Conversation Quote by John Dickerson

Good writing is like a windowpane.

— George Orwell

“It’s true, though, that we struggled to stay on message. My advisors had to deal with a candidate—me—who often wanted something new to say,…

— Hillary Rodham Clinton

That's insightful, but equally insightful is what they say afterwards. The other thing that I always point out is it's one thing to talk…

— Kurt Meyer

“To defend the indefensible, George Orwell once observed, political figures employ language that consists largely of “euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness.”

— Jack Cashill

You're basically like glass: People see the candidates through you.

— John Dickerson

“All political meetings are very much alike. Somebody gets up and introduces the speaker of the evening, and then the speaker of the evening…

— P.G. Wodehouse

Debates require a lot of hard work and preparation. If you try to wing it, it shows.

— Mark McKinnon

Before we start anything creatively, we have a firm understanding of our objective and our frame of mind for the campaign. Who's our audience,…

— David Droga

In the back and forth of a campaign, reporters, campaign press staff, and even the candidates can demand new policies in areas that have…

— Neera Tanden

Debates are set up for nothing more than to tear down the candidates. It's pretty hard to be able to sit and lay out…

— Rick Perry

Some candidates need to say provocative things that make noise to break through the media muffle and get themselves noticed.

— John Podhoretz

Debates must take place in an atmosphere of courtesy.

— John Allen Fraser