Top quotes by Lawrence O'Donnell

Donald Trump did his usual softball interview on "Fox News" where the interviewer agreed with Trump that using that Yiddish vulgarity is going to be OK for him. Votes: 15

According to the international organization for migration, more than 1 million migrants have arrived in Europe this year, the most since World War II. Half of them were Syrian. Votes: 14

Look, [Mitt] Romney comes from a religion founded by a criminal who was anti-American, pro-slavery, and a rapist. And he comes from that lineage and says, 'I respect this religion fully.' Votes: 13

He sits beside the ranking Democrat Patrick Leahy who voted against Jeff Session`s nomination in that committee in 1986. Votes: 13

A number of foreign policy experts distanced themselves from Donald Trump, not Michael Flynn. Votes: 12

According to the old rules, Senator Jeff Sessions could not be confirmed by the United States Senate because in fact he wasn`t. Votes: 12

This year [2015] has shown with painful clarity that our existing systems, approaches, and funding, are inadequate to the task at hand, and to the amount of human suffering that is ongoing. Votes: 10

169 House Democrats signed a letter to the President-elect [Donald Trump] urging him to "rescind this appointment [of Steve Bannon ] immediately." Votes: 10

Because Republicans defected and voted with all the Democrats to reject Jeff Sessions` nomination when they discovered that when he was working as a prosecutor in Alabama, he called the NAACP Un-American. Votes: 9

Donald Trump hasn`t decided, and most importantly, we don`t know if the old rules still apply. Votes: 9

Do away with the corporate loopholes that allow major profitable corporations to stash their money in the Cayman Islands and not pay a nickel in some cases in federal income taxes. Votes: 8

I believe the United States should join the rest of the world through paid family and medical leave. It would cost us a $1.61 a week in an increase in payroll tax.I think that`s a great investment. Votes: 7

I said, we should allow no Syrian refugees into the country, not even women or children. Votes: 7

Donald Trump has been getting favorable comments from white supremacists, from American Nazis. And any explanation of Donald Trump`s rise that does not include those facts is a false analysis. Votes: 7

[Donald] Trump is now. And we don`t know what the rules are now. Votes: 6

Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. Votes: 6

Go head Taggert. Take your best shot. Votes: 6

He addressed a black lawyer as "boy". That`s why Jeff Sessions couldn`t get through Senate confirmation process under the old rules followed by Democrats and Republicans. Votes: 6

While alcohol ... continues to wreak havoc in America, supported by a $6 billion-a-year alcohol industry advertising campaign extolling the joy of inebriation, the far less harmful drug of marijuana remains illegal and continues to ruin people's lives - only if they are caught possessing and convicted of that crime. Votes: 3

[Michael Flynn is] controversial among many people in the national security establishment, many people in the Republican mainstream. The thing about this appointment that, again, goes to me is most. Votes: 3

Donald Trump would not lose a single voter over any report indicating that his tax plan might not work. Votes: 3

Everybody in Washington wants one of these jobs studies this book. It`s called the Plum Book because the people in Washington turn the pages looking for the plum that they want, the job that they want. Votes: 3

Forty four percent of Republican voters believe President [Barack] Obama was not born in the United States. They believe he is not a legal citizen of the United States.They believe his presidency is unconstitutional. Votes: 3

How much trouble did the Democrats cause for a particular nominee on the way to actually being confirmed.And usually it`s very little. Votes: 3

We`re going to raise the estate tax for wealthy, very wealthy people. Votes: 2

Fifty four percent of Republican voters believe President [Barack] Obama is Muslim. And 66 percent of Trump voters believe President Obama is Muslim. If you hear anyone trying to explain the rise of Donald Trump without including that fact, then you`re hearing someone who doesn`t know what they`re talking about. Votes: 1

[Adviser is] the ones who do the job very well are the ones who lay out the range of options, filter down the range of options that are available to the president, lay them out in an honest, brokerage way and then let the president make the choice among those options. Votes: 0

