Olympia Snowe Quotes

Above all else stands the burning question of bipartisanship. Whatever else the politicians might say they're about, our news analysts know that this is the true object of the nation's desire, the topic to which those slippery presidential spokesmen need always to be dragged back.

Pubic business must be done. It will be done one way or another. If wise men refuse it, others will not. If honest men refuse it, others will not.

I don't enjoy politics. I like to get things done, and I like Republicans and Democrats, and that doesn't always work well.

My view is, Democrat, Republican, it doesn't matter, my view is I'm in Washington to try to work with people.

I wouldn’t be too serious about bipartisanship. It’s a great myth that ought to be fostered. And don’t bring too damn much scholarship to bear on it. You’ll prove it out of existence if you’re not careful.

If they think its such a sacrifice to go into public service, then they should stay the heck out.

The business of serving the American people is a tough, and sometimes thankless task.

I am from the Left, but I am happy to work with people from the Right.

I'm a strong believer in bipartisanship.

Well, I don't know too many governors who are flaming ideologues.

Let's just do what is right for the American people. And those of us who are involved in politics and government know that our responsibility is to the American people, that we have a responsibility to find our common ground, to seek it and to find it.

But if we can work with people in other parties to get the right answer for the country we'll do that.

I hear from everybody, and they say 'Joe, nowhere but in Washington do they think not working together makes sense.' We're not hired to fight.

If the parties get too close together they lose their identities, if they get too far apart you're not going to get a whole lot done because you almost always need to have some folks on the other side of the aisle to accomplish anything.

If ever there was a time for true bipartisanship, it is today.

Well, Judy, I would hope in the new year, we could start thinking about politics not like it was the Super Bowl, where you always have to have one team that wins and the other team has to be a loser.

Folks are really tired of this rabid division between Republicans and Democrats. Folks want people to come together and solve the problems and the challenges of America.

I'm a believer in bipartisanship.

I've thought about it, not a lot, but I thought my relationship with Congress - the Democrats and Republicans - would help me get some things done. Not everything, but at least they'd be willing to try.

Whatever my party affiliation, I will continue to be guided by President Kennedy's statement that sometimes party asks too much.

I am conservative, there's no doubt about it. But you can be conservative and still work with people, and that's what my intentions are.

I do hope that next year Republicans and Democrats will do nothing.

Bipartisanship is “the oil of national government.”

A public official must feel that he is a servant of the people. This is true of all public officials but perhaps in a special sense true of the Secretary of State, for our party lines stop at the water’s edge.

Goodness knows, we have horrible problems to face in this Congress. I hope we can face them as colleagues in working unitedly for the people of this country and certainly not indulging in animosity or referring to each other as ''enemies.''