Mary Landrieu Quotes

"While we want help from Washington and we respect advice and counsel from Washington, ... our message is please respect the wishes and views of local businesses, regional businesses, local elected officials and state officials as we do this together."

"I'd say that we have a general agreement that the military has a very strong role to play, but so do our governors and our local elected officials. We do have a democracy and a citizenship that has elected mayors, county commissioners and governors, particularly. I'm not sure the governors association or all the mayors in America would be willing to sort of step aside."

"While investment in education without accountability is a waste of resources, demanding accountability without making investments is a waste of time, ... We believe the president's call for education reform will be an empty promise if we can't also find common ground on education investment."

"This unprecedented national disaster requires an unprecedented national response,"

"The president's statement indicates a failure to appreciate the burdens borne by the people of Louisiana and other coastal oil-and-gas-producing states,"

"There was a time when FEMA understood that the correct approach to a crisis was to deploy to the affected area as many resources as possible as fast as possible, ... Unfortunately, that no longer seems to be their approach."

"It's not a focus but a foundation, ... We've gotten criticism from people who don't understand how critical the situation is in south Louisiana and don't understand how important south Louisiana is to the rest of the nation."

"Instead of just spending it on a general fund, let's redirect these monies back to environmental funds."

"She would be very high in my book,"

"The communication systems throughout the entire Gulf Coast are severely compromised."

"This is a competition, ... At the end of the day, we're competing for citizens."

"I'm asking Congress, please don't send any more money to FEMA,"

"Many members of Congress are very displeased with this very slow pace, ... The new rules are purposely drafted to close loopholes that currently exist."

"in some second-class fashion."

"we do have a democracy and a citizenship that has elected mayors, county commissioners and governors, particularly. I'm not sure the governors association or all the mayors in America would be willing to sort of step aside."

"Substantive future investments from our federal government must be rooted in the principles of accountability and a clear strategy for building a New South: a New South that is stronger, better, and full of economic opportunities for all citizens."

"I have no hesitation to use force. I believe the threat is real,"

"Thousands are dead and only God knows how many, ... I've seen more in the last two weeks than I've seen in my entire lifetime, and I hope to never witness it again."

"This government needs to understand it can't protect the homeland on the cheap,"

"our federal government failed these individuals in life."