Political Quotes

“Finally, let me say, I appreciate the patience of my counterpart, Senator McConnell. On Tuesday, I can't really say this; we weren't that close. But all day Wednesday, all day today, we have been this close. We have had the FISA thing worked out so many different times, and each time--not each time but a number of those times I either sent a message to the distinguished Republican leader or actually called him, sent him a letter. I have really tried very hard to finish this. I want to do it because we have a February 15 cutoff date. I don't want to jam the minority, and I don't want to jam the House. I think we have an obligation as a body to get something over there as quickly as possible, 'over there' meaning to the House. Because once that happens, I would like to think that then it is up to the House and the Senate to work this out. But we know how conferences work. The White House is going to be heavily involved in what the final product is because there is no need, at least in my estimation, to pass something that has 'veto' written all over it. If it comes to that, then I can accept a veto. But at least we need to give the White House an opportunity, after we pass whatever we do here, and the House has already done their work, that when we do this conference, we know and have input from the White House. If the decision is made after that, we are going to just go forward anyway. That is what we do.…”