So, Our Troops Are Already Pentagon Cannon Fodder?
“From a political point of view, a stronger U.S. command presence [in Afghanistan] might make the war a harder sell in Canada and other countries. War opponents will no doubt claim that Canadian and others will be Pentagon cannon fodder. But the reality is that the NATO effort in Afghanistan is already heavily dependent on the United States.”
– David Bercusson, writing in the Globe and Mail
I’m John McCain, And I Didn’t Approve My Own Speech
“[Republican presidential candidate John McCain] has certainly I’m sure said things in town halls” that don’t jibe perfectly with his written plan. “But that doesn’t mean it’s official.”
– Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain’s chief economic adviser, explaining to Slate why what the candidate tells people about his economic plan disagrees with what he has written about it
What If Aliens Kidnapped Somebody’s Sister? What If Somebody Was Raiding Tombs In The Middle East? What If Somebody Was Approaching A Breakthrough On A Cure For Chlamydia? Gee, Jean Chretien Was Wrong: Hypotheticals Are Fun!
“I don’t know the reasons? What if somebody’s on vacation? What if somebody had a heart attack? What if somebody needs a kidney replacement? Or dialysis?”
– Tory MP Gary Goodyear, explaining why eleven senior Conservatives did not attend hearings into alleged Tory breaking of election financing rules
Actually, Mohammed Didn’t Found Islam Until 600 Years After The Bible Was Written – Are You Sure You Weren’t Confusing The Bible With Nostradamus?
“According To The Book Of Revelations, The Anti-Christ Will Be A Muslim Man In
His 40’s With Christ-Like Appeal & Who Will Promise False Hope & World Peace.
Say Hell No To Obama!”
– t-shirt sold to fundamentalist Christians
To Listen To Conservatives, You Would Think They Were Bloodless
“To listen to the arts community and the opposition, you would think that there’s blood in the streets.”
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Communication Director, Kory Teneycke, on the response to Conservative cuts to arts funding
Losing A War…Losing A Campaign – Who Says You Can’t Do Both, John?
“When we adopted the surge, we were losing the war in Iraq, and I stood up and said I would rather lose a campaign than lose a war. Apparently Senator Obama, who does not understand what’s happening in Iraq or fails to acknowledge the success in Iraq, would rather lose a war than lose a campaign.?”
– Republican presidential candidate John McCain
Oh, The Fix Is In, It’s Just Got Nothing To Do With Dates
“Fixed dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar? Hopefully, in the next election, we can run on our record and we won’t need the manipulation of the electoral calendar.”
– Stephen Harper, explaining the rationale for fixed date elections, May 26, 2006
“Quite frankly, I’m going to have to make a judgment in the next little while as to whether or not this Parliament can function productively.”
– Stephen Harper, explaining his rationale for ignoring the fixed date elections his government legislated, August 14, 2008
Do You Really Hate The Current Republican Government That Much?
“Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: change is coming.”
– John McCain, in his speech accepting the Republican Party’s presidential nomination
For Six Years, Republicans Controlled The White House, Congress And The Judiciary – What More Do They Want? The Pages And Kids Working At Kinko’s?
“We need change, all right. Change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington – throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin.”
– former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, speaking at the RNC
He Sure Boxed Her Earmarks
“I’ve championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress thanks, but no thanks, on that ‘Bridge to Nowhere.'”
– Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin
“[T]he federal budget, in its various manifestations, is incredibly important to us, and congressional earmarks are one aspect of this relationship.”
– Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who, in two years, lobbied for nearly $750 million in special federal spending, including for the ?Bridge to Nowhere?
“Earmarking deprives federal agencies of scarce resources, at the whim of individual members of Congress.”
– John McCain, citing three projects Palin lobbied for for her home state before he chose her as his running mate
Said Mister “Does This Sweater Vest Make Me Look More Folksy?”
“Your vote is not about personality fights. Your vote is about your own best interests.”
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper, explaining why Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should ignore Premier Danny Williams? campaign against the Conservatives
Give Us The American Population And Industrial Base, And You Can Have The Government Subsidies, Jim
“I live and work in Los Angeles, and there’s no funding for arts and culture in the American federal budget, or very, very little. The fact that you still have a budget, I think you should be thankful for it.”
– James Cameron, filmmaker and cultural policy advocate
Losing Seats In Support Of An Unpopular War Is Obviously Too Enormous A Sacrifice For Some To Make
“The menace of terror must be confronted. The horrors of the world will not go away if we turn a blind eye to them, no matter how far off they may be? These horrors cannot be stopped unless some among us are willing to accept enormous sacrifice and risk to themselves.”
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper, explaining in 2006 why it would be necessary for Canada to fight in Afghanistan
“At that point, the mission as we’ve known it, we intend to end it. I think you have to put an end date on these things? I really don’t think there?ll be much appetite among Canadians’to see [military] rotations continuing the way they’ve been after six years.”
– Prime Minister Stephen Harper, explaining in 2008 why it would be necessary for Canada to stop fighting in Afghanistan in 2011