James A. Garfield Quotes

I think it's difficult for members of Congress to be as independent as they need to be in their voting.

In government offices which are sensitive to the vehemence and passion of mass sentiment public men have no sure tenure. They are in effect perpetual office seekers, always on trial for their political lives, always required to court their restless constituents.

In my experience of these things, parties which shout about dirty tricks and the like tend to do so because they fear a direct hit in some vulnerable part of their political anatomy.

I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election

Every Congressman, every Senator knows precisely what causes inflation...but can't, support the drastic reforms to stop it because it could cost him his job

It's been said that members of Congress love receiving pats on the back weekdays in Washington, D.C., but they would benefit greatly from going home regularly to receive valuable slaps on the back of the head in their districts.

For many members of Congress, the time for choosing is near - do what the party leadership demands, or do what the people have asked you to do. If my colleagues don't mind some advice from a newcomer, I'd suggest going with the will of the people.

But in this Congress, accountability is just a catch phrase, usually directed elsewhere. Demands to personal responsibility or corporate accountability abound, but rarely congressional accountability or fiscal responsibility.

If I started worrying about how my constituents are going to react to every move I make, I wouldn't be able to do my job here. I'll do what I think is right and explain it later.

I put myself and all the members of Congress in the same boat of things that could have been done better.

As a politician, you have to deal with someone wanting you to fail every day. I think I prefer being in a situation where generally people are rooting for me, and if they aren't rooting for me, they aren't out there to see my downfall. I respect the people who have the stomach for it.

One of the things about politics, when you're actually there, you realize, you're on a high wire and there is no net under you. On any given day, your campaign can implode for something that happens inadvertently or even intentionally.

We represent people, and any good congressperson wants to know how their people at home feel about issues. I can tell you for sure in our office that is taken into account, and that is true for any congresspersons I know.

Ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse for accused criminals, and it cannot be an excuse for members of Congress.

Downplaying their faults is pretty much the point of campaigns. But we do count on them living with the constant terror of public rejection.

Only the most politically secure congressmen can afford to offend constituents.

The Members of the Parliament shall be bound solely by their own conscience and not by any directions given by their electors.

Members of Congress will pay attention to members of their own districts.

Members [of Congress] never make mistakes. Only the [congressional] staff make mistakes.

I just could not stand to look at the lack of courage in the Senate.

We took the advertising account for Johnson’s campaign because our staff is deadly afraid of Goldwater

If I know anything, I know scary. And giving this President and this out-of-control Congress two more years to screw up our future is downright terrifying. Thankfully, this national nightmare is one we can end.

Senators today are shying away from casting controversial votes on the proposition of any single vote can lead to their defeat.

Never have I seen such a monstrous piece of legislation. Without a single committee hearing we are being asked to vote on that 484 pages. They think we will all go along with it. I read in the paper that nobody will have the courage to vote against it. Well, Robert Byrd is going to vote against it because I don't know what I am voting for.

There are too many cowardly lions walking the halls of Congress.