Actually, Congress just did pass a tax plan like Donald Trump`s.They passed a tax plan which some Democrats voted for, significant number of Democrats which gave huge tax breaks to wealthy people and corporations. Votes: 0

His [Rudolph Giuliani] marital life became unhinged with his wife kicking him out of the mayor`s residence of Gracie mansion. That he took up residence as a house guest in an apartment owned by friends of his.The friends were a loving gay couple. And that is the best thing I know about Rudy Giuliani. Votes: 0

I agree that we have to have the toughest screening and vetting that we can have, but I don`t think a halt is necessary. What we have to do is put all of our resources through the Department of Homeland Security, through the State Department, through our intelligence agencies, and we have to have an increased vetting and screening . Votes: 0

I am confident that just as a America`s commitment to the transatlantic alliance has endured for seven decades, whether it`s been under a Democratic or Republican administration, that commitment will continue including our pledge and our treaty obligation to defend every ally. Votes: 0

I believe we stand strongly against having the tax code used to make the income disparity in America any worse than it already. Votes: 0

I don`t think anybody knows it was Russia that broke into the DNC. She [Hillary Clinton] is saying Russia, Russia, Russia. Maybe it was. I mean, it could be Russia. But it could also be China. It could also be lots of other people. Votes: 0

I don`t think their voices are going to change at all. And it`s what Democrats have always been saying. We are stronger together, but we`re going to fight like heck if anybody tries to divide us. Votes: 0

I remember the first few months of the [Ronald] Reagan administration when all sorts of things happened too fast. We cannot allow that to happen. Votes: 0

I think most Republicans would rather win this election than have transformation. Votes: 0

I think the fact of the matter is this is a tough moment for democrats. But it`s also exciting to see so many people out there mobilized. Votes: 0

I think we should not do what the Republicans did, which is to spend eight years saying they would do absolutely nothing because we do stand for the country. Votes: 0

I will never forget the day in Washington when I met John Lewis by phone when he called me to ask about something. And the phone just shook in my hand. I couldn`t believe that John Lewis was on the other end of the line. Votes: 0

I`d like to curl up in a ball like Hillary [Clinton]said she would but she is out. And I think we all have to go do that. The fact of the matter is we don`t have the luxury of pulling back from this. Votes: 0

I`m just learning that according to a source familiar with the transition process, President-elect Donald Trump intends to select Lieutenant General Michael Flynn as his national security adviser. Votes: 0

If Jeff Sessions had been an editor of something like "Breitbart", Ronald Reagan wouldn`t have even nominated him. Votes: 0

If there is a big bill to do infrastructure improvements and it is about working people, let`s do that. But let`s absolutely fight with every ounce that we have to protect healthcare and make it even better. Votes: 0

In pre-Trump Washington where the old rules applied, Rudy Giuliani could never survive the Senate confirmation process. Votes: 0

In recent years, we`ve made historic investments in NATO, increased America`s presence in Europe. Votes: 0

In this case, the government will essentially be run by the people who are running it now. The top level [Barack] Obama appointees will leave by inauguration day. Votes: 0

It is highly likely that one of the two of them [ Donald Trump and Ted Cruz ] is going to be the nominee. This is a - look here, what is this - what this is really is a prescription for remaking the Republican Party. Votes: 0

It is lunacy to be bringing refugees into this country who may be terrorists trying to murder Americans. Votes: 0

Let`s be the Democrats we know we have always been. And maybe every once in a when an opposition that lets you get even more tougher and clear about what you`re about. I think that`s a good thing for Democrats. Votes: 0

Lieutenant General Michael Flynn ran the defense intelligence agency from 2012 to 2014. He served as a top national intelligence adviser to General Stanley McChrystal in Iraq. Votes: 0

