Debate is healthy and no one in this chamber - starting with me - has a monopoly on being right.
Ted Kulongoski

Debate is masculine, conversation is feminine.
Amos Bronson Alcott

Debate is the death of conversation.
Kitty O'Neill Collins

Defining the terms of the debate generally dictates who's gonna' win it.
Paul Begala

Deliberation and debate is the way you stir the soul of our democracy.
Jesse Jackson

During last night's debate, John Kerry and John Edwards were so friendly to each other some political experts think that they may end up running together. In fact Kerry and Edwards were so friendly, President Bush accused them of planning a gay marriage.
Conan O'Brien

Every candidate goes into every debate hoping that they can own a particular moment.
Peter Jennings

For the life of me, I don't understand what honest motive there is in putting this in front of this body to philosophically debate marriage on a constitutional amendment that is not going to happen, and which is enormously divisive in all of our communities.
Dianne Feinstein

Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate.
Hubert H. Humphrey

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.
Colin Powell

He who frames the question wins the debate.
Randall Terry

Healthy disagreement, debate, leading to compromise has always been the American way.
Donald L. Carcieri

Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled.
Michael Crichton

I am convinced that we as a body must conduct a formal and legitimate debate about election irregularities.
Stephanie Tubbs Jones

I believe that the freedom of speech should be protected, but so should a family's right to privacy as they grieve their loss. There is a time and a place for vigorous debate on the War on Terror, but during a family's last goodbye is not it.
Dave Reichert

I can assure you we are all strong-willed, forceful personalities and the president encourages vigorous debate.
Karen Hughes

I come to urge my party to be open to debate and discussion; to move away from a lock-step litmus test which advocates abortion on demand in an effort to reach a broader national consensus.
Robert Casey

I do think that Social Security reform needs to be bipartisan, and we are going to have to reach that in this debate at some time before we can find really meaningful reform.
Judy Biggert

I don't debate with liars.
Evo Morales

I don't feel that an atmosphere of debate and total disagreement and argument is such a bad thing. It makes for a vital and alive field.
Clifford Geertz