Paul Begala Quotes

The more internal criticism and dissatisfaction publicly communicable within a society, the better and freer the society.

If you value the democratic process, you have to value the protection of political speech.

I believe in the greatness of our democracy.

Politics is a good thing!

As you have fewer and fewer voices in a democracy, in a free society, it's not good to limit the number of voices.

If you can exchange information freely, isn’t that almost a definition of democracy.

Opinion and protest are the life breath of democracy—even when it blows heavy.

Free and open communications is the best guarantee of democracy.

We have to protect our democracy.

In a free country every man thinks he has a concern in all public matters,--that he has a right to form and a right to deliver an opinion on them. This it is that fills countries with men of ability in all stations.

I'm not against speaking publicly and having passion for something. One of the cardinal beauties of America is that we have the freedom to do so.

The real truth is, I just want to keep the voice of dissent alive in all of our elections. I don't really want to hang out with politicians.

Democracy is a device that insures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.

The better the information it has, the better democracy works. Silence and secrecy are never good for it.

In a government such as ours we have vigorous contests to determine who should lead. The recent election was no exception. Now we inaugurate a new government on a day that transcends any one individual or any one party.

I think for voters what matters is the values that drive the government.

Freedom of the press is not an end in itself but a means to the end of achieving a free society.

I was raised to speak out about politics and the world around me. I would do it whether I was in the public or not. It is the way I was taught. The American way.

Wherever the relevance of speech is at stake, matters become political by definition, for speech is what makes man a political being.

We live in a democracy. We have this extraordinary opportunity to use our mind and say what we think, speak as we think. Sometimes what we say is objectionable to other people. But that is part of a free society.

Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.

I don't like government, it's just that simple.

I have just come out of an electoral experience with the people of my country in which I invited them to join me in a partnership for governance.

The only way of living in a free society is to feel that you have the right to say and do stuff.

As someone who is in awe and grateful every day to be in a country where freedom of the press, free speech and free elections are a way of life, I am wowed, amazed and excited by the opportunity to moderate a 2012 presidential debate.