Cord Byrd

The nominee doesn't part his hair on the right or left side. The Senator doesn't have to explain why he votes against. That is his right.

He doesn't have a right to an up-or-down vote. A nominee doesn't have a right to an up-or-down vote.

All this business about us working for 214 years, there have been a lot of misquotations of history when people talk like that. I say that a Senator has a right under the Constitution to object for whatever reasons--they may not be…

I see nothing in the Constitution that requires an up-or- down vote on any nominee. The Constitution just says that the Senate shall have the power, and the Senate uses that power. It is in the Constitution.

I was hoping we would have a vote on the amendment which I had offered earlier, or in relation thereto, a rollcall vote.

Fine, if we could set this amendment aside until after the two votes. In the meantime, let the Senator from Nevada, Mr. Ensign, speak, and then have the amendment set aside until after the two votes. Meanwhile we can confer.

Continuing, the Department of Defense has served our country well. But from time to time Congress has needed to make changes, such as the Goldwater-Nichols Act, to fix problems that have arisen. We know what the problem is. The Department…

I thank my chairman for his sage remarks. Let me thank him also for the leadership that he demonstrates daily in the Senate and in committees. I have great respect for him. I serve on the Homeland Security Committee with him. He is a…

Yes, yes. I thank the distinguished Senator for his very appropriate observations. The U.N. inspectors were doing their job. They were finding certain weapons, and they were disposing of them. With some more time--I believe it was the top…

I have some remarks to make, about 10 minutes of remarks. I want to commend Senator Burns and Senator Dorgan for their work on the Interior appropriations bill. When might I make those remarks?

Would the able chairman yield for a comment? I urge the chairman not to raise the budget point of order at this time. I wonder if perhaps I might implore the chairman to work with Chairman Cochran to approve using a portion of the fiscal…

I will not object to the chairman's amendment. We need additional funds for the SAFER Firefighter Hiring Program. But this amendment leaves the program to equip and train firefighters $150 million below fiscal year 2005. Last year the…

I thank all Senators. I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was adopted. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

I thank the Republican side for yielding me 10 minutes. So I yield myself 10 minutes. (The remarks of Mr. Byrd are printed in today's Record under ``Morning Business.'' The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Cornyn). The Senator from Delaware.

And 7 of those are back before the Senate, out of 218? My, how much land does a man need? How many nominees do they want? Mr. President, just send up some new nominees; it is that simple. Mr. President, I thank all Senators. I am ready to…

Just as the Senator has had a little difficulty in recalling whether I said this or that, I didn't have a written text before me when I spoke to the President. I don't remember if I said a few or all or three or four. I don't remember. I…

Not yet, if I may respectfully decline. I will shortly. The Senator from Tennessee may wish to stand on his feet and defend the beliefs, the opinions, the rights of the people of Tennessee from a majority. Over there is the majoritarian…

I don't mean six of them, five of them, or four of them or three of them. I have never attacked the Senator's desire to be looked upon as a leader who was fair. I have never attacked him.

Yes, I yield. I ask unanimous consent that I can yield under the rules for a question, without losing my right to the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Crapo). Without objection, it is so ordered.

Well, Mr. President, I have no quarrel with giving the Senators time. But I hope we will attempt, in every way possible, to avoid that showdown the distinguished minority leader has referred to. This matter--

I would like to avert a showdown, if we can do it. Why do we have to have a showdown?

Mr. Leader, what is wrong with that? What is wrong with the proposition that the minority leader has suggested?

I have done what Senators sometimes do. They make a mistake. They have done it to me, too, in referring to a Senator's State as a wrong State. Sometimes they say I am from the State of Virginia. I count that as a great compliment, but I am…

I will yield to the good judgment of the managers of the bill. If you would like to wait until the arrival of those two Senators, that is fine for me. May I take this moment to congratulate him and congratulate his comanager sitting by my…

I have an amendment. I would like to offer it at a time when it would be mutually agreeable to the managers.