Kendrick Meek: “I really hate to see you leave. I seem to have a strong affinity with the older yet really good men in the Congress…”

“I really hate to see you leave. I seem to have a strong affinity with the older yet really good men in the Congress, Jerry. Everyone keeps addressing Jerry as a New Yorker. But many should know that he is also a Floridian. And he is sort of a little enigmatic to me at times in that he always tells me, ``Carrie, you get exactly what you want when you come before the Committee on Rules.'' But you know what, I do not. But I do not feel badly about it because Jerry has a way of turning you down with a smile. He shows no animosity. He shows no partisanship. He just tells you ``no'' when he does not agree with you. I appreciate that about you, Jerry. I think you can be identified with several identifiers as I see you. Number one, you are very tenacious. There is a bulldog in him and he does not give up very easily. He makes his point on issues that are important to him. He smiles, he listens, but he never agrees, but he is fair. He is determined to represent the best in this Congress, and that is fairness. And even in his conservative nature, he is able many times to express issues from both sides of the point. I like Jerry also because he loves his wife.”