Political Quotes

“Mr. President, whatever one's position is on the best way to cut the deficit, we all should be able to agree on this: We must raise the debt ceiling. We must pay our bills. Failing to do so is to invite economic catastrophe. The American people have had their fill of catastrophe and near-catastrophe. Recently in Afghanistan, Admiral Mullen, Chairman of our Joint Chiefs, was asked by troops if they will be paid next month. His answer was: I honestly can't answer that question. He added: I'd like to give you a better answer than that right now; I just honestly don't know. It is inconceivable to me that we will leave our troops in limbo by driving our country over the cliff of default. Our Nation's economic life is in peril. I don't remember ever in the 32 years I have been here when the Nation has been more in need of deliberation, statesmanship, and compromise. New York Times columnist David Brooks, who is a conservative columnist, recently wrote that too many Republicans seem to have joined a ``movement''--his word--in which ``the members do not accept the logic of compromise, no matter what the terms.'' I hope that some of our Republican colleagues will prove Mr. Brooks wrong on this matter because of its huge significance. The time for ignoring hard truths is over. Blind resistance to compromise may play well with some, but it is no way to solve hard problems or to govern.…”