Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of something that I am for, and that is the chairman's amendment as he has presented it. Madam Speaker, I think that for so many of us who represent men and women in uniform who comprise our fighting forces and who have been so diligent in this battle, in this war on terrorism, we look at these votes and certainly it causes us concern; and we know that the measure that the House is taking up is a measure as requested by the President--we recognize that--and we recognize, also, the severity and importance of the issue. Madam Speaker, this is an issue that should require the full attention of every member and every staff member of this body. And I think that we all approach this--I do--with a lot of questions, and we realize that what the Commander in Chief has asked for is really, in the opinion of so many of the men and women that I represent, a half measure. I wish we would see more leadership, and I am hopeful that in days to come we will see leadership from our Commander in Chief. That is what the men and women deserve, and that is what the American people deserve as we seek to protect our homeland. I wish that we could stand here and say this administration has learned their lessons, because they have so mishandled the drawdown in Iraq. And the rhetoric of al Qaeda being on the run was truly a disservice to our military forces and to our men and women in uniform and to the American people.…”