Lieutenant General Michael Flynn would fit into that broader pattern. Votes: 0

Michael Flynn is a very controversial figure for a variety of reasons. Votes: 0

Michael Flynn not exactly cut from that cloth. Someone who has very strong views about almost everything in the realm of national security and defense. Votes: 0

Michael Flynn was one of Trump`s top national security advisors throughout the campaign. Votes: 0

My biggest surprise of the year does involve Donald Trump and it involves his money. And I am one of the prominent disbelievers of his claims of wealth and how rich he was. He put out a press release before he did his financial disclosure form saying he made over $200 million from a TV show.If you know about the economics of televisions, that sounds impossible. I don`t believe it. Votes: 0

My pick for Best Political Move of the Year, which is the decisive (ph) and this means it is actually the best political movement is Bill Clinton getting on the phone and encouraging Donald Trump to run for the president. Votes: 0

My Worst Political Move of the 2015 Year. John Boehner inviting Benjamin Netanyahu to address the joint session of Congress. Votes: 0

National security adviser is not a position that requires confirmation. This is a pick that like [Donald Trump] Chief of Staff, he gets to choose on his own and have installed. Votes: 0

National security advisors are not there to be advocates, generally. They`re not there to be partisans, they`re not there to be ideologues. Votes: 0

National security advisors, like White House Chiefs of Staff, their job generally if they`re - if they`re competent and qualified and effective is to be honest brokers in the White House. Votes: 0

Probably about 35 percent of Donald Trump`s supporters do not believe that President [Barack] Obama is Muslim or that he was not born in the United States.Those Trump supporters are not white supremacists. But if Trump did not have the support of Obama haters who believe that the President is a Muslim, who believe that he was not born in the United States, Donald Trump would lose two-thirds of his support. Votes: 0

Rudolph Giuliani will be the first Secretary of State whose last public office was mayor, the most thoroughly domestic public office that we have. Votes: 0

Rudy Giuliani is on the list [of Secretary of State ] not because of competence, not because of foreign policy experience, he`s on most entirely because of loyalty to Donald Trump. Votes: 0

Rudy Giuliani needed to feel safe because he turned his life into a public mess. A public mess that the "New York Tabloids" covered daily. Votes: 0

Rudy Giuliani would bring conflicts of interest into any Senate confirmation hearing that would be impossible to clear if confirmation hearings operate under the same gravitational forces that they used to in the pre-Trump era. Votes: 0

Safety concerns are reasonable. Banning refugees is certainly not. Votes: 0

Senator Bernie Sanders saying in effect that he wants Washington to operate under the old rules, where someone like Steve Bannon would never be allowed to visit the White house, never mind work there. Votes: 0

Senator Jeff Sessions is reportedly on the [Donald] Trump shortlist to be either the next Secretary of Defense or the next Attorney General of the United States. Votes: 0

Sixty one percent of Donald Trump`s supporters believe that President [Barack] Obama was not born in the United States.They believe Donald Trump`s lie about where President Obama was born, the lie he started telling four years ago and has since replaced with other hate-driven lies like the thousands of Muslims Donald Trump lies about having seen celebrating in New Jersey on 9/11. Votes: 0

Someone who traffics in much more than what Jeff Sessions said back then will be with the president every day in the White House as his senior strategist. Votes: 0

Something the committee had not done in 50 years. Jeff Sessions is now the Chairman of the Committee that rejected him. Votes: 0

Strom Thurmond, the former segregationist candidate for president was the Republican Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1986 and he tried to get Jeff Sessions` nomination through that committee, but he couldn`t. Votes: 0

That seems to be a woman who is genuinely depressed that this is the political dialogue she [Hillary Clinton] is been thrown into in the 21st century in running for president of the United States. Votes: 0

That`s why somebody like a Tim Ryan can go to a bar in Youngstown just as well as in Congress and talk to working people. Democrats know how to carry the message. We just have to take some telephone new voices and bring them forward. Votes: 0

The [Donald] Trump transition team is already functioning as the worst transition team we have ever seen. And the good news is the slower they do their work, the better off we are. Votes: 0

