Political Quotes

“I rise today to take the position that Admiral Frank Kelso should be retired at the rank of two stars. The question is what are we considering on the floor today of the U.S. Senate? We will be debating whether or not Admiral Kelso should retire as a four-star admiral rather than a two-star admiral. Why does this take a vote by the U.S. Senate? Under current law, any admiral, regardless of what rank he or she holds, three-star or four-star, is automatically retired at two stars unless there is an affirmative action by the Senate to allow them to retire at an additional star or two. Let me make it clear it is the current law that an admiral automatically retires at two stars, regardless of the rank he or she holds, unless there is an action taken by the Senate to increase those stars. To retire above the two-star level is meant to be an extraordinary reward, not something to be routinely granted, not to rubberstamp something advised by a Secretary of Defense or a Secretary of one of the military organizations. My position is this: That two stars is enough for Admiral Frank Kelso.”