Mark Shields

“You can't have someone with a pinkie out there at the U.N. or any other place.”

“There is always strength in numbers. The more individuals or organizations that you can rally to your cause, the better.”

“In the 2004 presidential election, we saw a wonderful example of citizens making contributions. In fact, individual giving to both the Kerry and Bush campaigns was the highest in our nation's history.”

“Character is destiny and character is important to American campaigns.”

“John Kerry's biography was central to his campaign.”

“Iraq is in a civil war. There is no road in that country that is safe.”

“Let's not pretend that all of a sudden, this is some new system.”

“What you have is two men seeking the White House; they're both products of prominent New England families. They both went to private boarding schools. They both went to a prestigious university.”

“The advantage that hospitals have over other institutions is that hospitals are community-based. You can't outsource your work; you can't move your emergency department to Pakistan.”

“The important thing to understand about legislators is that there are dozens of competing interests and issues that occupy them. They are stretched thin.”

“You've got people who didn't serve with John Kerry saying they did serve with John Kerry in the boat. With George Bush, we can't find anybody who did serve with him.”

“John McCain has become the de facto running mate of George W. Bush.”

“I didn't realize the president was such an historian.”

“George Bush is trying to play it both ways.”

“I think any advocate who is effective has fully acquainted himself or herself with the legislator they are going to meet. Know what committees they are on, what issues they are interested in, all in an effort to build a bridge for communicating with them.”

“There's no question that Stalin broke the agreements made at Yalta completely about elections that were supposed to be held immediately in Poland, and Eastern Europe was plunged into slavery as a consequence.”

“Since the election, since the formation of a government, the death in Iraq has increased. The United States stands by, helpless to do anything about it. That's the reality, not George Bush's revisionist history!”

“Everybody who served in John Kerry's boat under his command, save one, has stood with him.”

“When the size of the group supporting your cause reaches a critical mass, any legislator or elected official has to pay attention.”

“As Bill Clinton said so eloquently at the convention, during Vietnam there was a chance to serve; there was a chance not to serve.”