Political Quotes

“the day before yesterday I surprised some by saying nice things about Congressman Paul Ryan, and they said nice things about him. Since then, a handful of people have demanded to know why we would ever say nice things about a man who has attacked Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, as he has done in recent history. The answer is very simple. Democrats need, our country needs, responsible Republican negotiating partners if Congress is to avoid twin challenges facing us in the coming weeks: avoiding the first-ever default in the full faith and credit of the United States and preventing another government shutdown. We need someone to deal with. We must avoid the self-inflicted wounds that have typified the rule of House Republicans and certainly Senate Republicans. In spite of our ideological differences, in my view, Congressman Ryan is the only House Republican, whom I am aware of, with real potential to impose a basic modicum of order in the House of Representatives and work with us to avoid default and another government shutdown. He has helped in the past, and I am confident he could in the future if he chooses to. To my allies, rest assured that I will continue to oppose Congressman Ryan's plans to privatize Medicare and slash Social Security. I have said the Ryan budget would lead to a ``Kochtopia,'' and I believe that to be truer now than ever before. Congressman Ryan also coauthored the Murray-Ryan budget compromise. That was good work.…”