John Kerry: “Let me say to my friend from Virginia, I have great respect for his analysis and for the sober, introspective approach…”

“Let me say to my friend from Virginia, I have great respect for his analysis and for the sober, introspective approach that he brought to this legislation. I must say I cannot disagree with him-- that from, certainly, my perspective, there are one or two amendments that have been agreed to that may be a reflection of sort of a first-round fervor on the floor of the Senate. On the other hand, I am convinced that is going to change over the course of the legislative process. Some people have been trying to wish this bill dead for some period of time. I think the Senator from Arizona and I would agree, this bill is not dead. This bill is going to continue to be fought out in the context of the Senate. I hope in the end the Senator from Virginia will find that, while he may not agree with what could still leave the Senate floor-- and I believe the bill could still leave the Senate floor--if the Congress of the United States works its will in a complete way, it is possible that something could come back, ultimately, that the Senator may feel is better.”