A complete departure. But the point I am trying to make is he keeps pushing the envelope, he keeps pushing the envelope.

That is absolutely right. When an intelligence analyst said to him, on two occasions--Mr. Westermann being one--no, Mr. Secretary, you cannot say that because the intelligence community doesn't believe that, the intelligence community…

At least in 10 instances. On 10 different occasions, when he got access to an NSA intercept that mentioned ``an American,'' Mr. Bolton went back to NSA, and, as I understand it--and I ask to be corrected by my staff--but as I understand…

If the Senator will yield, not only the community he worked for, but the entire community. This National Intelligence Officer, who remains nameless because he is undercover, did not give his own opinion. He gave the opinion of what was the…

Let me restate in my own words, so the Senator from Maryland understands. Let's assume there is the country of Xanadu and an American is meeting with the President of Xanadu. In all probability, an American official is meeting with the…

If the Senator would yield, not only a refusal to provide them to our committee that has that responsibility, refusal to provide them even to the Intelligence Committee that is once removed from this process--the same information that was…

That's right. Now, after that occurs, or in the process of this occurring, Mr. Bolton's Chief of Staff contacts the CIA on a disputed issue about what can be said, and says--I don't know if you were here when I said this. To tell you the…

Then he, this staff member, goes and contacts the CIA and says: You know, we would like to change the ground rules. We can say the intelligence community thinks the following, even if you disagree. We don't have to clear it with you. The…

If I may interrupt the Senator, any administration official who wishes to purport that he speaks for the administration, which includes the intelligence community, has to have his or her statement cleared on that specific point, yes. That…

I think it is pretty close. It is like that famous expression in a different context of Justice Holmes. He said prejudice is like the pupil of the eye. The more light you shine upon it, the tighter it closes. It seems the more information…

The reason I say this is that, in the debates in the Constitutional Convention on this nominating process, on three occasions I believe it was Governor Wilson of Pennsylvania--I am not positive of that--proposed a motion that the President…

First, let me finish this point. But, his staff says, you can tell Mr. Bolton he cannot say it only if it will reveal a source or a method. In other words, his staff was seeking carte blanche to allow Mr. Bolton to cherry-pick, as the…

while my friend from Maryland is here, I want to point out, first of all, the request is very limited. We are looking for the names in 10 reports. It is totally circumscribed, the request as relates to this issue which you so painstakingly…

It is as though I try to rob a bank and it turns out they shipped all the money out and there was no money there. I walk out and I get arrested. I say: Wait a minute, no harm, no foul, I didn't get any money. I went in to rob the bank…

Right. I would argue it is being pushed by a person whom everyone would acknowledge is an ideologue, or at least confirmed in what his views are and who seeks facts to sustain his opinion. Look, the big difference, I say to my friend from…

This is not a process where we're a rubber stamp parliament for the Bush administration.

my friends and colleagues, I have not been here as long as Senator Byrd, and no one fully understands the Senate as well as Senator Byrd, but I have been here for over three decades. This is the single most significant vote any one of us…

this amendment implements what President Bush is requesting. Specifically, the President requested that for the next 2 years we keep our assessment at 27 percent. Mr. President, 10,000 forces are being sent to the Sudan under the auspices…

very briefly, necessarily, the administration has not asked for any latitude. The administration is quite clear. They came up and said there is nothing we are trying to negotiate on 27 percent for dues. They didn't ask for that. Speaking…

I send an amendment to the Lugar amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Delaware [Mr. Biden] proposes an…

I realize I have no more time. I ask unanimous consent for 2 additional minutes off the time of the Senator from Indiana.

Will the Senator yield briefly? The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thune). The time of the Senator from Delaware has expired.

very shortly there will be a unanimous consent request on how to proceed on the Boxer amendment, which has not been introduced yet but will be spoken to shortly. I would like, with the permission of my friend from California, to make a…

I say to my friend, we are just clearing it with the leadership. We are working that out. I am sure we will be able to move the amendment immediately after my statement which I don't think will take more than a few minutes. Mr. President…

My amendment does exactly what the administration asks. I thank the Senator for the additional 2 minutes. Parliamentary inquiry: Tomorrow the vote is set for 10, and I believe the Senator from Delaware will have 2 or 3 minutes before the…