Sometimes you've got to make a hard decision, and there's a real reluctance to make hard decisions in Washington.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Voters seem to understand what a big waste of time trying to change Washington is.
I don't think I'm really open to having Washington change me.
Washington is unpredictable these days.
As a policymaker, as a public servant, I come to Washington, D.C., and I make difficult decisions and I make difficult decisions every day. And sometimes those decisions upset people.
I'm not a Washington person.
Washington is like playing the Super Bowl, only there are no timeouts, no potty breaks, and the arena is filled with the media. In government, you have to learn to put yourself second in a big way. But I am a business person at heart. I like to be in charge.
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.'
We need to make people understand that there is a definite connection between what happens in their everyday lives and the decisions we make in Washington, D.C.
I'm not a career politician, so the ways of Washington may be a little obscure to me.
You don't change minds in Washington with sweet reason. You do it to the white light of public opinion.