The Crisis in a Nutshell: Meet the Candidates

A digest of last week’s prophetic and interpretive thought

“Let’s be right up front with our principal reservation: It is not all that clear whether anyone now on the scene is fully up to the task.”—New York Post endorsement for Andrew Cuomo for governor.

“Let me just clarify: You’re telling me that the separation of church and state is found in the First Amendment?”—Christine O’Donnell, Republican candidate for Delaware’s open Senate seat.

“You know, I don’t know that all of you are Latino. Some of you look a little more Asian to me.”—Sharron Angle, Republican candidate for Nevada’s open Senate seat.

“[New York’s deficit] is like a cancer. It will heal itself.”—Jimmy McMillan, The Rent Is 2 Damn High Party candidate for governor of New York.

“[Obama can] take his endorsement and really shove it.”—Frank Caprio, Democratic candidate for governor of Rhode Island.

“I don’t care who, what, when or where, I’m not compromising.”—Ken Buck, Republican candidate for Colorado’s open Senate seat.

“I’ve never had a heckler at the debate. I’ve always had them in the audience. I mean, I’ve had this heckler going on for two minutes now.“—Marco Rubio, Republican candidate for Florida’s open Senate seat, referring to his opponent, Charlie Crist.

“Stop your faking. Stop your pretending. Mr. Grayson, you are no friend of [the] Tea Party.”—Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, referring to Alan Grayson, incumbent and candidate in Floreida’s Eight Congressional District.

“Isn’t he just the oddest duck in the entire political arena? Is not he just an odd, odd person?”—Sarah Palin, referring to Grayson.

“Come on Sarah, you know if Todd wasn’t around you’d be like, ‘yum, yum give me some.’”—Glenn Beck, referring to Grayson.

“Scott is not ready to lead. Joe is not fit to lead.”—Lisa Murkowski, the incumbent Democratic Senator for Alaska, referring to her opponents.

“The closest she has gotten to rocking the boat is flip-flopping on every issue of importance to New Yorkers.”—Joe DioGuardi, Republican candidate running against Kirsten Gillibrand for Senator from New York.

“The stimulus bill is a lie and a farce.”—Jay Townsend, Republican candidate running against Charles Schumer for Senator from New York.

“We didn’t have a chance to really take victory laps around each element of what we were doing.”—Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod.

“But for me, we’d be in a worldwide depression.”—Harry Reid, Democratic incumbent candidate for Nevada’s open Senate seat.

“If everybody that voted in 2008 shows up in 2010, we will win this election. We will win this election.”—President Barack Obama.

“I’d rather be spending time focusing on my grades.”—Jenna Fumo, student at Indiana University.