Political Quotes

“Before the junior Senator from North Dakota speaks-- and I appreciate his courtesy in allowing us to make a few brief, personal remarks before he speaks--I wanted to say to my friend and my chairman, the senior Senator from North Dakota, that, yes, in the most obvious respect, he is leaving the Senate, and we will be a smaller Senate for his departure. But in some very important ways, Kent Conrad is not leaving the Senate. I can assure him that for as long as I remain a U.S. Senator and have the privilege to serve in this body, Kent Conrad will remain in this Senate as an example that I will never forget as a young Senator tutored by him in the Budget Committee. I can speak for myself when I say that, and I will only speak for myself when I say that, but I am absolutely confident there are dozens of other Members of this body who can say exactly the same thing. In that sense, Kent Conrad will continue to be an important part of this Senate, and the effect he will have in those years through the example he has set, echoed down the hallways of time by people who had the opportunity to serve with him, is going to be an immensely valuable one. He displays the characteristics of diligence--an underrated attribute but an important one--of courtesy, of determination. It is an interesting combination, courtesy and determination, but Chairman Conrad knows very well when to yield and when to fight.…”