John Negroponte Quotes

The Iraqi elections were an important first step.

Well, one thing that has happened is they have had a presidential election in Egypt which has represented progress. Now, we were not happy with everything that happened with the parliamentary elections, and it was not exactly a perfect presidential election in Egypt.

The Seanad question was one element of a process of change and reform to politics that government has been pursuing.

This is the democratic process at work, What you're seeing with this process is the Iraqi people embracing American-style democracy.

We are not seeking revolution. We just want democracy.

I am totally in favour of reform - but it must be reform that changes the nature of British politics, not simply the makeup or operation of parliament.

Voting is the foundational act that breathes life into the principle of the consent of the governed.

Iraqis have held elections and have recently put together their government, all encouraging developments.

The Crown Prince has said he needs to broaden political participation in the governing of Saudi Arabia.

Support for peaceful reform by the people themselves is the right way to promote democracy, not the use of force.

Democratic reform, depends less on legislative amendments than on creating a climate of democracy.

The revolution is on the verge of winning. We cannot crush it but perhaps we can strangle it …. Perhaps it will be possible to divert the revolutionary energies into the legal channels of an election campaign.

The United State can no longer allow its Arab allies to ward off democratic reform.

We can not have free government without elections. And if the rebellion could force us to forgo, or postpone a national election, it might fairly claim to have conquered or ruined us.

Advancing democracy does not always foster political stability.

My participation in the presidential elections can truly be a step on the path towards the transformation that our country needs so much.

We need to reform the political system, or we'll lose the democracy. I don't think it's that hard. It doesn't take rocket science. We've done it before successfully at the presidential level and tried it several places at the state level.

All we have to do is get out and vote, while it's still legal, and we will wash those crooked warmongers out of the White House.

I think the American people ought to take their democracy back.

The American system is, in many ways, more difficult, certainly far more expensive and much longer than a parliamentary system, and I really admire the people who subject themselves to it. Even when I, you know, think they should not be elected president, I still think, well, you know, good for you I guess, you're out there promoting democracy and those crazy ideas of yours.

There were free elections in Bulgaria, where the opposition has just won. In a democracy, the government is a reflection of society because people are elected. Sometimes the type of person from the old machine, who is everything but an appealing figure, happens to win an election. But democracy applies to everyone, not just the noble and the clever.

All the more reason we need to stand up for our democracy now. If we're going to solve the crises that are barreling down on us, we need democracy, and our democracy needs to start with an open and inclusive debate. That doesn't mean 20 candidates. There are four candidates who are on the ballot for just about every voter in America.

Democracy's ceremonial, its feast, it's great function, is the election.

It's great that we're bringing democracy to Iraq. I can't wait to see how we do it! What are we gonna do, give them our civics textbooks?

All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and wrong.