John Kerry

Are you saying to me you are not supportive of that----

Obviously, we want people to know it is different; and our goal is to make sure Katrina folks--well, we specifically put in the amendment, Senator Snowe and myself, a bipartisan effort with Senators Vitter and Landrieu, et cetera, that the…

I regret that you are not formally at the cabinet table, but I think you have got to guarantee that Katrina rebuilding contracts are going to go to small business.

I hope you will weigh in as heavily as possible to get those contracts out to small businesses, particularly the local and regional ones who are capable of delivering, as fast as possible.

Well, do we need to put that into a bill?

We have actually passed a bill in the Senate.

Okay. So they will qualify?

Does that include, in fact, lending to them?

Who are they going to get assistance from? Is it going to be clear to them from the outset that they get small business disaster assistance?

One of the issues that concerns me, and I think others, is the question of coordination with other agencies.

Have you had any evidence that you are not able to keep up with the demand at this point?

What about the people who don't know about it?

Given that reality, Senator Landrieu and I wrote to you on September 1 and again on September 13 asking you to extend the application deadline on the physical disaster loans from October 28, because a lot of people aren't even going to be…

Can you give us an answer today as to whether you will agree to do that?

We know Judge Roberts is no Sandra Day O'Connor, and the White House has sent a clear signal. There are serious questions that must be answered involving Judge Roberts' judicial philosophy.

The White's House credibility is at issue here. And I believe, very clearly, Karl Rove ought to be fired.

Two questions. No. 1, is it not true there is $14 million not just $4 million; $14 million for the next year? And, second, do we have a bunker busting nuclear weapon today? The answer to that is no. If we do not have it, don't you agree…

The understanding was the Senator from Washington, the Senator from Hawaii, the Senator from Massachusetts, and then the Chair. It should be around 3 o'clock, and if the Senate proceeds now, we should be able to get there.

I wish to speak. It is a little longer than 10 minutes. I do not know exactly how long.

The president must also announce immediately, the United States will not have a permanent military presence in Iraq. Erasing suspicions that the occupation is indefinite is critical to eroding support for the insurgency.

I understand. The Senator needs to have a vote now, and I will happily accommodate that.

I want to be recognized to be able to speak immediately after the business the Senator has to conduct. If I can be so recognized, I would appreciate it very much.

I want to accommodate and help my friend and colleague. What I would like to find out is, if I could be part of a unanimous consent request to simply be recognized after the business the Senator needs to do, I am happy to accommodate him.

That is amendment No. 334, which extends the period of time that spouses can remain on a base after their spouse has died in action.

It will have to be without my vote for the reasons that I've stated.