Political Expediency Quotes

The first rule of economics is that there is an infinite number of desires chasing a finite number of goods, services and resources. The first rule of politics is to ignore the first rule of economics.

It is fascinating to watch politicians come up with 'solutions' to problems that are a direct result of their previous solutions. In many cases, the most efficient thing to do would be to repeal their previous solution and stop being so gung-ho for creating new solutions in the future. But, politically, that is the last thing they will do.

If he [Franklin Delano Roosevelt] became convinced tomorrow that coming out for cannibalism would get him the votes he so sorely needs, he would begin fattening a missionary on the White House backyard come Wednesday.

Dumping Rockefeller from the ticket was the most cowardly thing I have ever done.

Politics can be relatively fair in the breathing spaces of history; at its critical turning points there is no other rule possible than the old one, that the end justifies the means.

Common sense is no match for political opportunism.

Politics are impossible without spoils.... You have to deal with men as they are ... you must bribe the masses with spoils.

… only an empty political formula

Politics are about preserving relationships at the end of the day, and it has nothing to do with the greater good for humanity. It's just all about business.

If support for traditional marriage is bigotry, then Barack Obama was a bigot until just before the 2012 election.

The purification of politics is an iridescent dream. Government is force.... The Decalogue and the Golden Rule have no place in a political campaign. The commander who lost the battle through the activity of his moral nature would be the derision and jest of history.

A politician will do anything to keep his job—even become a patriot.

There is no such thing as eternal friendship or eternal hostility– only eternal interests.

The single biggest weakness that politicians have as a group is that they want people to like them.

Practical politics consists in ignoring facts.

Politics is a matter of day-to-day improvisation, and it often seems as though the major parties are guided only by the desire to stay in office and not by any philosophy that might justify their doing so.

A Constitution is not meant to be a flexible arrangement which evolves from one decade to another depending on political expediency.

The Governor is not one who opposes swapping horses while crossing a stream. He will change a horse for a mule, a mule for a goat, and a goat for a shoat. If there is a mane or tail to which to cling, Franklin D. Roosevelt will not scorn to take hold so long as the beast is traveling in his direction.

We always make the mistake in the United States of America in Democratic or Republican administrations alike is we tend to embrace the despot that's least troublesome to us. That should not be the way we view things.

… all governments must frequently infringe the rules of justice to support themselves; that truth must give way to dissimulation, honesty to convenience, and humanity itself to the reigning interest. The whole of this mystery of iniquity is called the reason of state. It is a reason which I own I cannot penetrate.

In every political community there are varying shades of political opinion. One of the shadiest of these is the liberals. An outspoken group on many subjects. Ten degrees to the left of center in good times. Ten degrees to the right of center if it affects them personally. Here, then, is a lesson in safe logic.

Politicians are ready to suspend their beliefs or policy positions in the name of electoral success. When belief collides with public opinion, belief often goes.

A prudent ruler cannot and should not observe faith [keep his promises] when such observance is to his disadvantage.

Before some things can be politically expedient, they must first become popular.

What I've certainly learned is that whenever I've said anything about real politics, I've come under attack. So it's best simply to play politics on television.