George Voinovich

every 4 to 8 years our country achieves a feat that is very much the exception to the rule when placed in the context of the long roll of history: through universal suffrage the people select a new president, and the president-elect…

First of all, the Court decision is not going to be binding.

I do think visa access is terribly important because that is what helps give the people of the region a vision for where they're going.

I don't think that's smart.

I think that really sent a nice message out there to everyone that was concerned. We're going to shut it off.

If you want to get this done, you can get it done and there's plenty of folks out there that are willing to help you.

I rise to speak about one of the recess appointments President Obama made when the Senate was not in session. Before I get into my concern about this, I wish to emphasize the fact that I have been the ranking member or the chairman of the…

The consensus from most of the people that we talked with that the Butmir process was not as fruitful.

I am truly heartened that Senator Shaheen, as chairman of the European Subcommittee, has provided some wonderful leadership in this area.

You set up a plan and you have metrics and you see whether or not it's getting done or not.

If we push and push and push, that issue could become involved in the election campaign.

I would just urge you to do as much as you can to see if you can't get some dialogue going on between them.

One of the things that came up, we had a very good meeting with the Defense Minister who we were quite impressed with.

So basically at this stage of the game and in terms of this budget, we're going to stay with the status quo, you finish your report, and the money for rehabbing these vessels would be in the next budget?

So you're all set in that regard.

When we passed that legislation, there was an anticipation that these would be needed in terms of the security of our Nation.

I think we ought to find out about it.

I had a visit from Admiral Neffenger, who has been in Cleveland, and gotten to know him, and I want to say that the folks that you had at the 9th District have done a pretty darn good job and we're glad to have them in Cleveland in the…

Well, the fact of the matter is that you're confident that the remaining teams that are in place can continue to get the job done?

So I'm getting at the need and if the substitute makes sense, because I'm sure the people from Michigan are unhappy about closing down one of those bases in Michigan.

Gone are the days when public officials will be judged on how much they spend on a problem. Public officials will be judged on whether they can work harder and smarter and do more with less.

What you're saying is that you do have the capability?

But the question is, How long is that going to have to continue to the point where we can kind of say, 'We've done our thing'?

Madam Secretary, you know, when you were on Foreign Relations, people came in and said we need soft power, and you're it.

We view these not as nation building for Afghanistan, but as in the core security interests of the United States.