List of political catch phrases

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The following is a list of political catch phrases, that is distinctive statements uttered by political figures that have gone on to become well-known, or infamous sayings.

They are distinct from political slogans in that they are often not deliberately created sayings, and may become famous for other, unintentional reasons, and thus go on to gain "a life of their own" in popular culture and imagination.

Contents 1 United States 2 Canada 3 United Kingdom 4 Australia

[edit] United States

• "My fellow Americans," said by many presidents at the beginning of major addresses to the nation. John F. Kennedy used it near the end of his inaugural, saying "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."
• "The Internet is a series of tubes," said by Ted Stevens.
• "I'm the decider," said by George W. Bush.
• "I hear there's rumors on the, uh, Internets, that we're going to have a draft," said by George W. Bush during the second 2004 election debates.
• "Well, actually, he forgot Poland," said by George W. Bush during the first 2004 election debate as a response to John Kerry's statement that the coalition of the willing to invade Iraq only consisted of the United States, Great Britain, and Australia.
• The "Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy," said by Hillary Clinton in reference to her political opponents.
• "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," said by Bill Clinton.
• "It's the economy, stupid," used by Bill Clinton in his successful 1992 presidential campaign.
• The "Giant sucking sound," first said by H. Ross Perot in reference to NAFTA.
• "Americans should be more like The Waltons and less like The Simpsons," said by George H. W. Bush.
• "Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy," said by Lloyd Bentsen in reference to Dan Quayle.
• "Read my lips: no new taxes," said by George H. W. Bush during the 1988 U.S. presidential election.
• "Mistakes have been made.", said by Ronald Reagan in defence of the Irangate scandal.
• "There you go again," said by Ronald Reagan to Jimmy Carter during their 1980 presidential debate.
• "You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore", said by Richard Nixon when he announced his retirement from politics.
• "I'm not a crook," said by Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal ("I am not a crook" is the phrase that is popularly attributed to Nixon, but in fact, his exact phrase was "People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.")
• "Let me make one thing perfectly clear," said by Richard Nixon
• "Make no mistake about that," said by Richard Nixon
• "Only Nixon could go to China," saying that became popular in the wake of Richard Nixon's breakthrough visit to The People's Republic of China.
• "The only thing we have to fear is, fear itself." Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
• "Four score and seven years ago...", Opening of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

[edit] Canada

• "Evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet," attributed to the campaign of Ernie Eves in reference to Dalton McGuinty.
• "Fuddle duddle," said by Pierre Trudeau in defense of profanity.
• "Just watch me," said by Pierre Trudeau in reference to the War Measures Act.
• "You had an option, sir," said by Brian Mulroney to John Turner.
• " a proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof, and when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven." said by Jean Chretien

[edit] United Kingdom

• "There is no such thing as Society," said by Margaret Thatcher.[1]

• "Education, education, education," said by Tony Blair in a speech identifying the priorities of his government.

• "I have nothing to offer you but blood, toil, sweat & tears", said by Winston Churchill about his prospects for the United Kingdom during World War II. This quote is often misquoted as "blood, sweat & tears".

• "Peace in our time", said by Neville Chamberlain in 1938 when he arrived back from the Conference of Munich.

• "We shall fight them on the beaches", said by Winston Churchill when he declared that Great Britain would never surrender to a Nazi invasion.

[edit] Australia

• "Well may we say 'God Save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General," said by Gough Whitlam after the announcement of the dissolving of Parliament.
• "The recession we had to have", said by Paul Keating regarding the late 1980s recession.
• "Please explain?", said by Pauline Hanson on being asked on 60 Minutes if she was xenophobic.
• "Life wasn't meant to be easy" attributed to Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister of Australia from November 1975 until March 1983