Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today there was a hearing that was held by the Democratic Policy Conference under the chairmanship of Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota. It was a historic hearing. It is rare for hearings to occur on Mondays. Usually the business of the Senate and House is concentrated on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But this hearing was held on Monday in an effort, by the Democratic Policy Conference, to call witnesses before our Senate to discuss an issue which is on the mind of most Americans. That issue, of course, is the war in Iraq. Senator Dorgan extended an invitation to this hearing to the Republican majority leader as well as the chairman of the Republican Conference, Senator Kyl of Arizona, in an effort to have a bipartisan hearing on the war in Iraq. Unfortunately, neither of those Senators could attend. But Republican Congressman Walter Jones of North Carolina did come over and join us in this hearing, so there was representation from the Republican House and Democratic Senators at this Democratic Policy Conference. The reason I bring this to the attention of those who are following the business of the Senate is that I believe this hearing was historic.”