List of political catch phrases

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.

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.

Argentina

*"Hay que pasar el invierno." ("We have to endure through winter.") [ [http://www.elortiba.org/ayernomas2.html Ayer Nomas] , accessed 2008-5-26] — Said in 1960 by Minister of Economy Álvaro Alsogaray, referring to the hardships required to get through the economic troubles in the country at the time.
*"¡Un médico a la derecha, por favor!" ("A doctor to the right, please!") — Said by presidential candidate Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín in 1983, [ [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/registracion/ln/suPerfil.asp?ID=544520 Lanacion] , accessed 2008-5-26]
*"La casa está en orden. ¡Felices Pascuas!" - ("The house is in order. Happy Easter!") - said by then president Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín, after a limited military uprising just before Easter, when he was forced to negotiate a surrender from which the rebels walked free. Used sarcastically. [ [http://kunstenfestivaldesarts.be/fr/2002/tantanian/dairy02.html kunstenFESTIVALdesarts] , Alejandro Tantanian, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"¡Síganme, no los voy a defraudar!" ("Follow me, I won't let you down!") - catchphrase by Carlos Saúl Menem during his first presidency campaign. Used now when one expects to be deceived by another. [ [www.argentinaelections.com/2007/10/a_un_dia_de_las_elecciones.php ArgentinaElections.com] , 2007-10, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Hermanito querido..." ("My dear little brother...") - familiar term used by then president Carlos Saúl Menem, usually before a sarcastic remark. Used now, with its particularly province sing-song, in a jokingly derogatory way, when explaining something seemingly obvious to someone else.Fact|date=May 2008
*"Estamos mal, pero vamos bien." ("We're bad, but getting better." - used by then president Carlos Saúl Menem in 1990 referring to the general state of affairs in the country. [http://www.cronista.com/notas/136058-100-frases Cronista.com] , Matías Fuentes, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Dicen que soy aburrido..." ("They say I am boring") - campaign repeatly phrase from Fernando De la Rua in 1999..
*"El país está... Bien." ("The country is... fine.") - A phrase said by Fernando De la Rua when the 2000 Argentine Crisis started.
*"Estamos condenados al éxito" ("We are doomed to success") - Phrase recurrently used by Eduardo Duhalde during his exercise of presidency after the 2001 crisis. [ [http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/04/27/um/m-01408132.htm Clarin.com] , 2007-4-27, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Mi voto no es positivo" (My vote is not positive) - Phrase said by vicepresident Julio Cobos in 2008 when he voted against the controversial proyect of his own President [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7511111.stm] .

Australia

*"For the first time, we have a nation for a continent, and a continent for a nation." Said by Sir Edmund Barton, first Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, in the 1890s. [ [http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/5557/barton.html Geocities.com] , Quotes from Barton, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"The forgotten people." Said in a 1942 speech by Robert Menzies, referring to the middle class, defined as lying between "the rich and powerful: those who control great funds and enterprises, and are as a rule able to protect themselves" and "the mass of unskilled people, almost invariably well-organised, and with their wages and conditions safeguarded by popular law". [ [http://www.australianpolitics.com/parties/liberal/1942forgotten-people.shtml AustralianPolitics.com] , accessed 2008-10-10]
*"The light on the hill." Said in a 1949 speech by Ben Chifley, referring to the objective of the Australian Labor Party: "not as putting an extra sixpence into somebody's pocket, or making somebody Prime Minister or Premier, but as a movement bringing something better to the people, better standards of living, greater happiness to the mass of the people. We have a great objective - the light on the hill". [ [http://www.australianpolitics.com/parties/alp/chifley-light-on-hill.shtml AustralianPolitics.com] , accessed 2008-10-10]
*"Well may we say 'God Save the Queen', because nothing will save the Governor-General." Said by dismissed Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on 11 November 1975 after he had been sacked by Governor-General Sir John Kerr. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/general/the-dismissal-a-brief-history/2005/11/10/1131578175136.html The Age] , accessed 2008-5-26]
*"This is the recession that Australia had to have." Said by national Treasurer Paul Keating in 1990 regarding the late 1980s recession. [ [http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/meetpm.asp?pageName=before&pmId=24 Australian Government Prime Minister's Web Site] , accessed 2008-5-26] [ [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/20/1097951764535.html?from=moreStories The Age] , accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Please explain!" Said by Pauline Hanson, founder of the anti-immigration One Nation Party, on being asked in October 1996 on the television show 60 Minutes if she were xenophobic. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2010782.stm BBC News] , accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Life wasn't meant to be easy." Attributed to Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister of Australia from November 1975 until March 1983 (but is in fact a quotation from 'Back to Methuselah' by George Bernard Shaw) [ [http://www.australianbiography.gov.au/fraser/interview6.html AustralianBiography.gov.au] , transcript of interview with Malcolm Fraser, accessed 2008-5-26] .
*"Ease the squeeze" Said by Mark Latham [ [http://australianpolitics.com/news/2004/09/04-09-29_latham.shtml AustralianPolitics.com] , unedited campaign video by Mark Latham, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Don't you worry about that" Said by Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Farewell-Sir-Joh-the-great-divider/2005/04/24/1114281454295.html The Sydney Morning Herald] , 2005-4-24, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"I call it feeding the chooks" Said by Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/featureitems/s1302903.htm ABC Australia] , 2005-4-23, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Keep the bastards honest" - Don Chipp, leader of the Australian Democrats

