Gary Ackerman Quotations

You can compromise between good, better, and best, and you can compromise between bad and worse and terrible. But you can't compromise between good and evil. And now people look at the other side as a completely different kind of animal and say, 'They are taking the country down the road to purgatory.' It's complete intolerance.

It used to be you had real friends on the other side of the aisle. It's not like that anymore. Society has changed. The public is to blame as well. I think the people have gotten dumber.

The media has changed. We now give broadcast licenses to philosophies instead of people. People get confused and think there is no difference between news and entertainment. People who project themselves as journalists on television don't know the first thing about journalism. They are just there stirring up a hockey game.

I've personally demanded that tyrants let their people go. I've tried to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, protect the elderly and infirm, and defend the needy from the aggressively greedy. I've led a blessed life. What a kick for a kid from the projects.

Telling people not to have children is unthinkable and inhumane.

Looking forward, it might prove constructive to examine the true historical record of an issue prior to assuming the worst of anyone's motive and deconstructing and questioning anyone's Democratic bona fides. After all, we liberals got feelings.

For some reason, the military seems more afraid of gay people than they are against terrorists, but they're very brave with the terrorists... If the terrorists ever got a hold of this information, they'd get a platoon of lesbians to chase us out of Baghdad.

If a jerk burns the flag, America is not threatened, democracy is not under siege, freedom is not at risk.

Whether rich people make money or lose money, they get no sympathy from the public.

People more than ever since I can remember are concerned about being out of step and out of line with their political party and won't cross over. There is nobody, man or woman, who wants to be left out, and people are fearful of that. People are fearful of their leadership as well.

Every gun sold should require a background check, period.

I'm in favor of immigration but we also need rules.

We have to have some rules and regulations in America, or the world would empty out here.

As a state senator and then a congressman, I've had the privilege of trying to do good things for people to whom I owe so much and can never fully repay.

There's a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying in to Washington, D.C., and people coming off of them with tin cups in their hands saying that they're going to be trimming down and streamlining their businesses. There's a message there.

Without a musket to raise, a barricade to storm, a flag to wave, the question hit me in the face like the cold air: 'Who am I?'

Using official government resources to help bankroll an explicit political agenda - whether on the right or left - is flat out wrong.

I just thought it was unconscionable for the Congress to insert itself into this debate. We are particularly unqualified to make that decision and to intrude ourselves into the lives of this family.

I've had meetings with Fidel Castro. I've had meetings with Kim Il-Sung. I've had meetings with other dictators. I've met with the Butcher of Beijing. You know, I think it's important to hear, you know, each other's perspective.

India is a regional power. It does not need anything to establish it.

No, you can't call your vote in. You have to be there on the floor to vote.

Politics was my third act. But I could have a fourth. I don't know what that will be yet, but there will be one.

What has the federal government been doing all these years to prepare for a disaster striking a major American city, ... With all the bureaucratic federal agencies, super czars and homeland preparedness, there seems to be no national or regional master plan to evacuate people, bring in relief and adequately deal with a large scale emergency of this nature. Is there a plan in place for how to deal with the profiteers when the resettling and rebuilding begins? Is there a plan to freeze oil prices?

From the U.S. Capitol Building to the White House, our national symbols that represent freedom to so many of us, were built by people who were anything but free.

This was not something he can argue with because these are the concerns that are circulating on the Hill.

What works in nine districts doesn't work in the 10th, ... The leaders don't want to drown someone along the way.

We have some Jewish members of Congress, not a lot but there's a bunch of us.

We were sold a bill of goods, and the buck will stop well short of the president's desk,

People are tired of all the litigation. They're tired of the high insurance costs. The legislation will require all developers to use better practices that the good developers are using now and should result in an overall better product.

You need your neighbors from time to time to help you get through a situation. Having good relations with your neighbor is just being smart.

This is a win for the consumer, for our industry, and the government because it narrows the channels to report and correct problems.

In December 2003, after pulling their heads out of the sand, the Department of Agriculture closed the barn door after the mad cow had already escaped, ... This bill will ensure that the door is never opened again to abusing sick animals, jeopardizing the public health, threatening the American consumer's confidence in the safety of our meat and potentially undermining a valuable sector of our economy.

I never take joy in publicly criticizing my President but questions about the failure of his leadership in the planning and implementation of rescue efforts --- whether now or when the dust settles-have to be asked, ... If a country knows they're going to be attacked whether by Mother Nature or by terrorists, they must be prepared and it's obvious that the federal government was not prepared.

If the PM wants to answer a different question, thats fine, and thats a good answer to a different question. But thats not the question. When it comes to this vote, will he be voting with or against the US?

Sometimes in order to make progress and move ahead, you have to stand up and do the wrong thing.

The media's gotten lazy. They don't check anything out. You report what he reports.

Patriots don't let their nation default.

Sometimes people who are Jewish are held to a higher standard which sometimes we take great pride in.

We're not looking at banning all weapons.

It used to be you had real friends on the other side of the aisle. Its not like that anymore. Society has changed. The public is to blame as well. I think the people have gotten dumber.

And it's absolutely hypocritical for the political party that talks about states rights, to suddenly ignore states rights, that say that the federal government or federalism has no business in this kind of business.

The ability to convince people of the wackiest notions - and both parties can do it - it's part of the dumbing down of America that's really highly problematic.

I am always fascinated by India.