#na

AP promoted me to the White House beat because I knew Clinton, his family, friends, and staff better than anybody in the national press corps. Those contacts helped me break a few stories and get my career in Washington jump-started. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#beat #because #better #break #career

'Argo,' 'Lincoln,' and 'Zero Dark Thirty,' three films honored with Best Picture Oscar nominations, lionize their Washington-anchored protagonists as crafty, competent, and virtually incorruptible. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#best picture #competent #crafty #dark #films

By nominating Chuck Hagel to be his Defense secretary, President Obama is putting forward an aloof contrarian who doesn't suffer fools - a striving politician who considers himself above politics. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#aloof #chuck #considers #defense #fools

Close elections tend to break toward the challenger because undecided voters - having held out so long against the incumbent - are by nature looking for change. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#because #break #challenger #change #close

It's a bit unfair to accuse Obama of dividing the nation when the facts show that it already is. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#already #bit #dividing #facts #nation

It's a deft trick to turn American exceptionalism into an exceptional political tactic. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#exceptional #into #political #tactic #trick

It's an appeal as old as America and its presidency: This is an extraordinary country populated by hard-working, big-dreaming, freedom-loving people graced by God when they're not pulling themselves up by the bootstraps. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#appeal #bootstraps #country #extraordinary #freedom-loving

Mandates are rarely won on election night. They are earned after Inauguration Day by leaders who spend their political capital wisely, taking advantage of events without overreaching. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#after #capital #day #earned #election

Most political journalists come to Washington because they're snappy writers, big thinkers, or news breakers. Me? My ticket to the big leagues had little to do with talent. It was mostly about the governor I was covering, Bill Clinton. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#because #big #big leagues #bill #bill clinton

Obama does not need to worry as much as past Democratic presidents about being labeled soft on national security - not after giving the order that led to the assassination of Osama bin Laden. No, his biggest concern is being labeled tone deaf on joblessness and debt. ↗

— Ron Fournier

#after #assassination #being #biggest #bin