Austria

*"Lernen Sie Geschichte, Herr Reporter!" ("Study History, Mr. Reporter") said by then Chancellor Bruno Kreisky to TV Journalist Ulricht Brunner, who had questioned Kreisky's comparing the actions of political opponents to fascism in the 30s. [citeweb|url=http://diepresse.com/home/kultur/news/296191/index.do|title=LEGENDÄR: „Lernen Sie Geschichte, Herr Reporter!“|publisher=Die Presse|date=6.4.2007]
*"Ohne die Partei bin ich nichts" ("Without the Party I am nothing") said by Federal Chancellor Fred Sinowatz of the then Austrian Socialist Party [ [http://derstandard.at/?id=2958532 Der Standard] , accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Ich weiß, das klingt alles sehr kompliziert...", usually rendered as "Es ist alles sehr kompliziert..." ("I know, this all sounds complicated...", "Everything is very complicated...") said by Federal Chancellor Fred Sinowatz; the phrase is used ironically to hide the fact that one is not able to elaborate on a subject or may even be clueless about it. [ [http://www.cas.umn.edu/pdf/wp926.pdf Parliamentary Politics in a Multinational Setting: Late Imperial Austria] , Lothar Höbelt, Department of History, University of Vienna, 1992, accessed 2008-5-26.]

Belgium

In Dutch
*"Voor mij is de grondwet geen vodje papier. Ik ga van deze tribune weg, ik ga naar de Koning en ik bied het ontslag van de regering aan" (For me the constitution is no silly piece of paper. I will step off this platform, I will go to the king and I will offer the dismissal of the government.) said by Leo Tindemans - 1978 [ [http://www.radio3.be/html/ev_nacht-geschiedenis-2008.html Radio3, Belgium] , accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Je moet de problemen alleen oplossen als ze zich stellen" ("You only have to solve problems when they present themselves") said by Jean-Luc Dehaene [ [http://www.sportwereld.be/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleID=GUI15S880 SportWereld.be] , accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Vijf minuten politieke moed" ("Five minutes of political courage") - Yves Leterme [ [http://lvb.net/item/5196 Een uitweg uit de crisis: vijf minuten politieke moed] , 2007-8-24, accessed 2008-5-26]

Brazil

*"E se o Pitta não for um bom prefeito, nunca mais vote em mim." ("If Pitta can't be a good mayor, you should never vote for me again.") - said by Paulo Maluf in the campaign for the 1996 São Paulo city elections, where he supported Celso Pitta. [ [http://www.digestivocultural.com/colunistas/imprimir.asp?codigo=2024 Digestivo] , Rafael Fernandes São Paulo, 2006-8-23, accessed 2008-5-26]
*"Estuprem, mais não matem"("Rape, but don´t kill.") Said by Paulo Maluf during his political campaign for mayor in the 80´s.
*"Relaxa e goza." ("Relax and enjoy.") - said by Marta Suplicy at the peak of the 2006–2007 Brazilian aviation crisis, taken from an older, longer non-political popular saying, "Se a curra é inevitável, relaxa e goza."("If you can't avoid the rape, just relax and enjoy".) The word "goza" comes from the verb "gozar"; this verb is used in Brazil when someone is having an orgasm. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQXoJCDow2Q YouTube video] showing the quote. Accessed 2008-5-26.]
*"Bebo-o porque é líquido. Se fosse sólido, comê-lo-ia" ("I drink it because it's liquid. If it were solid, I would eat it.") - said by Jânio Quadros when asked by a reporter why he used to drink. [ [http://www.observatoriodaimprensa.com.br/artigos.asp?cod=277CIR001 Complexo de vira-lata] , Observatório da Imprensa, Carlos Brickmann, 2004-5-18, accessed 2008-5-26.]
*"Vagabundo! Vagabundo! Respeita doente!" (" [You] Bum! [You] Bum! Respect sick people!") - said by Gilberto Kassab while throwing a protester out of a public hospital. [ [http://imundonet.blogspot.com/2007/02/video-prefeito-kassab-hospital.html Video of the quote] by Kassab, accessed 2008-5-26.]
*"Nunca antes na história deste país..." ("Never before in the history of this country...") - Said by Lula whenever he praises his own government. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8BO94cz_tA Youtube videos] of Lula showing the same quote used in different settings, accessed 2008-5-26.]

