In quotes: Republican Convention

A selection of quotes from the opening day of the Republican Party convention in New York's Madison Square Garden.

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Arizona Senator John McCain:

On President Bush:

"I salute his determination to make this world a better, safer, freer place. He has not wavered. He has not flinched from the hard choices. He will not yield. And neither will we."

McCain was a former rival of President George W Bush

On the war on terror:

"Our choice wasn't between a benign status quo and the bloodshed of war, it was between war and a greater threat. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Describing Michael Moore, director of film Fahrenheit 9/11:

"A disingenuous filmmaker who would have us believe that Saddam's Iraq was an oasis of peace".

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Rudolph Giuliani, former New York Mayor:

Comparing George Bush to Winston Churchill and Ronald Reagan:

"Like President Bush, they were optimists; leaders must be optimists. Some call it stubbornness. I call it principled leadership."

Comparing President Bush and John Kerry:

"President Bush sees world terrorism for the evil that it is. John Kerry has no such clear, precise and consistent vision."

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Dennis Hastert, Republican speaker of the House of Representatives:

On John Kerry:

"My friends, this is no time to pick a leader who is weak on the war and wrong on taxes."