.

I grieve to see that the Government is governed by the hurrahs of the soldiers or the citizens. It does not lead opinion, but follows it.

Politics in America is moving from representative politics to interactive politics.

[Urging a referendum:] The issue of private ownership of land is too critical a decision to be left to the government.

The Pulse of Democracy

Polling is merely an instrument for gauging public opinion. When a President or any other leader pays attention to poll results, he is, in effect, paying attention to the views of the people.