John McCain on the economy (2008)

The fundamentals of our economy are strong.

~ Sen. John McCain, former Republican presidential candidate, Sept. 15, 2008

George W. Bush on bailouts (2008)

I don't think the government ought to be involved in bailing out companies.

~ President George W. Bush, July 15, 2008

Alan Schwartz on Bear Stearns: No liquidity crisis (2008)

We don't see any pressure on our liquidity, let alone a liquidity crisis.

~ Alan Schwartz, CEO of Bear Stearns, March 12, 2008

John Thain on Merrill Lynch: "We have more capital than we need" (2008)

We have more capital than we need, so we can say to the market that we don't need more injections. We can confirm that we have tackled the problem.

~ John Thain, former CEO, Merrill Lynch, March 16, 2008

Norman Thomas on the importance of propaganda in bringing about socialism in America

The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of ‘liberalism’ they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.

~ Norman Thomas, a one time US presidential candidate

Pat Buchanan on Ronald Reagan protecting the auto industry

Bush may believe he has sinned against free-market principles, but he is following the path of his great free-market predecessor. Ronald Reagan, too, was not prepared to see Japan take down the U.S. auto industry, or steel industry, or computer chip industry, or Harley-Davidson.

Believing Japan was dumping to destroy U.S. companies, Reagan put patriotism before ideology and imposed quotas on Japanese imports. He, too, was castigated by the same commentariat that is berating Bush.

~ Patrick J. Buchanan, "George Bush, Protectionist," Townhall.com, December 26, 2008

Pat Buchanan on the auto bailout

Averting Chapter 11 for GM, which could lead to liquidation of the greatest manufacturing company in U.S. history -- cutting America out of the premier consumer market of the 21st century -- makes sense not only from the standpoint of politics, but economics, as well.

~ Patrick J. Buchanan, "George Bush, Protectionist," Townhall.com, December 26, 2008