Trent Lott Quotations

A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embrace the discarded policies of the past. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by my statement.

We cannot forget the little things we take for granted in America that remain the disdain of dictators and terrorists throughout the world.

Freedom is never easily won, but once established, freedom lasts, spreads and chokes out tyranny.

Racial discrimination does not always violate public policy.

The highly motivated young people who comprise the backbone of our military force truly are taking their place as one of America's greatest generations.

The platform we had in Dallas, the 1984 Republican platform, all the ideas we supported there - from tax policy, to foreign policy; from individual rights, to neighborhood security - are things that Jefferson Davis and his people believed in.

Most Americans in both red and blue states reject and resent the message being sent by Hollywood and some in the media that values are subjective, to be defined by the individual and not by God.

I want to say this about my state. When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years either.

I'm not a fan of Secretary Rumsfeld. I don't think he listens enough to his uniformed officers.

The vision of a nation formed from many different peoples bound together by a common love of freedom was staked out long before our lifetimes or even our parents' or grandparents' lifetimes.

While it may take generations of nurturing, nations founded on and grounded in freedom will eventually overcome and prosper. Once free, folks rarely accept anything less, and that includes Iraqis.

Look, the administration said months ago that we were caught napping in this area, that OPEC has run up the price, it's created problems,

I don't know that this is going to happen, but I expect that something specific would be asked of Congress before an overt action would occur, barring an emergency.

From what I've seen, I don't think you can trust the Chinese on any deal,

For the sake of getting this done, I would plead again to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle: Let's find a way to get an agreement to do aviation security. And then find a way to do these other issues that are all so important,

We've got to pay attention to the fact that morale is down, we are losing ground in readiness and on pay and pensions we are shortchanging them and they are getting out.

I agree with that, and I think the administration is looking seriously at that question, ... Face the Nation.

It is a worry about maintaining a domestic industry, which I think has national security implications,

Our military isn't perfect, but it's about as close to perfect as humanly possible.

I think I'd have to think about that,

While Americans let something as minor as rain impede us from voting, Iraqis snubbed the possibility of death or injury, bravely voting, and sending America a big 'thank you' by their actions.

Y'all come back soon, but I hope that's not taken the wrong way and not for an occasion like this one,

What is the rush? What's the difference between this Thursday and next Thursday?

acting like a private, instead of a general.

As we watch the aftermath of the elections in Iraq, let's remember that while our own American culture remains young, our course of freedom is not.

I want nothing to do with her. Keep her away from me.

I know, Sen. Daschle, that the weight of this job will be as heavy as the weight on Atlas when he carried the world on his shoulders, ... I hope I can help sometimes to make that burden a little lighter.

In the summer of 2002...the President began lobbying for an open-ended resolution empowering him to wage war on Iraq.... Bush had made clear his intentions to wage war on Iraq in several of our private meetings.

I am absolutely satisfied that if we are going to have a major conflict again in Iraq, that Congress will be involved, that there will be time for a debate,

I am not going to allow this issue to be used for political purposes,

I couldn't argue with the words he chose. But the tone he employed was devastating ... booming and nasty.

There are people who don't vote for a lot of reasons, sometimes as a statement.

Money is becoming one of the most corrosive elements of politics.

I don't agree with the libertarians. I want my security first. I'll deal with all the details after that.

Why do they kill people of other religions because of religion? Why do they hate the Israelis and despise their right to exist? Why do they hate each other? Why do Sunnis kill Shiites? How do they tell the difference? They all look the same to me.

One of the things I really want is for people to feel the civic responsibility, and not just refuse to vote out of protest.

[Congress] is not the British Parliament, and I hope it never will become the British Parliament... Are we going to bring the president in here and have a question period like the prime minister has in Great Britain?

Government does best when it helps people help themselves. Human dignity is found not in a handout but in being able to do for one's self.

I understand what's going on in people's minds, and I think the political leaders better be asking themselves 'why is it, that Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and maybe even others are having the impact that they are having?'

We can support our troops without supporting our president.

My job as majority leader is be supportive of our troops, try to have input as decisions are made and to look at those decisions after they're made ... not to march in lock step with everything the president decides to do.

I want the President to look across the country and find the best man woman or minority that he can find

If the president comes forward with a strong, qualified nominee, if he, you know, addresses the agenda, if he takes actions, including dealing with perhaps some personnel decisions, I think that people will show that he is moving forward and doing the right thing for our country.

I am an advocate of having a gold dollar with Reagan's picture on it, and calling it the Ronnie. The Canadians have the Loonie, and we can have the Ronnie.

Why do Sunnis kill Shiites? How do they tell the difference? They all look the same to me.

I think the important thing is for the president to show action. The people in America want to know that we're listening to them and their concerns.

When you're in this type of conflict, when you're at war, civil liberties are treated differently.

It seems that nearly every American either has a share of federal spending or has a close relative who does.

It is America, I don't want the government trying to control more of my life. I want less government control, and I think there are too many government regulations, laws and taxes on the books.

Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.

I'm like a woman scorned. I'm prepared to continue to kick their fanny until the last day I'm alive on this Earth because they have mistreated too many people.