Political Quotes

“I thank the Senator for expanding on that picture of the core elements necessary to exercise our constitutional responsibilities. I keep thinking about how polarization in our society has come to bear on this issue. I believe there are many colleagues across the aisle who believe very much in what they said in 2005, that there should be up-or-down votes; therefore, I have to conclude that they have decided their base demands a permanent campaign against the President and the maximum use of every tool available and that is trumping the appropriate exercise of advice and consent. Perhaps that polarization explains why the promise made by the minority leader in January to return to the norms and traditions of the Senate fell apart within weeks, if not days. Perhaps it explains how the understanding that was reached in July to allow up-or-down votes on executive nominations fell apart a couple of weeks ago. In that situation we have a single path left to us to appropriately exercise advice and consent; that is, to change the rules so they cannot be abused. If the abuse cannot be cured through good-hearted dialog and understanding of our need to honor the constitutional vision, then we need to change the rules. That is why I wholeheartedly support moving toward a simple up-or-down vote. In 2005 our Republican colleagues said: If the Democrats keep blocking up-or-down votes, we are going to change the rules and require a simple majority.…”