Political Quotes

“I thank my friend from Maryland, and I commend her for her excellent job managing this side of the debate. It has been a very, very long and difficult debate, and I thank both sides for their contributions. The reason I am rising again at this point in the debate, is to rebut some of the comments made to support this nomination to grant Admiral Kelso four stars and an additional $1,400 a month on his pension. Many arguments were made, and I listened very carefully. I have been on the floor, as many of my colleagues have been, continuously. I think they deserve to be analyzed. I say to my friend, Senator Chafee, who said that this is not the proper venue to make a stand on this issue: This is our only venue. I used to serve on the Armed Services Committee in the House. I no longer do in the U.S. Senate. I enjoyed my tenure there. I did not have a chance to express myself in that committee, so this is my only opportunity. Senator Nunn points out that maybe we should not have the responsibility to review retirements in this manner. Maybe we ought to reform the system. I am very happy to look into it. But the fact is that this issue is before us, and those of us who have been troubled by Tailhook and its aftermath, and some of the continuing problems in the military, feel this is an appropriate venue and feel that our vote is far more than symbolic. Our vote is the right vote--to vote ``no'' on granting these two additional stars.”