Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from Connecticut. Mr. President, I am a lawyer; he is a lawyer. We should not be dealing here, especially with this background of strong emotion when all of us are watching this tragedy unfold daily. There is not a Member of this Chamber whose heart does not throb with compassion for the pitiful tragedy we see unfolding of human against human for reasons which are cultural and ethnic. That is not the question. Let us not as lawyers use the words that the Senator just used: You think it is the intention; you think it is implicit. Let us put it down very, very clearly. This is not an amendable amendment under our rules, a second-degree amendment, or I would seek to amend it. So my hands are tied to try to clarify this. I would urge the sponsor, if that is the intent, let us put it down with such clarity that the man on the street in hometown U.S.A. can understand it, because this is an important step. If it does not authorize it under this amendment, this is a step toward at least consideration of unilateral involvement of this country in that conflict. This Senator is opposed to unilateral action in that conflict. I think it is incumbent upon the drafters to come over here and make it very clear as to exactly what is meant. I can understand the legalities, and I have just been briefed on how it is questionable as to whether or not the existing U.N. resolutions are legal, how they should not tie the hands of the United States.”