Canada

*"We shall be Canadians first, foremost, and always, and our policies will be decided in Canada and not dictated by any other country." John G. Diefenbaker [ [http://uregina.ca/~rheaults/rhetor/2007/maclennan.pdf Signposts of Cultural Identity] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Evil reptilian kitten-eater from another planet", attributed to the campaign of Ernie Eves in reference to Dalton McGuinty [ [http://archive.democrats.com/preview.cfm?term=Conservatives Democrats Archieve] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Let us be English or let us be French . . . and above all let us be Canadians." John A. Macdonald [ [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/series/primeministers/stories/jam-20020112-1.html The Globe and Mail:Prime Ministers] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Fuddle duddle", said by Pierre Trudeau when attempting to explain away his use of profanity in the Canadian House of Commons [ [http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/02/16/ On This Day - Feb. 16, 1971 - CBC Archives] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation", Pierre Trudeau, as justice minister, 1967. [ [http://dir.salon.com/story/opinion/feature/2005/06/30/canada_same_sex/index.html salon.com] , accessed 2007-8-25.]
*"Just watch me", said by Pierre Trudeau in reference to the War Measures Act. [ [http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/QuebecHistory/docs/october/watchme.htm Trudeau’s "Just watch me" Interview - Quebec History] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Our hopes are high. Our faith in the people is great. Our courage is strong. And our dreams for this beautiful country will never die", said by Pierre Trudeau. [ [http://www.rural.gc.ca/dialogue/youth/03/guide_e.phtml Canadian Rural Partnership] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Canada is a country whose main exports are hockey players and cold fronts. Our main imports are baseball players and acid rain", said by Pierre Trudeau. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/winter02/hockey/story?id=1340116 ESPN.com - Fifty years is a long time in-between golds] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"You had an option, sir", said by Brian Mulroney to John Turner [ [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-1181-6516/politics_economy/federal_elections/ Mulroney vs. Turner - CBC Archives] , accessed 2008-05-26.] .
*"Conscription if necessary, but not necessarily conscription." Said by William Lyon Mackenzie King, it reflected the federal government's ambiguous response to conscription in World War Two, which eventually led to the Conscription Crisis of 1944 [ [http://www.ciss.ca/Comment_MissileDefenceMuddle.htm The Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"I don't know... 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 Chrétien [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX6XMIldkRU Video of Jean Chrétien's speech] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"For me, pepper, I put it on my plate", said by Jean Chrétien in response to a question by Nardwuar the Human Serviette regarding Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers pepper-spraying protestors at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. [Nardwuar vs. Jean Chrétien, [http://www.nardwuar.com/vs/jean_chretien/] . www.nardwuar.com, accessed 2007-7-20.]
*"Gentlemen, we must all realize that neither side has any monopoly on sons of bitches", said by C.D. Howe while in Washington, D.C. to resolve a shipping dispute [ [http://www.whimsy.org.uk/canada.html Canadian Quotations] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong... Freedom includes the right to say what others may object to and resent... The essence of citizenship is to be tolerant of strong and provocative words", said by John Diefenbaker [ [http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/~felwell/HomePage/aphorisms.htm Aphorisms] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Billion dollar boondoggle!" - said by Preston Manning [ [http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/history&people/canada_y2k.html CanadaInfo: History & People: Canada Y2K] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

Denmark

*"Der er ikke fejet noget ind under gulvtæppet" ("Nothing has been swept under the rug"), Poul Schlüter Danish Prime Minister in 1989.

Dominican Republic

*"La Constitución es sólo un pedazo de papel." (The Constitution is just a piece of paper.) Joaquín Balaguer in 1994.
*"El problema del dengue se resuelve si cada dominicano mata diez mosquitos diarios." (Dengue issues can be solved if each Dominican kills ten mosquitoes per day.) José Rodríguez Soldevila, former Minister of Health.
*"Si me topan, la República cogerá fuego por las cuatro esquinas." (If they touch me, the Republic will burn by its four corners.) José Francisco Peña Gómez, during the 1994 elections, about an alleged assassination attempt.
*"He pooped out of the box."(Se hizo pupú fuera del cajón.) Joaquín Balaguer, accusing Peña Gómez of paranoia, during the 1994 elections.
*"No hay presos políticos, sino políticos presos." (There are no political prisoners, but jailed politicians.) Joaquín Balaguer in 1978.

