Ronald Dellums: “So, Mr. Chairman, we can come and debate and engage each other substantively on the issues. We do not all have to think…”

“So, Mr. Chairman, we can come and debate and engage each other substantively on the issues. We do not all have to think alike. That is frightening and dangerous anyway. What keeps the body politic honest and flowing healthy is when there are competing ideas. I can appreciate that. But the one place where we ought to come together and stand shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip is any time we contemplate changing the Government that has brought us over 200 years to this moment. Mr. Chairman, I know that my colleagues are going to do this thing, and my only hope, my only hope is that enough American people will awake even to the reality that their lives have been fundamentally altered, because their representatives, their responsibilities have been fundamentally changed, the Constitution has been fundamentally altered, the balance of power has been fundamentally altered, and if we ever want to establish an imperial Presidency and impotent Congress, wait until 2:30 on Monday, and that is exactly what we will have and it is frightening and disturbing. I am happy to engage any Member on this floor in a debate on the critical nature of what we are doing.”