Quotes About Rhetoric

Newt Gingrich's rhetorical tics are well-known - his fondness for the word 'frankly,' his eagerness to frame even the most mundane development in dramatic world-historical terms, and his eagerness to accuse his enemies of practicing 'machine' politics.

Our words, actions, and diplomatic efforts should be aimed at trying to achieve pragmatic goals rather than creating rhetorical effect.

If you're a preacher, you talk for a living, so even if you don't make sense, you learn to make nonsense eloquently.

I passionately believe that's it's not just what you say that counts, it's also how you say it - that the success of your argument critically depends on your manner of presenting it.

I think Donald Trump's language and the way that he presents things oftentimes is not good.

No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favor with some Americans by castigating others.

Each day of the Obama presidency seems to bring a new, perversely delicious irony.

President Bush has consistently used rhetoric, and that is not convincing given his past record.

Rhetorically, President Obama is a champion of bipartisanship. In practice, though, he is almost always its enemy.

In order for President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden to be moderates, they just have to present themselves between the extremes of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul's isolationism and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's hawkishness - the difference between living in a cave or conducting ourselves so that we're in need of one.

Rather than do his job and agree to take responsible measures to get our government's finances in order, President Obama continues playing on the emotions and fears of the American people.

I hate it when Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi get to beat their drums and talk about what a great day it is for America that President Trump failed - when even they know ObamaCare is a total disaster.

There are people I know who love President Trump and think that he's the greatest thing that's ever happened to America. I understand those people. I'm not shocked by them. I defend their right to love him. But I do think character and rhetoric matter.

A great presidential address - Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, Truman's Farewell Address, Kennedy's Inaugural Address - has the power to inspire.

On style points alone, Donald Trump makes GWB look magnificently presidential.

Nigel Farage, the leader of the U.K. Independence Party, is a true populist; Senator Bernie Sanders, the former U.S. presidential candidate who campaigned for Hillary Clinton after losing his battle for the Democratic Party's nomination, is not.

The job of the president of the United States is to talk to the public, is to explain to them. Now, some presidents talk too much, like Bill Clinton. Some presidents try to talk but don't know how, like George Bush senior.

When a party is in opposition, it opposes. That's its job. But when it comes to power, it must govern. Easy rhetoric is over, the press of reality becomes irresistible. By necessity, it adopts some of the policies it had once denounced. And a new national consensus is born.

Politicians pretend not to be smart.

Populism is dangerous.

Newt Gingrich would cream Barack Obama in a debate.

A debate is a very specific kind of performance.

I was on the debate team.

There are no points for civility or decency when it comes to prosecuting the campaign against Donald Trump.