Tom Harkin: “It is hard for the average American out there who may be watching C-SPAN to understand whether there is any sanity in…”

“It is hard for the average American out there who may be watching C-SPAN to understand whether there is any sanity in this place, whether we are really rational individuals running the Senate. This is supposed to be the most deliberative body, as we keep calling ourselves, in the world. The function of the Senate is to debate and to discuss, sometimes ad nauseam, different measures. People in this country wonder what is happening here that the Republicans won't even allow debate on the most important single issue confronting America today: the war in Iraq and the escalation. I make it clear from the outset to those who may be watching, to try to clear it up as much as possible, the Republicans, through parliamentary maneuvers and through their vote yesterday, will not even allow the Senate to debate Iraq. I can talk on it if I want to. Of course, I can. But they will not allow us to go to a debate on the Warner resolution, which has very strong bipartisan support, and has a majority of the votes in the Senate.”