Jim Bolger Quotes

I think all that we would know of America back home is foreign policy, and maybe the snippets of the madness of political culture.

No modern nation has ever constructed a foreign policy that was acceptable to its intellectuals

I think things changed as a result of a certain perception of our politics. When we went through our zealous, self-righteous period it didn't exactly win us any friends.

Some say I was disappointed when President Obama won, and that is absolute nonsense.

Like many of my friends and colleagues, I can't get enough of Obama news; latest polling, speeches, visits, reaction of world leaders.

America is always a good target for a populist. In many countries, particularly authoritative systems, if you want to get an extra bonus, you bash the Americans.

People think that it only takes an American decision to solve this or that problem [in foreign affairs].

I wouldn't call it a Breitbart audience. I would call it America.

Politically, foreign policy never matters until it matters, and then it matters a lot.

The arguments in the Brexit vote and in the American presidential campaign are about the same. In a friendly way, may I also give some advice to the American people to make the right choice when the moment comes.

I've always been interested in the news, but I've always been interested in what's popular. I've always had a little bit of a populist take on things. Which I know is interesting when you talk about Donald Trump.

The issue for me is not just Brexit. It is beyond Brexit - how you conduct politics and the veering towards populism and English nationalism.

It's hard not to be political.

Making sense of a political moment when you're in the midst of it is difficult: even if you avoid commercial and personal conflicts, it can still be hard to see it and understand it.

We live in a country that elected Trump. Clearly you have a sense of humor.

I would delete Donald Trump. I would delete Hillary Clinton. I would delete the man who was responsible for Brexit.

It's a very beautiful word, populism. I'm proud to be a populist.

It's very useful when politicians have doubts because there are so many choices to be made in the world.

Well, you know, what's so exciting, is that it was a really telling campaign as well. Whenever we start looking at the differences, they could never be more clear.

The very phrase 'foreign affairs' makes an Englishman convinced that I am about to treat of subjects with which he has no concern.

In the business of politics, emotions and productive dissatisfaction with the world in which we live today are gradually being covered up by the minutiae of ordinary life.

Well, I am a Republican, and I would run as a Republican. And I have a lot of confidence in the Republican Party. I don't have a lot of confidence in the president. I think what's happening to this country is unbelievably bad. We're no longer a respected country.

Does politics have to be injected into everything?

I'm into politics - I'm interested in the election and how pissed off people get.

I often heard Latvians compare Russia and America. Latvians find both countries and their leaders possessed of the same mysterious confidence.