We are battling fanatics who kidnap and behead civilians and shoot fleeing children in the back. There can be no dialogue with such people, and the American people understand this.

I am proud of the President's leadership. I am proud to support him in saying: Yes, we are going to do what is necessary now when it is less painful and less expensive.

Saying youre from Texas makes you kind of proud.

I think when you've been in office for a long time, you have a record, and that record is fair game.

I am not a moderate. I am a conservative. I'm a fix-it conservative.

Congress suffers a great deal of criticism for its partisan acrimony. But while we may disagree politically, and air our opposition in this chamber, it is the conversation behind the scenes that cements and defines our relationships.

I have long believed taxpayers make better use of their money than the government ever could.