Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I wish to talk a little about the issue we have been discussing, and first let me congratulate my colleagues who have been on the floor on this issue, particularly the Senator from New Mexico, Senator Udall; the Senator from Oregon, Senator Merkley; the Senator from Colorado, also named Udall; and the Senator from Iowa, Senator Harkin; and many others who have participated in this debate. They have done a great job today. The other thing I think I appreciated--and Senator Harkin helped do this--is there was not just debate, there was actual discussion, even when we didn't agree. I thought it was pretty interesting watching on the TV in my office when Senator Roberts came and stood by a desk here on the Democratic side, a desk away from Senator Harkin, and they didn't agree on the issues but they debated the issues. What a great first-step metaphor for the kind of debates we want to have here on the Senate floor. So this has been a very positive and hopefully prescient opening of the debate to change the rules because we all know that in the last Congress the Senate didn't function effectively and the time for change has come. I want to salute the leaders, as well as Senator Klobuchar, Senator Franken, Senator Lautenberg, and so many others, who have been so involved in our discussion and for the work they have done. I also want to say to my colleagues this is not something that has just happened recently.…”