Germany

* "Was geht mich mein Geschwätz von gestern an. Man wird ja wohl noch hinzulernen dürfen." (What do I care about my yesterday's waffle. It's not illegal to get wiser after all.) Konrad Adenauer [ [http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/politik/2008/02/26/darf-die-spd/umfrage/umfrage,geo=3866342.html Darf die SPD mit der SED-Nachfolgepartei gemeinsame Sache machen...] , Bild, accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Wir wollen mehr Demokratie wagen." (We want to dare more democracy.) Willy Brandt on the plans of the social-liberal coalition [ [http://www.bundestag.de/geschichte/parlhist/streifzug/g1960/g1960_8.html Deutscher Bundestag: 1969 "Mehr Demokratie wagen"] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Maß halten" (Don't overdo it.) Ludwig Erhard's warning against an overheating economy in the 1960s [ [http://www.zeitreport.de/soziale-marktwirtschaft%202.pdf Die Soziale Marktwirtschaft – Ludwig Erhard und das Wirtschaftswunder] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Mit Verlaub, Herr Präsident, Sie sind ein Arschloch." (With all due respect, Mr. President, you are an asshole.) Joschka Fischer [ [http://www.stern.de/politik/panorama/596886.html Politiker-Beschimpfungen : 'Arschlöcher' und 'Arrogante Affen ...] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Wirtschaft ist für die Menschen da, und nicht umgekehrt, und Demokratie gehört bei die Wirtschaft mit bei." (The economy is for the people, and not vice versa, and democracy belongs to the economy.) Franz Müntefering [ [http://dezember1999.spd-parteitag.de/reden/muentefering.doc Franz Müntefering, Generalsekretär der SPD: Liebe Genossinnen und ...] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Niemand hat die Absicht, eine Mauer zu errichten." (No one intends to build a wall.) Walter Ulbricht a couple of months before the Berlin Wall was built [ [http://de.encarta.msn.com/media_81573934_721524708_-1_1/Walter_Ulbricht_%E2%80%9ENiemand_hat_die_Absicht_eine_Mauer_zu_errichten%E2%80%9D.html Walter Ulbricht: „Niemand hat die Absicht, eine Mauer zu errichten] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Ich bin schwul, und das ist auch gut so!" (I am gay, and it's good this way.) Klaus Wowereit, Berlin Mayor phrasing his coming out [ [http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/berlin_mayor.html City Mayors: Klaus Wowereit - Mayor of Berlin] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

Indonesia

* "Gitu aja kok repot"?" (Why bother?) Former president Abdurrahman Wahid's popular repeating catchprase.
* "Bersama kita bisa"." (Together we can.) Slogan of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during 2004 presidential election.

India

*"We need to take India into the 21st Century" - by Rajiv Gandhi, ex prime minister of India in 1980s [ [http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lsdeb/ls10/ses5/1602129207.htm Sir, in this country, the effect of urbanisation are very bad] , Excerpts from the Parliament of India sessions, accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan" (Hail the soldier, hail the farmer) - Lal Bahadur Shastri, ex prime minister of India [ [http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Independent/Shastri.html Manas: History and Politics, Lal Bahadur Shastri] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Garibi Hatao (Abolish poverty)" - Indira Gandhi, ex prime minister of India in the 1970s [ [http://www.indianchild.com/indira_gandhi.htm Indira Gandhi - India History, Biography of Indira Gandhi] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Quit India" - Mahatma Gandhi in the 1940s [ [http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Gandhi/Quit.html Manas: History and Politics, Quit India] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"My heart beats for India" - The Congress (I) Party, late 1980s [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE6D81231F936A25752C1A96F948260 Selling of India: Tough Ads by Congress Party - New York Times] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"India Shining" - The BJP, 2004 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3756387.stm BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | BJP admits 'India Shining' error] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

Mexico

*"Un político pobre, es un pobre político" (A politician that is poor is only a poor politician) - Carlos Hank González, old-guard politician and Forbes listed billionaire from Mexico's PRI (the then long-time ruling party) commenting on Mexico's crop of hugely enriched politicians (of which he was a prime example) [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_12_15/ai_54246287/pg_2 Family Affairs - Mexican businessman and politician Carlos Hank ...] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"La política es como las fotos, el que se mueve, no sale" ("Politics is like photography; if you move, you won't show up") - Fidel Velázquez, old-guard politician and worker's union corrupt leader, commenting on how inaction is often a better recipe in politics (especially old-style Mexican politics) [ [http://www.argonmexico.com/al-margen/politica-al-margen-33.html Política Al Margen - Argon Mexico] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

Netherlands

*"At your service" - Pim Fortuyn, populist politician a few months before his assassination [ [http://www.elsevier.nl/biografie/biografieartikel/asp/biografie/541/hoofdstuk/7/artikel/193711/index.html Elsevier.nl - Biografie - Biografieën - Oud-politici] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Congressen kopen geen straaljagers" (Political conferences don't purchase fighter jets) - Henk Vredeling, Defense minister Labour Party PvdA ( [ [http://www.refdag.nl/artikel/1321062/In+memoriam+H.+Vredeling+(1924-2007).html In memoriam H. Vredeling (1924-2007)] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Fatsoen moet je doen" (Decency is imperative) - Jan-Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister, Christian-Democratic party ( [ [http://www.minaz.nl/Actueel/Toespraken/2002/11/Speech_van_de_minister_president_mr_dr_J_P_Balkenende_Algemene_Vergadering_van_de_Politievakorganisatie_ACP_Amersfoort Speech van de minister-president, mr. dr. J.P. Balkenende] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

