Although virtually all Republicans campaign on fiscal restraint, how many actually care about it deeply?
My heart aches watching Donald Trump... pouring his heart out... How can anyone doubt his sincerity?
Men and not measures are, no doubt, the very life of politics. But then it is not the fashion to say so in public places.
President Obama came to office proclaiming that he aims to solve problems, not hand them on to our children. Most presidents say that sort of thing.
One of the most fascinating aspects of politician-watching is trying to determine to what extent any politician believes what he says.
The only way you can be comfortable about Donald Trump's foreign policy, is to think he doesn't really mean anything he says.
If there was one lesson to be drawn from Bush's appearance (on 'Meet the Press') it's that he doesn't have to be forthcoming or honest. And he's the first to tell you why. (Bush:) 'I'm a war president.' He added: 'I guess I should have told you that back in 2000.'
A lot of politicians say they want to get people out to vote; sometimes you can't totally believe they really want that.
Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.
Does one ever read a politician's books?
I always judge people who spend a lot of time in public office say they care about things, if the day after they leave, they no longer talk about them, then I don't think they cared much about them.
I think if there's anything that's important today, it's credibility with the voter, because the voter is tired of being sold a bill of goods.
The best time to listen to a politician is when he's on a stump on a street corner in the rain late at night when he's exhausted. Then he doesn't lie.
Trump has not masked who he is. Trump has not behaved like the Democrats do. He does not go out and camouflage. He doesn't present a side of him that isn't real. He doesn't lie to people about what he believes. Although he has broken a serious promise. And he's got some immigration people that voted for him that are a little angry about that. That must be mentioned. But other than that, Trump voters know Trump is who he is. He doesn't act, he doesn't put on a front, he doesn't make up things - as opposed to the Democrats who can't be honest about who they are.
This gentleman has taken on the very fashionable theme of fighting corruption and I say again: In order to fight corruption you have to be crystal clear yourself. But there are problems here, and in this regard I unfortunately have a suspicion that this is just a way of getting votes and not a genuine desire to solve the problem.
Maybe its time for politicians to fight back a little bit in terms of this notion that politicians are all in it for themselves, we're all the same, we're not driven by sincere motives. Because the fact of the matter is the vast majority are.
Politicians... say what they say - you might get every now and again a genuine one, innit? But I think people, like, as a whole make the difference.
Voters aren't asking to be pandered to and aren't asking to be tricked.
I think Dona;d Trump is sincere in wanting to be a successful president and moving this country forward and I don't think any president ever comes in saying to himself "I want to figure out how to make people angry or alienate half the country."
I never met a politician who didn't want to be a guitar player in a rock band. I've got the opportunity to say what I believe in.
Mr. Corbyn reminds mature people of the days when the big parties really differed. He impresses the young because he doesn't patronise them, and obviously believes what he says.
The hardest thing to do in politics is campaign as someone you aren't. People can spot an imposter from a mile away.
Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about the Bill of Rights most of the time.
I wasn't out there pretending I was a conservative Democrat. I'm somebody who has talked a lot about and has done the act of running as who you are.
Christie led the way - with a bulldozer. The governor is blunt, brash, and self-consciously authentic, the antithesis to what turns off today's voters: flip-flopping politicians who speak in poll-tested platitudes. Yes, he's the anti-Romney.
