Partisanship Quotes

• Exploiting people's emotions of fear, envy and anxiety is not hope, it's not change, it's partisanship. We don't need partisanship. We don't need demagoguery, we need solutions.

  Paul Ryan

  People, Envy, Anxiety

  "Paul Ryan: No Leadership From WH; Dramatically Inaccurate Speech". www.realclearpolitics.com. April 13, 2011.

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• Ultimately journalism has changed... partisanship is very much a part of journalism now.

  Leslie Moonves

  Journalism, Changed

  "CBS President Says at Obama Fundraiser 'Partisanship Is Very Much a Part of Journalism Now'" by Noel Sheppard, www.newsbusters.org. June 7, 2012.

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• Colombians! My last wish is for the happiness of the patria. If my death contributes to the end of partisanship and the consolidation of the union, I shall be lowered in peace into my grave.

  Simon Bolivar

  Wish, Unions, Lasts

  Simon Bolivar's final proclamation to the people of Colombia (December 8, 1830) as quoted in Thomas Rourke "Man of Glory: Simon Bolivar", 1939.

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• Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one or the other.

  James Harvey Robinson

  Two Sides, Political, Atheism

  James Harvey Robinson (1921). “The Mind in the Making: The Relation of Intelligence to Social Reform”

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• Much indeed to be regretted, party disputes are now carried to such a length, and truth is so enveloped in mist and false representation, that it is extremely difficult to know through what channel to seek it. This difficulty to one, who is of no party, and whose sole wish is to pursue with undeviating steps a path which would lead this country to respectability, wealth, and happiness, is exceedingly to be lamented. But such, for wise purposes, it is presumed, is the turbulence of human passions in party disputes, when victory more than truth is the palm contended for.

  George Washington

  Wise, Country, Party

  George Washington, Jared Sparks (1836). “The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private, Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts; with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations”, p.40

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• The best defense against partisanship is expertise.

  Roger Angell

  Defense, Expertise

  "An Interview With Roger Angell: 'They Look Easy, But They're Hard'". Interview with Jared Haynes, thestacks.deadspin.com. 1992.

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• It's only natural for unbridled partisanship, unrestrained by allegiance to a greater cause, to lead to chaos.

  George Washington

  Causes, Chaos, Natural

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• One of the expedients of party to acquire influence, within particular districts, is to misrepresent the opinions and aims of other districts.

  George Washington

  Party, Opinion, Influence

  George Washington, United States. President (1789-1797 : Washington) (1847). “Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States of America: Published in September, 1796”, p.6

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• I think right now we need to look back at the founding values of our country. Rise above partisanship, be less bitter when it comes to important matters that have to be solved.

  Walter Isaacson

  Country, Thinking, Important

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• Officeholders are the agents of the people, not their masters.

  Grover Cleveland

  Offending, People, Political

  Grover Cleveland, United States. President (1885-1889 : Cleveland), United States. President (1893-1897 : Cleveland) (1968). “Grover Cleveland, 1837-1908: chronology, documents, bibliographical aids”

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• Partisanship may be King in Washington - but the rest of us don't have to pay tribute.

  Michael Bloomberg

  Kings, May, Pay

  Michael Bloomberg's Opening Address at Ceasefire Bridging the Political Divide Conference, annenberg.usc.edu. June 20, 2007.

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• The Senate used to be a place of great debate and accomplishment. Now it is run like a dictatorship shutting out the voices of millions of Americans.

  John Cornyn

  Leadership, Running, Party

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• The Post-Dispatch will serve no party but the people; be no organ of Republicanism, but the organ of truth; will follow no causes bit its conclusions; will not support the Administration, but criticize it; will oppose all frauds and shams wherever or whatever they are; will advocate principles and ideas rather than prejudices and partisanship.

  Joseph Pulitzer

  Party, Ideas, People

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• If you are tired of partisanship over patriotism, you need to vote for a change in direction.

  Jennifer Granholm

  Tired, Patriotism, Needs

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• One tell-tale sign of a Wingnut: they always confuse partisanship with patriotism.

  John Avlon

  Patriotism, Tales

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• Nobody doubts my partisanship, but a lot of the activity is nonpartisan.

  Norman Lear

  Doubt, Activity

  Interview with Tasha Robinson, www.avclub.com. April 27, 2005.

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• America is just so weird in what they think is right and wrong. Like, I was watching 'Breaking Bad' the other day, and they were cooking meth. I could literally cook meth because of that show. It's a how-to. And then they bleeped out the word 'f__k'. And I'm like, really? They killed a guy, and disintegrated his body in acid, but you're not allowed to say 'f__k'? It's like when they bleeped 'molly' at the VMAs. Look what I'm doing up here right now, and you're going to bleep out 'molly'?

  Miley Cyrus

  Leadership, Wisdom, Reality

  "Miley Cyrus: Confessions of Pop's Wildest Child" By Josh Eells, www.rollingstone.com. September 24, 2013.

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• I know CNN has taken some knocks lately but the fact is, I admire their commitment to covering all sides of the story, just in case one of them happens to be accurate.

  Barack Obama

  Taken, Commitment, Cnn

  "Obama cracks on Rubio's limited experience". articles.sun-sentinel.com. April 29, 2013.

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• Mr. Lincoln was generous by nature, and though his whole heart was in the war, he could not but respect the valor of those opposed to him. His soul was too great for the narrow, selfish views of partisanship. Brave by nature himself, he honored bravery in others, even his foes.

  Elizabeth Keckley

  Selfish, War, Heart

  Elizabeth Keckley (2016). “Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House”, p.60, Enhanced Media Publishing

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• You can't have the legislative and executive branch working in a parallel universe...the partisanship that has gripped Washington has prevented us from dealing with the issues that this country needs to grapple with to determine its future.

  Olympia Snowe

  Country, Issues, Needs

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• The man who cannot listen to an argument which opposes his views either has a weak position or is a weak defender of it. No opinion that cannot stand discussion or criticism is worth holding. And it has been wisely said that the man who knows only half of any question is worse off than the man who knows nothing of it. He is not only one-sided but his partisanship soon turns him into an intolerant and a fanatic. In general it is true that nothing which cannot stand up under discussion or criticism is worth defending.

  James E. Talmage

  Men, Views, Criticism

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• Partisanship must end at the waters edge.

  Harry S. Truman

  Water, Ends, Edges

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• Differences in political opinions are as unavoidable as, to a certain point, they may perhaps be necessary; but it is exceedingly to be regretted that subjects cannot be discussed with temper on the one hand, or decisions submitted to without having the motives, which led to them, improperly implicated on the other; and this regret borders on chagrin when we find that men of abilities, zealous patriots, having the same general objects in view, and the same upright intentions to prosecute them, will not exercise more charity in deciding on the opinions and actions of one another.

  George Washington

  Regret, Exercise, Men

  Jay A. Parry, Andrew M. Allison, George Washington (1991). “The real George Washington”, Natl Center for Constitutional

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• To the American people I say, awaken to what is happening. It is the duty of each citizen to be vigilant, to protect liberty, to speak out, left and right and disagree lest be trampled underfoot by misguided zealotry and extreme partisanship.

  Robert Byrd

  Speaks Out, People, Liberty

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• By pumping up hyper-partisanship, our country (America) is playing with forces that can easily get out of control. We are giving purpose and cover - and sometimes a sense of purpose - to the crazy among us. We are encouraging a culture of extremism

  John Avlon

  Country, Crazy, America

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