Pakistan

*"Butt ke rahe ga Hindustan, Le ke rahen ge Pakistan" (Hindustan/India "will" divide, We "will" take Pakistan) - Muslim League, before the partition of IndiaFact|date=May 2008.
*"Roti, Kapra aur Makaan" (Bread, cloth & shelter) - Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto/Pakistan Peoples Party, former prime minister and president of Pakistan in the 70's [ [http://www.indiaenews.com/pakistan/20070724/62222.htm India eNews - Pakistan parties in poll mood] , accessed on 2008-5-27.] .
*"Enlightened Moderation" - Pervaiz Musharraf, Military Dictator and President of Pakistan [ [http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/EnlightenedModeration.aspx President Pervez Musharraf - Vision: Enlightened Moderation] , accessed on 2008-5-27.] .
*"Sab se pehle Pakistan" (Pakistan First) - Pervaiz Musharraf, Military Dictator and President of Pakistan [ [http://www.feedsfarm.com/article/36a0bbd62413a340b82cb3c58780de9f8735feb8.html 'Pakistan First', says Musharraf in Urdu] , accessed on 2008-5-27.] .
*"Parha Likha Punjab" (Educated/Literate Punjab) - Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, former Chief Minister of Punjab & co-president of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) [ [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_17-3-2005_pg7_1 Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan] , accessed on 2008-5-27.] .
*"Qarz utaro, Mulk sanwaro" (Pay the debt, Develop the country) - Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister of Pakistan & President of Pakistan Muslim League (N) [ [http://thepost.com.pk/Arc_Ba_ShortNews.aspx?fbshortid=2680&bcatid=14&date=02/04/2008&fcatid=14&bstatus=Archive Front & Back Page News] , accessed on 2008-5-27.] .
*"Democracy is the best revenge" - Benazir Bhutto/Pakistan Peoples Party, former prime minister of Pakistan [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7164968.stm BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Bhutto's son named as successor] , accessed on 2008-5-27.] .
*"Mere Aziz Hum Watnoon" (My dear countrymen) - used by Presidents/Prime Ministers/Military Dictators (in the beginning) while formally addressing the nation. However, it is generally associated with announcements of Military takeovers [ [http://pakistaniat.com/2007/11/24/pakistan-swat-buddhist-taliban-statue-extremist-militant/ Shameful, Criminal, Disgraceful: Swat Militants Attack Buddha] , accessed on 2008-5-27.] .
*GDP - Shaukat Aziz, former Prime Minister, and Finance Minister [ [http://www.arabnews.com/?page=6&section=0&article=109338&d=27&m=4&y=2008 Deputies Want Early Solution to Pakistan’s Economic Woes] , accessed on 2008-5-27.] .

Poland

* "Spieprzaj dziadu!" (Bugger off, you bum!) Polish President Lech Kaczyński - spoken to a man on the street during the 2002 Warsaw mayoral campaign [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FMp9Ec3pcY Słowna utarczka byłego prezydenta Warszawy] , Youtube video of the incident, accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Żeby nie było niczego" (So that there wouldn't be anything) Polish candidate for mayor of Białystok Krzysztof Kononowicz [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q039b7hMloY Krzysztof Kononowicz w komisji wyborczej (21 października)] , Youtube video of the incident, accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"ani be ani me ani kukuryku" Polish President Lech Wałęsa - spoken to Aleksander Kwaśniewski during the debate in TV just before 1995 Polish Presidential Election.

Portugal

* "Obviamente, demito-o!" (Obviously, I'll sack him!) - answer of the presidential candidate Humberto Delgado, when asked what he would do with dictator Salazar if he was elected [ [http://sic.aeiou.pt/online/noticias/cartaz/070508_Obviamentedemitoo.htm SIC Online - "Obviamente demito-o!"] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Porreiro Pá" (Cool dude) - José Sócrates, prime-minister, to the European Commission's president José Manuel Barroso in the end of the December, 2007 EU summit that lead to the Treaty of Lisbon
* "É só fazer as contas!" (Just do the maths) - António Guterres, ex-prime-minister to the jornalists, after not been able to calculate 6% of the Portuguese GDP
* "Jamais, jamais!" (Never, never) - Mário Lino, Portuguese Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Communication, referring that Lisbon's new international airport wouldn't be built south of Tejo river.

