Political Quotes

“Mr. President, let me conclude by saying it is obviously up to us, as Senators. We are the ones who have the right and the responsibility and the privilege to take up the types of matters we are taking up today. It is up to us to do the due diligence, to have the intelligence briefings, to look at our nuclear posture reviews, to look at what this treaty itself says, and to look at what our force structure is. That is our responsibility. It is up to each of us, the 100 of us in this body, to decide whether we ratify this treaty. But I think it is also at least interesting to get input from others. One of the things our side of the aisle likes to do is we like to listen to military leaders and what they have to say about issues relating to the war--Afghanistan or Iraq--and certainly the issue of how we enter into nuclear treaties with other countries. I will ask to have printed in the Record a letter to Senator Kerry from the Joint Chiefs of Staff talking about their firm commitment for the START treaty on the basis that it increases our national security. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record this letter dated December 20 from ADM Mike Mullen, Chairman of our Joint Chiefs. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC, December 20, 2010. Hon. John F. Kerry, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Mr.…”