Jonathan Alter Quotes (6 Quotes)

The Times will not comment on the meeting, but one can only imagine the presidents desperation. The problem was not that the disclosures would compromise national security, as Bush claimed at his press conference. ...No, Bush was desperate to keep the Times from running this important storywhich the paper had already inexplicably held for a yearbecause he knew that it would reveal him as a law-breaker.

When the word gets out that Dean isn't liberal - and in fact is quite conservative - on fiscal issues, he'll pick up more McCain support. On fiscal issues, he's far to the right of Ted Kennedy.

The only thing worse than a silly politician analyzing art is a silly artist analyzing politics

Bush was desperate to keep the Times from running this important story - which the paper had already inexplicably held for a year - because he knew that it would reveal him as a law-breaker. He insists he had 'legal authority derived from the Constitution and congressional resolution authorizing force.' But the Constitution explicitly requires the president to obey the law. And the post 911 congressional resolution authorizing 'all necessary force' in fighting terrorism was made in clear reference to military intervention. It did not scrap the Constitution and allow the president to do whatever he pleased in any area in the name of fighting terrorism.

the only reason the House hasn't done even more damage is that the Senate often sands down the most noxious ideas, making the bills merely bad, not disastrous.

With his ABC News experience, perhaps Pierre Salinger's next job could be cohosting-with Oliver Stone-a 24-hour Conspiracy Network.