George Packer Quotes

If you are tired of partisanship over patriotism, you need to vote for a change in direction.

America is a country ready to be taken, in fact, longing to be taken by political leaders ready to restore democracy and trust to the political process.

The Iraqi elections were an important first step.

A democracy becomes ungovernable if a substantial portion of the population lives in an alternative reality…. How do you have a rational conversation about President Obama’s policies of he believes that Obama is a spy for Iran.

How to Turn Democrats & Republicans Into Americans

This President takes his inspiration from the capitals of Europe; we look to the cities and small towns of America. This President puts his faith in government. We put our faith in the American people.

I believe this is a moment of truth for our country, a time when people of all parties and persuasions should stand together and denounce Trump's campaign. That includes our governor here in Maryland.

Getting a lot more Americans interested in politics is not the same as getting a lot more Americans knowledgeable about the workings of democracy or government. It has brought the worldview associated with sports-talk radio to politics; you’ve got a team and you want that team to win, and the other team is always the worst, and the refs are always unfairly treating your side. Heaven forbid you concede that the other team played a better game.

It is true that a house divided against itself is a house that cannot stand. There is division in the American house now and believing this as I do, I have concluded that I should not permit the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

Healthy skepticism is necessary to the continuation of our democracy. When it turns to paranoia, it becomes destructive. American history has alternated between the two .... A nation where cynicism toward government prevails cannot function effectively.

We believe in American government, and we fully expect that those who now denigrate it, and even despise it, will soon or late find themselves turning to it in necessity, even desperation.

Governments are like underwear. They start smelling pretty bad if you don't change them once in a while.

Our two-party system has served us well over the years, but never better than in those times of great challenge when we came together not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Americans united in a common cause.

There are some people who are so partisan that they do not live in the word the rest of us are in.

Renew us in the origins of our political legacy and lead us out of the futility that seems to increase daily.

There are some in Congress who would rather see their opponents lose than see their country win. That has got to stop…. They must find a way to put country ahead of party.

The government and people are inseparable under our system. We could not separate the government from the people if we would, and we would not if we could. This unity is the strength of our political structure.

Partisanship is not a symptom of weakness in democracy. It is a symptom of strength.

We don’t trust government, but we need government….Government didn’t land here from Mars. We elected them.

All you have to do is look at Congress’s approval ratings. It’s normal that it’s low. It’s not normal that it is 9 percent or 11 percent or 13 percent. We’ve given up our legitimacy. Legitimacy is about being honest on the issues, not being partisan.

The lack of trust between the federal government and the American citizens of this country is such a wide gap, we have to renew that trust for the people of this country going forward.

Predictions of a disappearing political center are a warning of a bleak future that we can avoid only by adhering to our nation's founding principles.

I would never, ever in my life say, 'I want to go to Washington to heal the soul of Washington.'

Political campaigns offer Americans an opportunity to adjust direction, reaffirm values, and recommit to the covenant that binds them together.

Whatever we do from government, we need to do what's best for America. If we do that, that's bringing power back to the people.