Jim DeMint

The message is pretty clear: Americans are sick and tired of the doubletalk coming out of Washington, of us going home and saying we're conservative and then coming up here and voting for 10,000 earmarks. We can't fool America anymore; the media is too good. They're reporting what we're really doing.

We know from our own history that democratic institutions take decades to mature, and we know from past conflicts that freedom is not free.

You've got the Democratic Party that now depends on more government spending and actual building the dependence on government in order to increase their political party.

I'm a conservative first, and I believe that, if we do a better job of helping Americans understand what we're trying to do, to showcase every place in the country that our ideas are working at the state level, that that will help those at the federal level who want to carry those policies.

So, the point I'm making is, we are not going to cut spending in Washington if we think it's the job of every congressman and senator is to pave local parking lots and build local sewer plants. These parochial interests are getting in the way of the national interests.

The problem we've got now in Washington is that the goals are completely the opposite from each other.

I don't need to be asking for money for local museums and other projects just to make me look good back home.

I'm getting optimistic. I think, as I talk to people around the country - they seem to get it. They want a return to those things that made America different and great.

Motorists who want to save money on gas will demand and buy more fuel-efficient vehicles. We should not limit their freedom with more government regulations.

I went through two pretty dark years being fed up with the system and frustrated with my own party after two disastrous elections in 2006 and 2008.

I don't think Obama will get re-elected.

You could accuse Republicans of a lot of things, but you could never convict us of being too conservative!