Fred Barnes

Journalist

Fred Barnes is a prominent political journalist and commentator known for his insights on American politics and leadership dynamics.

Born
November 1, 1943
Quotes
16
Rank
#3901

About Fred Barnes

Fred Barnes — Life and Legacy

Fred Barnes is a seasoned political journalist and commentator, recognized for his extensive analysis of American politics. With a career spanning decades, he has contributed to various media outlets, including The Weekly Standard and Fox News, where his insights on political strategy and leadership have shaped public discourse. Barnes's core thinking revolves around the complexities of governance, often emphasizing the need for bipartisanship and the media's role in shaping political narratives. He asserts that effective leaders must navigate the intricate realities of their political environment, stating that, 'Leadership is about making tough choices in the face of uncertainty.' This perspective reflects his belief that true leadership requires a balance of vision and pragmatism, especially in a polarized political landscape. His critiques of partisanship highlight the potential dangers of ideological extremes, advocating for a more collaborative approach to governance. Barnes's quotes and analyses continue to resonate, providing valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of American politics.

Quote collection

Fred Barnes quotes

16 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Overreaction is one of the things that congress specializes in. I can't think of anything congress does better than overreact."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"The mainstream media may have trouble resisting the temptation to declare that Karl Rove has been demoted, but the truth is quite the contrary. By giving up his role as deputy White House chief of staff, Rove has been freed to do what he does best: shape big issues and develop strategies to win elections."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Obama specializes in knocking down straw men. 'I reject the view that says our problems will simply take care of themselves,' he said, implying that's the view of Republicans. It's the view of almost no one."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Presidents with strong nerves are decisive. They don't balk at unpopular decisions. They are willing to make people angry. Bush had strong nerves. Clinton, who passed up a chance to eliminate Osama bin Laden, did not. Obama is a people pleaser, a trait not normally associated with nerves of steel."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"President Obama insists hes a free-market guy. But you have to wonder whether he understands how a free economy really works."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Candidates don't have to deal with reality. They talk about the wonderful things they can accomplish as if advocating them is the same as achieving them. They live in a world of political make-believe in which everything from reconciling conflicting interests to paying for costly programs is easy."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Obama sounded like Al Gore on global warming. The more the case for man-made warming falls apart, the more hysterical Gore gets about an imminent catastrophe. The more public support his stimulus bill loses, the more Obama embraces fear-mongering."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Ronald Reagan has a story for every occasion. Bill Clinton has an excuse for every occasion."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Never miss it - that's the second biggest compliment I'd give to RealClearPolitics.com. The first is that it has become indispensable to anyone, in or outside of journalism, who's interested in politics, policy, or world affairs."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Thomas Sowell is America's foremost public intellectual and for good reason. His work covers almost every subject imaginable- race, economics, Marxism, ethnic groups, immigration patterns, just to name a few. He is persuasive and provocative and always scintillating. I've read all his books and never been even faintly disappointed. Black Rednecks & White Liberals is no exception."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"The coverage of Central America in recent months points up one of the ugly truths about the American press: the better the news, the less of it you get. As the war began to turn against the Communist guerillas in El Salvador, there was a palpable dip in the attention paid to it."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Religion's crucial role in the lives of many people... is rejected out of hand by the political community, especially the press."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"The American people are not as casualty-sensitive as the weenies in the American press are."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"The only person who was a strong public opponent of the war in Iraq is Barack Obama. The other people weren't. So I can understand why all the left is mad, because they're being shut out."

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Fred Barnes Journalist
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"Conservatives won't want to hear this, but the Republican who maneuvered his way into the most impressive victory of the election was California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Okay, he's sui generis. But he won a landslide victory after moving to the center, while holding onto conservatives by not hiking taxes."

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