When political and business leaders tell the public - any public - 'We don't trust you to make the right decision' - they prejudice that electorate against the very proposals they want it to accept and undermine public confidence in themselves.

But the leaders of the OIC could not even accept Mahathir's proposal yet they talk about respect and honour.

Yes the marriage proposal was shot. Michael excluded the dialogue from the final edit.

I refused David Letterman's proposal of marriage for obvious reasons but thanks for asking.

It's nice to know you have support. Last night I got a marriage proposal. I just laughed.

I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying.

I've had two proposals since I've been a widow. I am a wonderful catch you know. I have a lot of money.

I have strongly rejected the proposal to pardon and transfer her to the United States. I do not have the legal power to pardon terrorists and even if I did I would not use it.

With a host of proposals on the table and a President examining new ideas for health reform we have an obligation to give real reform our best shot.

To reduce deficit spending and our enormous debt you reign in spending. You cut the budget. You don't take more from the private sector and grow government with it. And that's exactly what Obama has in mind with this expiration of Bush tax cuts proposal of his.

Government proposes bureaucracy disposes. And the bureaucracy must dispose of government proposals by dumping them on us.

In light of these facts Republicans have put forth a variety of proposals to make Social Security remain solvent for future generations. But up to this point Democrats have chosen to oppose our good faith efforts and insist that indeed there is no problem.

I would point out that Japan's proposal at the Versailles Peace Conference on the principle of racial equality was rejected by delegates such as those from Britain and the United States.

I see the Beijing National Stadium as an architectural project. I accepted Herzog and De Meuron's invitation to collaborate on the design and our proposal won the competition. From beginning to end I stayed with the project. I am committed to fostering relationships between a city and its architecture.

Here's a proposal offered only partly in jest: no resident of the United States whether born here or abroad should get to be a citizen until age 18 at which time each such resident has to take a test.