The politics of crime is not about a party's record or a candidates proposals, but about perceived character and values.
Susan EstrichGore will not win a popularity contest, he will not win a personality contest, but he can win an idealogical battle, and he can win a battle of experience.
Susan EstrichThe Olympics are coming... and it's a big problem in American politics, because the problem with holding the Olympics this fall is that we're all going to be focused on the Olympics, and it makes that window of opportunity for Gore to win the election that much smaller.
Susan EstrichMost people don't know who Ken Mehlman is. He's the chairman of the Republican Party, obviously, but what he's doing that Howard Dean isn't doing is spending a lot of time on the nuts and bolts of putting the party together.
Susan EstrichThe Democratic chairman doesn't need to be a household name. Most people didn't know who Ron Brown was when he was chairman of the Democratic Party, but he put the party in a position where Bill Clinton could come in and he had a solid base to run from.
Susan EstrichI'm always suspicious of really beautiful women telling us we shouldn't be worried about beauty.
Susan EstrichWhen you're standing in front of an audience like this that is so enthusiastic and so much behind you, it is very hard to give a bad speech. Even a bad speech sounds good in a convention hall like this.
Susan EstrichViolent predators are not like the rest of us. They kill for fun, for sport, for the sake of it. To compare them to animals is an insult to animals. To expect that we can rehabilitate them assumes a will to change.
Susan EstrichLoyalty isn't standing by someone when he's right - that's good judgment. Loyalty is standing by someone when he's wrong.
Susan EstrichSo many of us had hoped that the civil system might be an alternative for some women, where the burdens were a little bit less, and cases might be easier to prove.
Susan EstrichA lot of Republicans are white Christians, but the Republican Party is reaching out to Hispanics, and reaching out to blacks, and reaching out to Asians.
Susan EstrichI cant begin to count how many times I have warned politicians and candidates to worry as much about the good coverage as the bad, because the more air they put in your balloon, the bigger the target when they start shooting.
Susan EstrichI've been doing these conventions for 20 years, and we used to at least have debates about issues. Nothing is happening basically at this convention, other than speeches.
Susan EstrichHalf of me knows too much to be carefree. But the other half knows enough to be grateful.
Susan EstrichPerhaps the cruelest thing ever said of Hubert Humphrey was that he had the soul of a vice president.
Susan EstrichAffirmative action was never meant to be permanent, and now is truly the time to move on to some other approach.
Susan EstrichPeople hate negative tactics, but the fact is, as the 3 a.m. ad demonstrates, they can be very effective.
Susan EstrichEven the most powerful women I know go out of their way to say that they're not really interested in power. Imagine a man saying that.
Susan Estrich