Political Quotes

“star wars is the Freddie Krueger of defense. It simply will not die. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is very simple. If Members oppose star wars, vote ``yes'' on this amendment. If they want to revive star wars, an ill-fated taxpayer boondoggle that has never done anything for the American people's defense, then oppose this amendment. It is very simple. Mr. Chairman, if Members think it was not enough to take $30 billion of taxpayers' money to put into this program that never proved out, was never able to be deployed in the 1980's, then vote ``no'' on this amendment. To spend more money on star wars is like spending more money on the Edsel. It simply will not work no matter how hard we try. It is very simple. Finally, if we want to take limited defense dollars and ultimately put them in a space-based system that is unproven, rather than military construction, military pay raises, theater missile defense, if Members want to take money out of their terribly important defense programs and put it once again into star wars, which I thought my Republican colleagues said in the defense bill debate right on this floor last year they had no interest in, if Members want to do all of that, they should vote ``no'' on this amendment. If my colleagues think it is time to put a stake in the heart of this modern-day Dracula known as star wars, then vote ``yes'' for this amendment.”