The unemployment rate has effectively not gone down from where it was at the peak of the recession. The only reason it's gone technically from 10 percent to 8 percent is so many people are discouraged and have quit work. Jim Talent More Quotes by Jim Talent More Quotes From Jim Talent The old welfare system was hurting people by discouraging work and marriage. Welfare reform, and now this legislation, will build on the understanding that work and strong families are the foundation upon which we build our future. Jim Talent marriage strong hurt Replacing General McChrystal with David Petraeus was a good first step, but more will be needed. Jim Talent first-steps steps firsts Each of us should take personal responsibility for our diet, and our children's diet, and the government's role should be to make certain it provides the best information possible to help people stay healthy. Jim Talent government responsibility children Given Mr. Obama's lack of experience as an executive, and his past performance in crises such as the oil spill, it is reasonable for those of us who support the effort in Afghanistan to worry that he will not be up to the job. Jim Talent oil jobs past General Petraeus is not a miracle worker. He can not be successful unless the president creates greater confidence within his own team about the decisions which the president has himself made. Jim Talent team decision successful General McChrystal had to go. Whatever his virtues as a strategist and commander, the 'Rolling Stone' interview fatally compromised his ability to represent the United States in dealing with allies and to act within the circle of people who must make decisions in Afghanistan. Jim Talent circles decision people If we hold true to our ideals and our commitment to freedom, this generation of servicemen and women will have extended liberty to the Iraqi people, just as previous generations of Americans have all across the globe. Jim Talent liberty people commitment The problem is not that America does not have energy. The problem is that our government - alone among the governments of the world - will not allow its own people to recover the energy that they possess. Jim Talent government america people The elections in Iraq are a victory for freedom and the Iraqi people, and a blow to the transnational network of terrorists who have tried to prevent this day from happening. Jim Talent iraq blow people Governor Romney is a good debater. Jim Talent governor-romney governors romney I've always believed the two best anti-poverty programs are work and marriage. Jim Talent poverty marriage two This economy is not getting better and the president's policies are the reason. Jim Talent get-better president reason I would love to be able to serve in office in some capacity with Romney as president. Jim Talent able office president Well look, I don't begrudge anybody in the voters and their views. Jim Talent voters views looks Gov. Romney is a proven and effective leader with vast experience in the business world, in the non-profit world and in government. And in every capacity in which he has ever served, he has been effective as a leader. Jim Talent government leader world Now Speaker Gingrich says interesting and insightful things. He can explain them well. On many occasions he also says outrageous things that come from nowhere and he has a tendency to say them at exactly the time when they most undermine the conservative agenda. Jim Talent agendas insightful interesting People are working harder and harder than ever before and barely staying in place. Jim Talent staying harder people It's like doctors can't save all their patients, but, on balance, Bain under Gov. Romney created well over 100,000 jobs, which is certainly more than has been created in the Obama administration because we're down over 500,000 over the last three-and-a-half years. Jim Talent doctors jobs years I've been very active in Missouri. Jim Talent missouri active I just think that the independent voters are going to take their time and look at both candidates. Jim Talent independent looks thinking