Ayelet Shaked Quotes

We shouldn't deny the right of the minority to filibuster, but we need to do a much better job of making them own it. That way, the American people could figure out who is being obstructionist and who is willing to compromise.

The United States Senate wasn't designed to be a majority-rule institution. It was designed to include and accommodate the rights of the minority in small states as well as large states.

I never heard the word 'compromise' used. So I'm starting to believe that these terms only come into play to try and force Republicans to do what the Democrats want.

We should not allow the minority to control the majority by requiring super majorities on budget related votes.

One of the reasons Americans hold Washington in such low regard is the perception that nothing ever gets done. Whatever the issue - no matter how urgent - they always seem to be 'working on it.'

There is nothing unusual in coalition partners differing on some issues. It is a character of democratic system.

When you have 435 people who are opinionated... sometimes agreeing on things is difficult.

The process of forming government in a minority is one where you talk to everyone and see: What do you have in common? And is there enough commonality?

Like their predecessors, the Presidents of today just throw up their hands.

The argument most commonly made in the filibuster's favor is crudely partisan: 'Our side may be in the majority now, but someday it will be in the minority, and when that happens we'll want to block the other side's extremist agenda.'

Democracy is finding proximate solutions to insoluble problems.

When you have a Senate that is 50 Democrats and 49 Republicans and one independent, it's quite obvious that the only way we are going to get something done is if we work together.

If you want to be a government in a minority Parliament, you have to work with other people.

We've seen filibusters to block judicial nominations, jobs bills, political transparency, ending Big Oil subsidies - you name it, there's been a filibuster.

Majority rule is not the norm for solving issues or problems.

The minority in the Senate has the power to prevent the majority from acting.

The Senate was designed not to be efficient. If was designed to slow things down, And it does a pretty good job of it.

When I face an issue of great import that cleaves both constituents and colleagues, I always take the same approach. I engage in deep deliberation and quiet contemplation. I wait to the last available minute and then I always vote with the losers. Because, my friend, the winners never remember and the losers never forget.

Eliminating the filibuster would eliminate the people’s voices in the Senate.

That’s one difficulty about a democracy. Nothing ever gets decided—even after its been decided.

It is impossible for a Minister to please the many without displeasing the few

We [Congress] are proving inadequate not only to our most difficult problems but also to routine duties. Our national political campaigns never stop. We seem convinced that majorities exist to impose their will with few concessions and that minorities exist to prevent the party in power from doing anything important. […] That’s not how we were meant to govern. Our entire system of government — with its checks and balances, its bicameral Congress, its protections of the rights of the minority — was designed for compromise.

I've never understood multi-party democracy. It's hard enough with two parties.

I'm going to do what is best for the caucus.

It's important to be able to sit together and form a government of the majority that serves everyone, and not a government of minorities that takes care of itself.