Political Quotes

“what can I say about Strom Thurmond? I remember, back in 1981, the Senate Judiciary Committee had a new chairman--and a new ranking member, and there were more than a few folks looking forward to the fireworks. There was a new conservative Republican administration and new Republican majority in the Senate. The Judiciary Committee seemed destined to be one of the main ideological battlegrounds over issues that divided us then and still divide us today. There were more than a few Washington insiders who thought that Strom Thurmond the seasoned veteran conservative Republican chairman who first made his mark on the national political scene as an advocate of State's rights--and Joe Biden a northeastern Democrat still in his thirties whose interest in politics was sparked, in large measure, by the civil rights movement would never find an inch of common ground-- not an inch. But I knew that was not going to be the case. I had served with Strom for eight years by then . . . I knew his personal strengths, and admired them greatly, regardless of our political differences, and I knew those strengths would guide us to consensus rather than gridlock. I knew, with Strom, there would be comity--not enmity. And I knew debate would be civil and constructive rather than divisive and filled with meaningless partisan rhetoric. Strom, as usual, didn't let me down.…”