I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them.
George H. W. BushRead
It's too much show business and too much prompting, too much artificiality, and not really debates. They're rehearsed appearances.
Interpretation
This quote critiques the performative nature of political debates, suggesting they lack authenticity and genuine discussion.
George H. W. Bush remarks on the state of political debates, arguing that they have devolved into scripted and rehearsed performances rather than authentic discussions of ideas and policies. He emphasizes the artificiality that has come to dominate such events, implying that this detracts from meaningful discourse and the true democratic process.
In practice
This quote could be used during a political debate analysis to emphasize the lack of genuine interaction.
I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them.
One of the good things about the way the Gulf War ended in 1991 is, you'd see the Vietnam veterans marching with the Gulf War veterans.
Communism didn't fall. It was pushed.
The anchor in our world today is freedom, holding us steady in times of change, a symbol of hope to all the world.
Appeasement does not work. As was the case in the 1930s, we see in Saddam Hussein an aggressive dictator threatening his neighbors.
I will never apologize for the United States of America - I don't care what the facts are. Said after 'Vincennes' shot down an Iranian Airliner.
Wherever the Government does not emanate...from the people, the principle of the Government, the esprit de corps, the point of honour, in all those connected with it, and raised by it to privileges above the law and above humanity, will be hatred to the people.
The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make.
It has become more and more obvious that there is one political party in America, and that is The Business Party.
The 20th century shows that the form of government that we take for granted, a constitutional democratic republic with checks and balances and a rule of law - that form of government is usually temporary.
Congress hasn't declared war on the countries - the majority of them are our allies - but without asking for public permission, NSA is running network operations against them that affect millions of innocent people. And for what? So we can have secret access to a computer in a country we're not even fighting?
Back in 2014, my fellow Hong Kongers and I hoped to use nonviolent means to fight for our territory's democratic system - a simple right, promised by Beijing, to choose our own leader.
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