Paul Begala Quotes

Now in business we do a cost benefit analysis before we make policy changes. Washington should as well.

Successful and unsuccessful political policies have one commonalty. The people who created the policies thought they would be successful.

I'm going to make up my own mind as to what I think is in the best interest of our country and Florida.

In the formation of such a government, it is not only the right, but the indispensable duty of every citizen to examine the principles of it, to compare them with the principles of other governments, with a constant eye to our particular situation and circumstances, and thus endeavor to foresee the future operations of our own system, and its effects upon human happiness. Convinced of this truth, I have no apology to offer for the following remarks, but an earnest desire to be useful to my country.

When I became Prime Minister, I looked back on what was done before – what were the policies and actions before – and I thought that I need to be critical if I’m going to do anything at all.

My mantra about everything that has to do with public policy is: identify and reject the false choice.

I took a hasty trip to Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and England to talk to the officials of each Government about their pension provisions, and to talk to the responsible ministers in each country about the political "whys" of their legislation.

Politics cannot stop to study psychology Its methods are rough; its judgments rougher still.

What goes on in a person's head, what impels them to a political choice, it's a pretty complicated question.

I like Colin Powell, I like his West Indian background, I like his intellect, I like a lot of things that he does and his style. What is at fault here is a policy that's taking this country to hell.

The public life of every political figure is a continual struggle to rescue an element of choice from the pressure of circumstance.

Intelligence is to provide the facts to us. The facts will usually take you to the truth. And then, when we get the truth, we have got to make the decisions and do what's best for this country.

I think the Iraqis themselves will have to make a determination as to what type of government they ultimately come up with and what kind of nation they ultimately come up with. But they can continually use America's troops presence. The problem is not going to change until they are confronted with the reality that they have to make decisions and they have to make them themselves. They have to decide whether they want a country, whether they're willing to put their lives on the line and sacrifice for a national interest as opposed to a regional or sectarian interest.

I cannot allow a third party to decide on my country's future.

In political matters feeling often decides more correctly than reason.

Policy is driven by more than politics, however. It is equally driven by ideas.

The government that is wise will consider what is best for all its people.

A man who is influenced by the polls or is afraid to make decisions which make him unpopular is not a man to represent the welfare of the country.

In appointing our Ambassador to the United States at this important time, with the 1936 crisis ahead, such considerations as dignity, past career, equity and sentiment must be discarded and a man of ability chosen in the interests of the country. In the light of these considerations, we find Hiroshi Saito, present Minister of Holland, the right person for the post.

We do have a choice at the end of the day to say yes or to say no. There have been things that I have passed on where agents at the time were like, "you're crazy, why would you pass on this," because it wasn't something that I personally wanted to be a part of.

I have no regrets whatsoever that I have acted in a way to advance my country's interests

Although only a few may originate a policy, we are all able to judge it.

I wanted to work on policy because I think it really makes a difference.

To see economic policy as a problem of choice between rival ideologies is the greatest error of our time.

What's happening in Russia of course is you have a country watching out for its national interest.