Political Quotes

“I apologize to the Presiding Officer and all the staff, but I have been conducting for the last hour and a half or more a meeting in the classified room dealing with Ukraine. I am sorry I couldn't be here, but I just couldn't because I had to conduct that meeting. Mr. President, the senior Senator from Iowa is my friend, but I am quite disappointed in my friend the senior Senator from Iowa. This afternoon he delivered another one of his ``Alice in Wonderland'' speeches. He has delivered a few of these, but the one today especially is a view of reality that only exists in fairy tales. He complains that I file too many cloture motions. His complaint is like that of an arsonist who complains about having to hear the sirens of too many fire engines. The real reason I have had to file so many cloture motions is because Republicans have engaged in a systematic pattern of obstruction--and not last week, not last month, but this has been going on for 5 years. We have come to see this as something of the pinnacle, the landmark, the zenith of obstructionism led by my Republican colleagues. I have now had to file cloture motions during the time I have been the majority leader more than 500 times. Lyndon Johnson, who had the job for 6 years--I have had it a little longer than that--only had to face one filibuster. I have had to deal with 500. I don't file cloture, as the Senator from Iowa would like folks to think, in this fairy tale world he believes in, I guess, because I enjoy it.…”