Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, it is with no joy that I rise in support of the Istook resolution. There is nothing more painful than drawing attention to, putting the spotlight on, or casting a bad light on this honorable House--nothing more painful except perhaps allowing our wounds to fester in the minds of the public to the point that this body begins to decay. And that is what is happening. This venerable institution has been reduced by scandal after scandal like a body being consumed by disease. As a former judge, I often noted that our laws were only as strong as the respect we had for them--that when that element of respect for law was gone, we would be reduced to anarchy--because when there is no respect, there is no law--only print on paper. And so we must stop the decay and begin the healing process. We have been armed with the public trust and have betrayed that trust--not because of allegations that so-and-so did such and such, but because we have stood idly by and done nothing when these allegations are being made. Nothing to keep the respect that, as the lawmakers, only we can be the stewards of. The administration can't make the public trust and respect us. The judiciary can't make the public trust and respect us. Only we can do that; and I respectfully suggest that we have fallen woefully short of that important calling. Very candidly--we have a PR problem--one that filters down and affects the very fiber of society.”