"It is true, we are badly divided by partisanship because the American people are badly divided by partisanship, and what is Congress but a reflection of the people?"
"if our constituents knew, across the spectrum of this great country, that this was the near-term biggest national security and economic challenge facing our country, they would step up to the plate an..."
"if you can't do something like that, then what, pray tell, can you do to fix the bigger problem?"
"the problem is not the process, it is the people."
"A bipartisan fiscal commission will not be easy for any single person on this side of the aisle or this side of the aisle to vote for."
"What we wanted was to improve the process."
"I am so proud of you."
"Our fiscal situation is dire because of bad decisions made here over many years and it can only be corrected here."
"A commission may be the best shot we have to help us get back on track."
"This fiscal commission is going to force us. It is going to bypass leadership, it is going to get to the floor and actually be able to be voted on."
"if you are going to fix a $2 trillion deficit and indeed quit digging this hole deeper, you can't do it on discretionary spending."