Romania

* "Iarna nu-i ca vara" (When it's winter, it's not like summer.) Traian Băsescu's reply, as Minister of Transport, when asked about what measures he took after countless streets and villages were blocked by the heavy snowing [ [http://www.all-news.ro/politic/traian-basescu-suparat-sunt-doamne-iar.html?2;1902 All-News.ro: politic / Traian Basescu - Suparat sunt Doamne iar] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Iar pe cei care s-au apucat să-mi numere găinile, îi rog să-mi numere şi ouăle" (I invite those who started to count my hens, to count also my eggs/balls.) Adrian Năstase's reply, as Prime Minister, after press inquiries regarding his chicken farm, part of a larger set of corruption accusations. He implied the secondary meaning of balls, for "ouă" (eggs) in Romanian [ [http://autori.citatepedia.ro/de.php?a=Adrian+N%E3stase Citate de Adrian Năstase] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Să trăiţi bine" (May you live well.) the political catchphrase of president Traian Băsescu [ [http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/presedintele-gaz-de-france-catre-traian-basescu-sa-traiti-bine.html?1687;2583217 Preşedintele Gaz de France către Traian Băsescu] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

pain

* "Això no toca" (That's not the subject at hand) Jordi Pujol, former President of the Catalan Generalitat Government, when wanting to avoid replying to a difficult question [ [http://www.emporda.info/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2008052200_6_15543__Opinio-Pujol-memria Pujol i la memòria - Opinió - Empordà] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Ja sóc aquí!" (At last, I'm here!) Josep Tarradellas, former President of the Catalan Government, from the balcony of the Generalitat building, upon returning from exile. [ [http://www.elpais.com/articulo/reportajes/CATALUnA/Ja/soc/cumple/25/anos/elpepusocdmg/20020929elpdmgrep_3/Tes El 'Ja sóc aquí' cumple 25 años · ELPAÍS.com] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Voleu fer el favor de callar?!" (Will you do me the favour of shutting up?!) Jordi Pujol, former President of the Catalan Generalitat Government, to hecklers at a conference [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44qrk_ybN3M Video of the quote] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
* "Vostès tenen un problema, i aquest problema es diu tres percent" (You have a problem, and that problem is called three percent) Pasqual Maragall, former President of the Catalan Generalitat Government, accusing the opposition of having taken a 3% cut on government contracts to finance their party when in power [ [http://interacciones.org/2007/10/18/y-despues-de-la-independencia-%C2%BFque/ 2007 Octubre « Interacciones.org] , accessed 2008-9-20.] .
* "Yo me llamo Josep-Lluís aquí y en la China Popular" (I'm called Josep-Lluís here, and in [the] People's [Republic of] China) Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira, Vice-President of the Catalan Generalitat Government, upon being addressed on TV by a member of the public as "Don José Luís" (his given name translated into Spanish, preceded by "Don." meaning a "gentleman" or "nobleman." [ [http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=don WordNet lookup] , accessed 2008-5-26.] [ [http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/10/17/espana/1192572450.html 'José Luis, no; yo me llamo Josep Lluís aquí y en la China ...] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .
*"Puedo prometer y prometo" (I can promise, And I promise...) The classic catchphrase of Adolfo Suarez, said in the first post-Franco general elections in Spain, in 1978 [ [http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cataluna/Puedo/prometer/prometo/elpepuespcat/20070922elpcat_4/Tes/ Puedo prometer y prometo · ELPAÍS.com] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

*"Aznar y Anguita son la misma mierda" ("Aznar and Anguita are the same shit"), said by Prime Minister Felipe González about his political opponents in 1996 [ [http://www.elsemanaldigital.com/articulos.asp?idarticulo=80175] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

*"Por consiguiente..." (Consequently...) The most famous catchphrase of Felipe González, used in all his speeches several times [ [http://www.maripuchi.es/index.php/2008/03/02/por-consiguiente/ Maripuchi y su Mundo] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

*"España va bien" (Spain's doing well) said by the former president José María Aznar in 1996 three times in a speech talking about the economy. The catchphrase become popular because Spain was in a very difficult situation after Felipe Gonzalez's government corruption scandals and the situation of ETA terrorism [ [http://www.columbia.edu/itc/barnard/spanish/crapotta/bc3004/pp-psoe_frame.htm Los Partidos Políticos: España va bien,o ¿España va bien?] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

*"Váyase, Sr. González" (Get out, Mr González) said by José María Aznar to Felipe González in 1996 general elections [ [http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/nacional/noticia/34141/Rajoy+Si+alguien+quiere+irse+al+Partido+liberal+que+se+vaya Rajoy: "Si alguien quiere irse al Partido liberal que se vaya ..."] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

*"El poder no me va a cambiar" (Power won't change me) said by Prime Minister Zapatero in 2004 general elections [ [http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/r/rodriguez_zapatero.htm Biografia de José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

*"No nos falles" (Don't let us down) were the words used by the people on popular gatherings after Zapatero was elected in 2004 general elections [ [http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/03/28/espana/1175067524.html Zapatero: 'El 'no nos falles' lo tengo interiorizado y grabado...] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

