Quotes by

John Podhoretz

The idea that the rest of the world was somehow being held hostage by the Arab-Israeli conflict once had a minimal basis in reality. In the first 20 years of Israels existence, every Arab country was in an active state of war with the Jewish state. – John Podhoretz

Youd think experienced political professionals would know better than to place their trust in exit polls, notoriously inaccurate surveys that had John Kerry winning the 2004 election by five points when he actually lost by three. – John Podhoretz

But like a born actor who only really wants to direct, Gingrich has always been unsatisfied with what hes brilliant at. He cant still his hunger to deliver grand pronouncements on life, liberalism, conservatism, religion and whatever else swims into his consciousness. – John Podhoretz

Political folk talk a lot these days about messaging – a neologism designed to describe the way in which parties and politicians consciously characterize their efforts. It is only intended to be positive – i.e., Our messaging is designed to show we care. – John Podhoretz

Heres a very good rule of thumb in politics: losing begets losing. – John Podhoretz

Nixon was an awful president in many ways, including in some of his foreign-policy choices. But he left no doubt that foreign policy and Americas leadership in the world outside its borders was of paramount importance to him. – John Podhoretz

Obama has seen to the passage of the most radical legislation in recent American history and so-called progressives should be thanking him for it – even as many of the rest of us rear in horror from its implications. – John Podhoretz

If you want to know why Republicans and conservatives are in a political crisis, you need only consider the fact that the Rights deeply held view now boils down to this: Taxes should not go up on the wealthy, and your health benefits should be cut. – John Podhoretz

Making recess appointments when the Senate isnt in recess is neither rational nor moderate. Its a raw misuse of executive power by a president whose love of government is his most vulnerable spot with the electorate. – John Podhoretz

The thing is, Obama is right that it would be a calamity for the government to default on its debt by not meeting its obligations. Such a thing has never happened and cant be allowed to happen. – John Podhoretz

The problem is that borrowing money to pay back more borrowed money that will oblige you in the future to borrow even more money doesnt sound kosher. Because it isnt. – John Podhoretz

The attack on ObamaCare was that Congress does not have the power under the Commerce Clause to force a private citizen into a private contractual relationship. If such a thing is permitted to stand, the anti-ObamaCare forces argue, there will be no limit to Congresss power in the future. – John Podhoretz

It has never made any sense to argue that, unique among the people of the world, Arabs are more concerned on a day-to-day basis about the treatment of people they dont know than they are about how theyre going to put food on their own tables, or whether their sons will ever find a job. – John Podhoretz

Your race and gender dont change, but you can choose to change your political affiliation at will. – John Podhoretz

The United States established itself as a trustworthy new nation in its first two decades after the Revolutionary War by paying its debts, even when many in the country believed it had no obligation to do so. Alexander Hamilton, the founder of this newspaper, insisted on it. – John Podhoretz

The classic rule of thumb is that if you are an intellectual ideological magazine, you do better in opposition than you do if your views are reflected by people in power. – John Podhoretz

You want a culture where citizens are free to express themselves and so live in the openness necessary to the functioning of a successful economy? Israel has a free press, much of it openly hostile to the parties in power. – John Podhoretz

This has always been the way of presidential politics. The president rises above the fray while his surrogates go on the attack. They throw the spears and fling the mud he sits upon the throne. – John Podhoretz

What people adore about superhero movies is the signal quality of the Christopher Nolan films – their complete lack of irony when it comes to the portrayal of heroism and the need for heroes to confront evil. – John Podhoretz

Newt Gingrich has a restless and outsized intelligence that is tragically unleavened by any kind of critical sensibility. – John Podhoretz