Political Oversight Quotes

Not only do we have a right to know, we have a duty to know what our Government is doing in our name.

The Agency became so wrapped up in the military operation that it failed to appraise the chances of success realistically. Furthermore, it failed to keep the national policymakers adequately and realistically informed of the conditions considered essential for success.

We've learned something about President-elect [Donald] Trump's choice for secretary of defense. Lawmakers in Congress intend to proper debate over whether retired General James Mattis meets a requirement for civilian control of the military.

Bureaucrats, dunderheads and knaves have always denounced congressional oversight.

We shouldn't have politicians micromanaging this war because it is complex and unconventional.

See that the government does not acquire too much power. Keep a check on your rulers.

I have never been reimbursed at the federal level. Never want to be in a million years. To me, it's just not worth the red flag.

What would this country be like without the press prying to find out what the government is doing?

We're building an independent political program that can run electoral politics and then turn on a dime to hold our leaders to task, in case they suddenly develop that old case of amnesia! We'll be there to remind them what they promised and who they promised to work for!

No sitting administration likes to see itself studied; no administration welcomes investigations.

What is Parliament for if it is not to be a means to make ministers accountable for the services for which they are responsible.

Did the media ever question anything about Obamacare, the intricate do's and don'ts, the policy cogs? No.[Barack] Obama just wanted it.

Everything depends on whether the technological disposition is allowed to proceed to its self-augmenting limits, or whether it can be restricted and brought under intellectual, spiritual, moral, and political rule.

Everything is about accountability to the American people, accountability of the executive branch ... [and] accountability of the oversight of the Congress.

Loyalty of the law-making power to the executive power was one of the dangers the political fathers foretold.

It is a seldom proffered argument as to the advantages of a free press that it has a major function in keeping the government itself informed as to what the government is doing.

The first mistake in public business is the going into it.

I think prime ministers, I actually think Cabinet ministers should be subject to intense scrutiny, I think that's in the public interest, even if some of the allegations made aren't right and so on, and they have to correct the record, it doesn't matter.

The London assembly's job is to scrutinise the mayor of London.

So I think it's important to understand that your duly elected representatives have been consistently informed about exactly what we're doing.

Hopefully, at some point, people will at least credit the Republicans with carrying out their oversight responsibilities and with pursuing a principled course of action even in the face of everyone's short-attention spans.

Oversight now is defined as going after political appointees.

All too often politicians sign treaties in a hurry, without reading them properly, and without understanding where they will lead.

Caring about policy is important - people in washington forget.

If we were left solely to the wordy wit of legislators in Congress for our guidance, uncorrected by the seasonal experience and the effectual complaints of the people, America would not long retain her rank among the nations.