Political Quotes

“I was hoping that at this time today we would be talking about the work we had done on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. But we were unable to do that. What an unusual day. We were not allowed to vote on anything on this bill. I hope our friends in the press have been able to witness what took place today. We talk about last year the Republicans having caused us to try to invoke cloture more in 1 year than had ever happened in a Congress before. In 1 year, they obstructed more things than ever in the history of the country. Now we are starting this year, and they are objecting to their own bills. The President wants the bill passed. Every one of the Republicans--all 49 of them, I assume--will vote for this bill. So all they would need to pass it is two Democrats. I would have to suggest they probably could do that. They are so afraid they may take a vote that may not be something they want to take that they stop everything. This is the President's program. It is not our program. We have stood by since 9/11 telling the President: Anything that you need, we are here at your disposal. Just tell us what you need and we will do it. We only have one request--let's do it legally, constitutionally. If the present law is not sufficient, tell us what you need changed. We have been standing with our arms out since 9/11.”