Lindsey Graham: “I do not mean to be the skunk at the picnic party, but I believe there are some realities to be faced. Those realities…”

“I do not mean to be the skunk at the picnic party, but I believe there are some realities to be faced. Those realities are that we are establishing on the last evening of the 106th Congress some standards that are going to be either positive paths towards greater cooperation in the next Congress or will be impediments to achieving success in what will be the most divided National Government in our Nation's history. I am afraid what we are doing tonight will not make a positive contribution. The fact is that at 7:08 p.m. on a Friday evening, we are taking up in one enormous piece of legislation--a piece of legislation which dwarfs the New York City telephone directory in size, a piece of legislation which not one single Member of this body or the House of Representatives has ever had an opportunity to read. The fact that we are about to adopt this legislation without the normal debate and opportunity to understand what is in this bill is not a positive sign because, in my judgment, the kinds of bipartisan cooperation that we will require in the future are going to be based upon respect, understanding, and a due regard for our constituents who also deserve to be served better than we are doing this evening. It also, frankly, has to be based on a level of trust among Members when commitments are made, that there is a sense of a solemn obligation.…”