"Candidates don't have to deal with reality. They talk about the wonderful things they can accomplish as if advocating them is the same as achieving them. They live in a world of political make-believe in which everything from reconciling conflicting interests to paying for costly programs is easy"

This quote by Fred Barnes recommends that prospects in politics often make impractical pledges and overlook the truth of the situation. They speak about the terrific things they can accomplish, however do not take into consideration the problem of attaining them. They reside in a world of political make-believe, where they think that fixing up conflicting interests and paying for pricey programs is simple. This quote suggests that candidates must be more reasonable and sincere about the difficulties they face in order to achieve success. It also suggests that voters need to be more aware of the problems of attaining the promises made by candidates and not be swayed by impractical guarantees.