Historically, the minority party in Congress votes against raising the debt limit, forcing the majority party to whip its members into casting politically painful votes in favor.

In Washington, 'delay' is too often code for 'derail.' Wink, wink.

There's no conscious plan here; my whole life in politics as a state legislator and in Congress has been about strengthening the middle class.

I favor the extension of the middle-class tax cuts because in a recession they're stimulative and they help with demand.

It's too bad war makes peopledisappear like chess pieces, and that prisonsturn prisoners into movie endings.

The defining qualities that will distinguish great leaders from the rest are stemmed from the mindset level.

Failure is part of being human, and it is definitely part of being married.

I want to live. I want to live life with all it's emotions, all it's experiences, I don't want to miss anyhting. But I feel like I will.

Don't ever shelter the feeling of discouragement in your mind, because it only comes to distract one from one's true abilities in life.

All I need is a big surfboard and a piano.

You'll paint some nursery and the kid will want to sleep in a drawer.

I go where there are no slaves, hangmen or oppressors; where faith does not kill; where the one who reigns is God.

Never underestimate a child's ability to get into more trouble.

A man must know when to retreat from a woman, but a wise man knows that sometimes he must stand and face her.