*"La reina y yo" (Queen and I) are the first words of King Juan Carlos' traditional annual Christmas Speech [ [http://www.casareal.es/noticias/news/1396-ides-idweb.html Discurso de Su Majestad el Rey al Cuerpo Diplomático] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

*"¿Por qué no te callas?" (Why don't you shut up?) King Juan Carlos to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez who was heckling Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero at the 17^th Ibero-American Summit [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUZxlXkbaxM YouTube - "¿Por qué no te callas?" - Juan Carlos I a Chavez] , accessed 2008-5-26.] .

weden

*"Vård, skola och omsorg" (Healthcare, schools and care [for the elderly and the handicapped] ) The focus areas for the Social Democrats during the 2002 election.
*"Alla ska med" (Everybody has to come along) The Social Democrats' catchphrase during the 2006 election.
*"Det måste löna sig att arbeta" (It must be profitable to work) The summary of Alliance for Sweden's labour market policy during and after the 2006 election.

Switzerland

*"Freude herrscht!" (Joy is in the air!) The words Adolf Ogi chose to congratulate the first Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier on a phone call to the space shuttle during NASA mission STS-46 [ [http://www.amazon.de/dp/3905520931 Amazon.de: Freude herrscht. Adolf Ogi- Witze und Anekdoten] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .

Tanzania

*"Panya kwao darini hata kama kuna giza!" (No place like home!) The words Rodrick Mashayo chose to congratulate Edwin R. Mashayo for his decision to rebuild his homeland [. Adolf Ogi- Witze und Anekdoten] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .

