Political Quotes

“Isn't it a shame, I tell my friend who just spoke, that his colleagues objected to a unanimous consent request yesterday which would have taken care of the problem he raises today. There's not a person on this floor that doesn't want to make sure that our men and women in harm's way and in uniform ready to be put in harm's way are paid on time. But we're playing a political game here, a game of gotcha, a game of my way or the highway, not a game of coming together from all over the country and trying to make laws for our country that require compromise. Henry Clay, one of the first Speakers of this House, from the State of Kentucky, said that if you can't compromise, you cannot govern. That's why we are on the brink of shutting down government. We asked for a unanimous consent. I'm going to tell you we're going to ask for another unanimous consent that will accomplish exactly what the gentleman from Texas wanted to accomplish. I hope that none of you object. I hope that all of you will say, yes, enough of these games. Let's do what Republicans and Democrats have historically done when they've reached an impasse at this time. They said, well, we'll keep things in place and we'll create a bridge across which we can all pass to get to compromise, to get to an agreement. That's what the American people expect us to do. Mr. Speaker, I understand that to some in this Chamber, shutting down the government is an ideological game or a way of making a point.…”