Political Quotes

“it is not surprising that slogans like ``Three Strikes You're Out'' are suddenly popular. Indeed, it is seductive and politically savvy at this time. I applaud my colleagues for taking the initiative--but wonder are we addressing the problem? What kind of message are we sending by locking away someone for mail fraud yet allowing the rapist to go free? I urge my colleagues to seriously look at what they are supporting and consider where this debate is taking us. Let's look beyond the slogans. Indeed how many criminals can Uncle Sam put away when only 5 percent of crimes are prosecuted federally? Today, I will introduce legislation that will empower our States to target the most violent criminals without giving them repeated chances to do more violence. My bill is simple. We will make sure that States who make a commitment to incarcerate violent criminals will have the necessary prison space. We cannot accept mandatory life in prison without parole lightly--yet we must accept its necessity for certain criminals. This approach is both tough and smart.”