United Kingdom

United States

*"", said by George H. W. Bush during the 1988 U.S. presidential election [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/9/newsid_3655000/3655368.stm BBC ON THIS DAY | 9 | 1988: Bush wins with 'no new taxes' promise] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"I'm the decider", said by George W. Bush about the fate of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in April 2006. [ [http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/18/rumsfeld/ CNN News] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"We found the weapons of mass destruction." –President George W. Bush, in an interview with Polish television, May 29, 2003 [ [http://www.whitehouse.gov/g8/interview5.html Interview of the President by TVP, Poland] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Mission Accomplished", displayed on a banner behind President George W. Bush while giving a speech declaring that major combat operations in Iraq had ended [ [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/05/20030501-15.html President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"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, the United Kingdom, and Australia [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6146353/ Presidential debate - MSNBC Transcripts- msnbc.com] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"I did not have sexual relations with that woman", said by Bill Clinton regarding Monica Lewinsky [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/26/newsid_2672000/2672291.stm BBC ON THIS DAY | 26 | 1998: Clinton denies affair with intern] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"But when I was in England I experimented with marijuana a time or two, and I didn't like it. I didn't inhale it, and never tried it again." Said by Bill Clinton [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0DF1F38F933A05750C0A964958260 The New York Times] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"It's the economy, stupid", used by Bill Clinton's campaign strategist, James Carville, to attack George H. Bush on his inability to comprehend a question asked by Marisa Hall regarding the economy [ [http://www.ambrose.edu/news/community/made-stick-why-some-ideas-survive-and-others-die Made To Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"That depends on what your definition of 'is' is", said by Bill Clinton [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989908-1,00.html The Clinton In Us All - TIME] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." said by Al Gore during a 1999 CNN interview [ [http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp snopes.com: Al Gore Invented the Internet] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"We are all republicans - we are all federalists", Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural [ [http://etext.virginia.edu/journals/EH/EH35/onuf1.html Thomas Jefferson, Federalist. Peter S. Onuf] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Ich bin ein Berliner", said by John F. Kennedy in West Berlin (in the context of his address, it meant "I am a Berliner"; with urban legend stating the literal translation as "I am a jelly donut") [ [http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/berliner.htm John F. Kennedy Speech - Ich bin ein Berliner] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"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" [ [http://www.wfu.edu/~louden/PresidentialRhetoric/2007GroupPPt/JFK%20Presentation.ppt John F. Kennedy Inaugural Speech] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Four score and seven years ago...", Opening of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address [ [http://americancivilwar.com/north/lincoln.html Gettysburg Address Abraham Lincoln Civil War Speech] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Show me the spot", Abraham Lincoln challenging the incident that precipitated the Mexican American War [ [http://venturacountystar.com/news/2008/feb/08/everybody-lets-play-nice/ Moraga: Everybody, let's play nice : Columnists : Ventura County Star] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"I'm not a crook", said by Richard Nixon in reference to his never having profited through his government service. (Often misquoted as "I am not a crook.") [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/articles/111873-1.htm The Washington Post] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Let me make one thing perfectly clear", said by Richard Nixon [ [http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/web/20051117-richard-nixon-watergate-checkers-democratic-national-committee-crook-bob-woodward-john-ehrlichman-haldeman-archibald-cox-vietnam.shtml AmericanHeritage.com / “I Am Not a Crook”] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Only Nixon could go to China", saying that became popular in the wake of Richard Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China [ [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/puch/1998/00000097/00000004/00119367 IngentaConnect Why only Nixon could go to China] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore", said by Richard Nixon in 1962 when he announced his retirement from politics [ [http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/impeachments/nixon.htm The History Place - Impeachment: Richard Nixon] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Yes we can", 2008 presidential nominee Barack Obama.
*"I'm Ross, and you're the Boss", said by Ross Perot during the 1992 presidential election [ [http://www.da.wvu.edu/archives/991310/news/991310,05,02.html The Daily Athenaeum Interactive] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"I'm from the government, and I'm here to help", said by Ronald Reagan referring to the "most terrifying words in the English language" [ [http://www.sec.gov/news/speech/2006/spch042706psa.htm SEC Speech: Remarks Before the Investment Adviser Association] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem", said by Ronald Reagan [ [http://uwcr.rso.wisc.edu/quotes.html UW-Madison College Republicans -- Quotes] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall", said by Ronald Reagan [ [http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan/speeches/wall.asp Ronald Reagan-Tear Down this Wall] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Mistakes were made", said by Ronald Reagan and many others [ [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8972606 A Political Sidestep: 'Mistakes Were Made' : NPR] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"There you go again", said by Ronald Reagan about Jimmy Carter during their 1980 presidential debate [ [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/peopleevents/e_1980.html American Experience | Jimmy Carter | People & Events] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Franklin D. Roosevelt [ [http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5057/ "Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself": FDR's First Inaugural Address] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Speak softly and carry a big stick." President Theodore Roosevelt [ [http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1121/p16s1-booo.html The president who learned to walk softly | csmonitor.com] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"I shall return." Gen. Douglas MacArthur after leaving the Philippines [ [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/macarthur/filmmore/reference/primary/macspeech02.html The American Experience | MacArthur | MacArthur's Speeches] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"It's not a big truck. It's a series of tubes." said by Senator Ted Stevens regarding the Internet [ [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0715-06.htm Internet "Tubes" Speech Turns Spotlight, Ridicule onto Sen. Stevens] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." Senator Lloyd Bentsen to Senator Dan Quayle in the 1988 Vice Presidential debates [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-7gpgXNWYI YouTube - Lloyd Bentsen puts down Dan Quayle] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Poor George, he can't help it, he was born with a silver foot in his mouth." Ann Richards referring to George H. W. Bush during the 1988 Democratic Convention. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgeQ_y7LMRI YouTube - Ann Richards on George H. W. Bush] accessed on 2008-7-5.]
*"I like Ike" Famous campaign slogan for President Eisenhower [ [http://www.presidentsusa.net/1952slogan.html I Like Ike] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"If you vote for Goldwater, you'll get a war in Vietnam" and its variations were ironic arguments supposedly made by supporters of Lyndon B. Johnson [ [http://archive.mailtribune.com/archive/98/may98/53098n1.htm Mail Tribune News] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?" infamous question asked by the HUAC during the height of the Cold War [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E6DB153BF935A15752C1A9669C8B63 Are You Now or Have You Ever? - New York Times] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"I have a wide stance." Senator Larry Craig, attempting to deny allegations of cottaging [ [http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2007/08/28/craig/ "Jiminy God!": The Larry Craig story - War Room - Salon.com] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"December 7, 1941, a date which shall live in infamy." said by President Franklin D. Roosevelt after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor [ [http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/fdr-infamy.htm President Franklin Roosevelt Speech For a Declaration of War] , accessed on 2008-5-26.] .
*"I'm a hockey mom," repeatedly professed by Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin in her 2008 campaign alongside Presidential candidate John McCain in an attempt to connect with the American people.

Venezuela

*"PDVSA ahora es roja, rojita." (PDVSA has become red, very red) said by the President of PDVSA (Venezelan National Petroleum Company)
*"¿Por qué no te callas?" (Why don't you shut up?) said by king of Spain Juan Carlos de Borbón to Hugo Chávez.
* "Compañeros lamentablemente por ahora los objetivos que nos planteamos no fueron logrados en la ciudad capital" ( "Folks unfortunately, for now, the objectives that we had were not fully accomplished in the capital city (Caracas)") said by Hugo Chávez February the 4th 1992 after the failure of his coup attempt.
*"Por ahora" (So far) is a Venezuelan political catch phrase that alludes to the declarations made by Hugo Chávez after the failure of the coup attempt he lead in 1992. The phrase has been used in various occasions after the coup attempt, most notably by Hugo Chávez after his proposal for constitutional reform got rejected by the Venezuelan people.
*"Sembrar el petróleo" ('sowing the oil'; phrase coined by Arturo Uslar Pietri when suggesting the use of oil revenue to develop the nation)
*"Calma y cordura" ('Calmness and composure'; frequently used by President Eleazar López Contreras during his turbulent reign)

References