Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I want to take a few minutes today to recognize our late colleague, Senator Ted Stevens. Ted Stevens was a fighter. He fought for his State and his country every day here in the U.S. Senate. As a former military pilot and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Senator Stevens was a champion for the military here in the Senate. And he fought for the prerogatives of this institution, sometimes taking on politically unpopular causes to make the Senate stronger. All of my colleagues will remember when Ted Stevens managed legislation. He would put on his ``Incredible Hulk'' tie, his best scowl to deter Members from offering amendments, and dare anyone to get in the way of passing his bills. Ted knew Alaska inside and out, and he did everything he could to make his State a better place for future generations of Alaskans. He recognized that in isolated, rural States the Federal Government was sometimes the only entity capable of truly transforming the lives of individuals and the prosperity of communities. And he recognized that other states sometimes faced similar circumstances. I will never forget the role Ted Stevens played during the Grand Forks flooding of 1997. The Red River overtopped the levee that year and covered most of the city, including all of downtown. And the flooding caused a major fire in the historic downtown, further devastating the community.…”