John McCain

We're still looking at $43 billion in cuts, is that right?

I share the concerns about the Kurdish schism with the country, with the Sunni-Shia situation.

On the issue of Syria, we're now over a million refugees. We're now at 70,000 people at least who have been massacred.

Isn't this, in the words of Secretary Panetta, 'we're shooting ourselves in the foot,' in the head and not in the foot?

I still respect Ronald Reagan and admire his principles, but he was ready to make compromises in order to save Social Security.

It tells me that I think it's very helpful and healthy to have been in minority and majority. That way I think you understand the problems and challenges of being on both ends of the spectrum.

I had a much better sense of accomplishment in the past.

I think that you can stick to your principles and still make compromises.

In all due respect to my colleagues in the Congress, I think you can believe them or those men and women who are serving in the military.

In a lot of ways you're correct. Now there are a few exceptions. Last year, we did pass a few bills, although it was the least productive Congress since 1947. That's just a fact.

This year, we have worked on an agreement we made. It was hard-fought, but to avoid a 51-vote Senate, I can assure you we're making progress on immigration reform. Republicans and Democrats, eight of us are working together.

I think everybody can share some of the blame. And I will admit to being a partisan Republican. But I believe it is the job of the president of the United States, particularly as commander-in-chief, when we're talking about the effects on…

There's plenty of blame to go around for the forced spending cuts kicking in tonight, but he has also got a dire warning. He says some of those cuts could put American lives at risk.

Obama of putting his own reelection ahead of the interests of working Americans and our national security.

We should sit down and come to an agreement to prevent the sequestration not only for our national security but for the benefit of the men and women who are serving this Nation.

It is disgraceful to treat the men and women in the military... to be subjected to this kind of day-to-day kind of uncertainty.

This is really a disconnect, the likes of which I have never seen before.

I believe our witnesses would agree that this can have a long-term effect on retention.

Did you support the recommendation by then Secretary of State Clinton, and then head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) General Petraeus, that we provide weapons to the resistance in Syria?

Our military was appropriately responsive, even though 7 hours passed and two Americans died.

There was a message sent, an urgent message sent back to the State Department on August 15.

So for you to testify that our posture did not allow a rapid response--our posture was not there because we didn't take into account the threats to that consulate, and that's why four Americans died.

It's been an honor to have known you and I appreciate your leadership of DOD.

I begged you, Secretary Panetta, for example, to send a hospital ship over there to help treat their 30,000 wounded.

We positioned our forces in a way that was informed by and consistent with available threat estimates.