The Daily Beast reports today that if Steve Bannon is denied a security clearance, the President could simply overrule that denial and order that security clearance. Votes: 0

The Democrats - Democrats on board, the Congress said tax policy.But their tax policy was pretty bad, that added $800 billion to the deficit. Votes: 0

The FBI background check would show that Rudolph Giuliani had an out-of-control affair with his Press Secretary while he was mayor of New York. Votes: 0

The incompetence of the [Donald] Trump transition team, the likes of which we`ve never seen is a bad thing. Votes: 0

The longer incompetent people delay in doing what they`re doing, we`re always better off whenever incompetent people are delaying what they`re going to do. Votes: 0

The professional permanent staff that lies right beneath them will still be in place, making everything work until the [Donald] Trump appointees start populating the offices on top of them. Votes: 0

The question for the Republicans running the confirmation hearings in the United States Senate is whose rules are they going to use? Votes: 0

The question was, have you heard from anyone on the [Donald] Trump transition team? We have not been contacted. Votes: 0

The Republican Party is saying that the President of the United States has bosses, that the union bosses this President around, the unions boss him around. Does that sound to you like they are trying to consciously or subconsciously deliver the racist message that, of course, of course a black man can't be the real boss? Votes: 0

The rise of Donald Trump is explained not so much by the hatred of Muslims, but rather the hatred of just one Muslim. The one who is not a Muslim. Votes: 0

The rumored frontrunner for [Donald] Trump`s Secretary of State is former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani who of course has no foreign policy experience. Votes: 0

The screening in the United States is the toughest screening of any country in the world in terms of refugees, that accepts refugees. And of course there are those that don`t accept any, or ever have, no matter what kind they are. Votes: 0

This is someone [Michael Flynn] who is considered a loyalist and as we have watched this transition process unfold, again roiled by reports of turmoil, Donald Trump seems to be really focusing right now in this initial phase on loyalists. Votes: 0

Trying to turn the Congress the President on the Iran deal, - it`s one thing to do that - it`s a giant moment in Israeli politics to decide to do that. Votes: 0

Under the old rules, Steve Bannon could never get a security clearance. But there could be a new rule, the Trump Rule. Votes: 0

We are in a new era, a new era where campaign rules certainly don`t apply, and who knows what other rules don`t apply. Votes: 0

We know what we believe and we`ll come back and win or not if we sit back. Votes: 0

What I do respect is that Donald Trump knows that it is an emotional appeal and it might be emotional appeals that I don`t - can`t expect.But he knows that you have to appeal to the voter, and that`s why I may be wrong. I made a big deal about there`s no way he`s going to win. Votes: 0

When Ronald Reagan nominated Jeff Sessions for federal district court judgeship, the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected his nomination. Votes: 0

When you look at that debate stage, Mitt Romney could have dominated it maybe. Votes: 0

Why I supported Keith Ellison for chairing the DNC because I know Keith. And I know he`s not going to take a lot of stuff. He`s going to be in the halls of Congress arguing. But he is going to go out to the protests and talk to people. Votes: 0

Why in general, when you`re putting together a White House staff and putting together a good one, you`re looking for someone there who is not someone who`s going to be heavy-handed. Votes: 0

You have two people who I would classify as extremists. Donald Trump because of his behavior and Ted Cruz because of his views, leading the Republican Party. Votes: 0

The truth is that people - many people are concerned about this, but this is not the first time in America this has happened. There were a significant number of people who didn`t want Jewish refugees before World War II, or even during World War II. Votes: 0

According to an analysis by the Tax Policy Center, Donald Trump`s tax plan is going to increase the national debt by more than 50 percent over ten years. Votes: 0

The [Donald] Trump plan would increase the national debt a little over a $1 trillion a year, the Trump plan would reduce taxes at all income levels with, of course, the biggest tax cuts going to the richest taxpayers as they always do. Votes: 0