Quotes, statements, bon mots, and noteworthy utterances from the campus and beyond
05 November 2008
“When my mother was born, women still couldn’t vote in many states. When I entered school, black and white couples couldn’t get married in many states. It’s easy to forget those things, but it wasn’t all that long ago.”
Tom Campbell, professor of business, explaining his opposition to Proposition 8 on this week’s California ballot.
Reason.com, Oct. 24.
“The coming stimulus package . . . would be voted on by a lame-duck Congress, many of whose members will want to reward campaign donors with juicy pieces of pork. Other lawmakers will see it as their last opportunity to include their pet project or tax perk, and some won’t be accountable because they’ll be out of office in a few weeks anyway. In other words, it’ll be less of a stimulus than a Christmas tree.”
Robert Reich, professor of public policy, in a commentary on American Public Media’s Marketplace, Oct. 29.
“We’re the only country in which people are at severe risk of medical bankruptcy.”
Jacob Hacker, professor of political science, evaluating the presidential candidates’ healthcare proposals in an interview on thepolitic.org, Oct. 29.
“[M]aybe socialist itself has become so unusual in electoral politics that it has started to sound sinister and exotic. You could have that impression when you hear the calls of ‘He’s a socialist!’ when Obama is mentioned at McCain and Palin rallies. It’s hard to imagine people at Democratic rallies yelling ‘He’s a supply-sider!’ when McCain’s name comes up.”
Geoffrey Nunberg, adjunct professor in the School of Information, on the revival of the word “socialist” in Republican rhetoric this campaign season.
NPR’s Fresh Air, Oct. 29.
“You can pretty much call us whatever you want. As long as it’s not Stanford.”
Jenn Lerner, a Visitor Center ambassador (tour guide), responding to a travel writer’s question about what to call the campus: Cal? Berkeley? Cal Berkeley? UC Berkeley?
Los Angeles Times, Oct. 30.
“Nowadays there are few Greenspanists. Indeed, Alan Greenspan is no longer a Greenspanist. . . .To be a Greenspanist you need to believe that (i) market exuberance won’t turn irrational or (ii) if it does it will deflate rather than crash or (iii) if it crashes portfolios will be diversified or (iv) if they aren’t diversified the financial system will be able to work it out on its own. We don’t believe, anymore, that we can trust that even one of these four lines of defense will hold.”
J. Bradford DeLong, professor of economics, in an Oct. 31 posting to his blog, Grasping Reality With Both Hands
“It is harder to be hip and to be cool when you’re 72.”
Berkeley senior Christian Osmena, a John McCain supporter, crediting the Obama campaign with energizing student voters.
Associated Press, Nov. 2.
“The next president is going to have to have two financial SWAT teams: One to stabilize the crisis and staunch the bleeding, the other to focus on the issue of how to sustain long-run economic growth.’’
Barry Eichengreen, professor of economics and political science.
Bloomberg.com, Nov. 3.
“Certainly, some of their strengths go against our strengths.”
Mike Bellotti, University of Oregon football coach, prior to last weekend’s game against Cal, won by the Golden Bears. The rain-drenched tussle was ultimately decided by turnovers that Cal turned into touchdowns.
Portland Oregonian, Oct. 31.