Quotes About Tactics

The art of politics is to separate actions from consequences

Never quit politicking and never underestimate your opponent.

Politics has rough manners, but it is a very useful thing.

Three months is a lifetime in politics.

Here is one of the first rules of politics: it's not enough that I do well; I must also destroy my enemy.

In politics there are no principles, just opportunities

Spin is overrated. It is strategy, not spin, that wins elections.

The most basic decision a modern politician must make is whether to be aggressive or conciliatory.

I'm afraid that's in the nature of modern politics - it's as much conducted by abuse as argument.

The fact is, presidential politics has become a game of inches.

When I campaigned, I'd let them throw a punch, but by gosh, I'd throw two back. I always said, the first rule in politics is never defend, always attack. I still believe that.

Bush is quite vulnerable if the Democrats pick the right issues. So far, though, they've shown their usual tendency to go for the capillary.

Diplomacy has more to do with (credible) threats than with sweet reason. And threats from America are a lot more credible, nowadays.

The golden rule has no place in a political campaign.

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.

Politics are very much like war. We may even have to use poison gas at times.

Politics is war without bloodshed and war is politics with blood.

Dirksen's Three Laws of Politics: 1. Get elected. 2. Get re-elected. 3. Don't get mad get even.

Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game and dumb enough to think it's important.

A politican is an animal who can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.

War is the continuation of politics by other means.

Because you've survived, there is a next strategy.

You don't win battles you walk away from.

You need a team for war, not for negotiation.