Thomas E. Mann Quotes

Unfortunately, the genuine relationships and friendships that some of us have developed across the aisle in recent years does not translate into a willingness to seek compromise, consensus, or middle ground on the major challenges facing our state. The extreme ideology of the self-styled Tea Party legislators in Arizona absolutely rules the day.

People who truly represent an extreme on either side have a very difficult time getting bipartisan support for what they're doing.

Redistricting and a broken, polarized Congress have made it tough to be a moderate in Congress.

So the - the part of the problem is not just the rhetoric. It's the fact that we - we're so polarized in what we've done to each other as parties over the last thirty years in redistricting that it's very, very hard to overcome your own constituencies and move to the middle.

One difficulty in making the Senate work the way it was intended is that America's electorate is increasingly divided into red and blue states, with lawmakers representing just one color or the other.

Bipartisanship isn't an option anymore; it is a requirement. The American people have divided responsibility for leadership right down the middle.

Like most Americans, I feel disgusted when we see people make decisions based on party politics rather than a solution that is best for the country.

There are some in Congress who would rather see their opponents lose than see their country win. That has got to stop…. They must find a way to put country ahead of party.

I want to figure out how we put California and America back on track - how we bridge this partisan divide that is so polarizing.

I've had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating as it should. There is much too much partisanship and not enough progress.

I am basically a supporter of Barack Obama - it is not easy to be a post-partisan president in a hyper-partisan era.

The one thing I'm absolutely tired of hearing is 'Republicans reaching across the aisle.' We need to step up and lead, ladies and gentlemen. I'm tired of reaching across the aisle.

It is only in Washington where many still have a lingering animosity for the political parties. My friends, we need to get over it.

The polarization of Congress; the decline of civility; and the rise of attack politics in the 1980s, the 1990s, and the early years of the new century are a blot on our political system and a disservice to the American people.

While I have worked hard to bring folks to the middle to craft common-sense solutions to the many problems that confront our nation, Washington is mired in gridlock, gamesmanship and constant partisan bickering.

The real problem with big issues like Medicare is that both parties have to be brave at the same time. Every pollster will tell you not to do that to get partisan advantage. Too many people here are willing to deliberately harm the country for partisan gain. That is borderline treason.

Congress is unable to do the work of the American people because too many politicians believe that compromise means capitulation.

Partisan rancour and party politics and ideology have got in the way of compromise - and compromise is the only thing that has ever made politics successful.

The most biased people are the Democrats.

Party leads to vicious, corrupt and unprofitable legislation, for the sole purpose of defeating party.

It's counterintuitive, but the most divisive arrangement is when the same party controls both Congress and the presidency, a situation encountered in eight of the past 10 years. With government unified under a single party, the minority has the least possible incentive to cooperate with the majority.

The American people do not care which Party solves the problems confronting our nation.

If you are tired of partisanship over patriotism, you need to vote for a change in direction.

Nobody should be surprised that Republicans vote for Republican policy. Just like Democrats vote for Democrat policy.

I think that what is truly unfortunate is when an entire party makes a decision that they're going to block every single thing that a president wants to accomplish. It's very - it's very hard to get anything done in those circumstances.