Richard Shelby Quotes

When the Budget has once been approved by the President and transmitted to Congress, it is his budget estimate and no officer or official of the War Department would have any right to come up here and attempt to get a single dollar more than is contained in that estimate .

The budget is looked upon in the Congress as a way for a political party to promote itself.

I'm not serving in office because I desperately needed 99 new friends in the U.S. Senate.

I have never been opposed to earmarks.

It's like going into the Senate. You know, the first time you get there, you're all excited, 'My God, how did I ever get here?' Then, about six months later, you say, 'How the hell did the rest of them get here?'

One of my contemporaries, a colorless chap who worked much harder at his law studies, is now Prime Minister.

I think there's a lot to learn from Rockefeller on how to pass legislation.

I've loved being in legislative office on a state level, and I think on a federal level there are so many more opportunities. I'm so excited to accomplish more.

Throughout the 40 years I've been in Washington, I've always worked hard, particularly with regards to the budget issues.

I have no ambitions to be a cabinet minister, or prime minister. I wouldn't wish being prime minister on my worst enemy.

Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.

I am not entering politics to be another Knesset member. If I enter the political arena I want to be prime minister. Period.

I do not rule out the possibility of being prime minister of India one day, but there is still time.

I happened to have the privilege of serving in Congress. It will be 16 years at the end of this term. And I think I made a difference here on important issues.

Page one of any economic plan to get America working is to give a pink slip to the current resident in the White House.

I am not at all a politician. I don't think I'm cut out for politics. I am certainly not going to stand for election.

People were concerned about national security, and that precluded us from having the opportunity to break through on the issues that we cared most about - the economy, education and health care.

Whenever people say, 'You should be president,' I say, 'I thought you liked me.' Listen, I thought being mayor of Stamford was a wonderful job. Being governor of a state for a period of time is a wonderful job, and I'm not sure I'm at all attracted to Washington.

I think you're going to see a number of Democrats that do want to see us grapple with spending.

I didn't get to the Senate by accident.

I didn't run for student council president. I don't see myself in any way in elected office. I love policy. I'm not particularly fond of politics.

No doubt it was better to have become president than not.

I've been in Parliament since 1983, and I've been involved in many issues over the time.

Politics doesn't matter, policy does.

I'm not driven to get back into politics. It's not on my top five things to do before I die, but saying that, I may be in politics in the next year or the next ten years. I've been on the front line for 12 years, four in state government, eight on the national level.