Jim DeMint

If we have a veto, they have a veto. Their interest is very different than ours.

The idea that we get into a rules-based system with other nations that establish some international rules of engagement, theoretically, I think we could have some honest debate on how we come out on that.

But, General, how is it in the interests of the United States to turn the royalties over to an unaccountable international bureaucracy?

We know when we try to deal with the U.N. on sanctions against Iran, not all of the members play by the rules.

This is the first time in history that an international organization, the U.N. in this case, would possess taxing authority over this country.

So why do we need to get into all of this in order to be able to operate our Navy as we have for years around the world?

I have to smile when I hear us, including you, talk about encouraging innovation and investment in the industry.

Our job is to make sure consumers are protected. We know the best way to do that in America is through lots of choices, competition, transparency, and fairness for consumers.

I think we've got a pretty remarkable and dynamic competitive marketplace, and I think there is a good and growing case for a lighter and lighter hand of regulation.

OK. All right, Mr. Misener, do you plan to intercept broadcast signals and sell them over your network?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The communications sector continues to be one of the most dynamic and innovative in our economy.

Oh, OK. All right. Just as an aside question, do you think a Walgreens or a CVS has the right to charge a manufacturer more for an end-aisle display than they do a position on the shelf?

Unfortunately, many of our current video laws and policies were sought and achieved decades ago by established interests seeking government-granted protection from market forces.

So you don't necessarily see yourself as a competitor to traditional pay TV services like cable or satellite or----

Last year, I introduced the Next Generation Television Marketplace Act to comprehensively withdraw government meddling from the video industry.

But you license those.

Our video laws simply do not reflect the current realities of the marketplace, and I'm afraid they actually foreclose innovative service offerings and consumer benefits.

When you talk to people who create jobs, they don't know what the Federal Reserve's going to do, they don't know what the politicians are going to do, they don't know what the regulators are going to do. That's no way to operate in a rule…

Should the Federal Reserve be attempting to manage our economy and economies all over the world through monetary policy?

It's really the centrally planned and managed economy that Dr. Meyer is talking about, or do we have a free market economy?

Are we going to be a rule of law or rule of men?

I certainly agree with you that American power is a stabilizing force around the world, and I am sure you will agree with me that any perception of American weakness is a destabilizing force around the world.

As I look at your budget and budgets, I guess, throughout the Federal Government now, I have to look at it not so much as I once did as what we want to do or what we should do, but what we are financially able to do.

The fact that we did not leave a stabilizing force in Iraq makes it virtually impossible for us to impact policy.