The Political Brain Quotes

“In politics, when reason and emotion collide, emotion invariably wins”
― Drew Westen, The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

“The road to victory is paved with emotional intentions.”
― Drew Westen, The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

“if you back down, appease, or acquiesce to a bully, he will invariably view it as a sign of weakness, and you will have done nothing but to embolden him to increase the stakes. If”
― Drew Westen, The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

“If you start with networks, you think very differently about politics.”
― Drew Westen, The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

“So what are the implications of this study? One is pragmatic. If you’re running a campaign, you shouldn’t worry about offending the 30 percent of the population whose brains can’t process information from your side of the aisle unless their lives depend on it (e.g., after an attack on the U.S. mainland). If you’re a Republican, your focus should be on moving the 10 to 20 percent of the population with changeable minds to the right and bringing your unbending 30 percent to the polls. Republican strategists in fact have had no trouble branding Northern Californians and Northeasterners “latte-drinking liberals.” They know their own party’s kitchen doesn’t have room for a latte maker, and that scalding the other side can bring a little froth to the mouths of their own voters. The implications for Democrats should be equally clear: Stop worrying about offending those who consider Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell moral leaders because their minds won’t bend to the left. Indeed, the failure of the Democratic Party for much of the last decade to define itself in opposition to anyone or anything has created a Maxwell House Majority convinced that the only coffee the Democrats are capable of brewing is lukewarm and tepid—tested by pollsters to insure that it’s not too hot or too strong—and served up with stale rhetoric. And they’re right.”
― Drew Westen, The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

“But the “right circumstances” are always emotional. Behind every reasoned decision is a reason for deciding.”
― Drew Westen, The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

“What led voters to demand a change of course on Iraq in November 2006 was not that they had new information. They had new emotions. The compass shifted from nationalistic pride and hope to anger, concern, and a rising crest of resignation. “Stay the course” made little sense in light of this emotional shift.”
― Drew Westen, The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

“Courage doesn't mean talking tough, it means being tough.”
― Drew Westen, The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation