Political Quotes

“this week a historic discussion began between Congress and the White House about the way forward in Iraq. On Wednesday, a meeting occurred between the President and congressional leadership following the President's veto of a spending bill that would have made America more secure, fully funded the troops, and changed the course in Iraq. It has taken almost 4 years, but it appears the President finally is willing to consider what most Americans and Members of Congress have long known, that we must change course in Iraq and move toward a strategy that will make our country more secure. It took 6 years and 3 months for the President to accept Congress as a coequal branch of Government. Prior to last Wednesday, the President basically had ignored the constitutionally framed equal branch of Government, the legislative branch. From that perspective, it was a positive step forward. During the first 6 years of this congressional term, the President basically ignored us. There was a big rubber stamp. Anything the Republican Congress thought the President wanted, they gave him. But yesterday, the minority leader and I met with the President's Chief of Staff Josh Bolton to further that discussion that started Wednesday in the White House. I thought the meeting was constructive, comfortable. It is clear, at this early point in the negotiations, that nothing is off the table. We agreed to meet again early next week.”