PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

I always have loved a good quote, one that conveys more than the specific words used.

One of the best examples was called to my mind by the book, Gatekeepers, author Chris Whipple’s review of the performance and style of various chiefs of staff to American presidents, a particularly important topic in light of Donald Trump’s inability to keep a chief of staff, even a good one like John Kelly.

Whipple recalls this quote from President Ronald Reagan, one uttered in a debate against his Democrat challenger Walter Mondale in a 1984 presidential debate. It was this good-natured ad lib, which still resonates today many years later.

“I will not make age an issue in this campaign,” Reagan intoned. “I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

Mondale didn’t know what to say, so, smartly, said nothing, though he had to laugh at the line.

In presidential debates, the Reagan quote rivals one uttered by Senator Lloyd Bentsen who was running for vice president against Dan Quayle. In response to one of Quayle’s statements that referenced former President John F. Kennedy, Bentsen, looking pointedly and bemusedly at the younger Quayle, said:

“Mr. Quayle, you are no John Kennedy.”

Again, the quote still resonates today, though, of course Quayle eventually was elected vice president and Bentsen was not.

A third solid quote comes from former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She said this:

“The problem with socialism is that you always run out of other people’s money.”

She could have been talking these days about big-government proposals from Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren who always want to spent other people’s money to do what they want to do.

Or, consider this over-the-top quote from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in his recent inaugural speech.

“Here’s the truth. Brothers and sisters, there’s plenty of money in the world. There’s plenty of money in this city. It’s just in the wrong hands.”

Of course, he wants your money in his own hands so he can mount even more government programs.

The Wall Street Journal analyzed the quote this way:

“American politics is in part an eternal battle between those who prize freedom and those who demand equality, between the forces of income growth and those of income redistribution, and in 2019 the redistributors are on the march. For the purest distillation of the socialist impulse, look no further than de Blasio’s statement of raw political purpose…”

As I reflect on these quotes, each says more than just the words. And, I am still reflecting on my ability, so far not yet realized, to utter a memorable quote of my own. There is still time.