Political Quotes

“Mr. President, this is unfortunate. Keep in mind what just happened here. I asked not that we pass this bill but that we move to its consideration, that we be allowed to debate it, discuss it, and ultimately dispose of it through votes after having an opportunity to review its merits and to consider amendments. That, too, drew an objection even though this would allow the body to work its will through amendments, and we could get to a point where perhaps we could agree on something. Instead, we see absolute fealty pledged to this bill, what is being referred to as the bipartisan bill. Now, with all due respect to those who negotiated it, keep in mind, Senators in the room were two Members of the Democratic caucus and one Republican, and then you add to that the White House--a significant player even if you don't weight the White House as more than just one Senator equivalent. Putting it generously, this is a 3-to-1 negotiation. Yet this negotiation went on for many months. During most of that time, most of us were unaware of what was being discussed. As soon as the details started to leak out, as soon as we started to become aware of them, many of us started publicly and privately expressing our concerns, first in private and then in public.…”