Political Quotes

“with regard to a briefing which was initiated on a partisan basis by the other side of the aisle in spite of their knowledge that we do have an all-Senate briefing that is bipartisan in the tradition--we have had over 20 different briefings, including one very useful one last week, one the week prior to that. On a partisan basis, an all-Senate briefing was scheduled; a counteroffer was made. We already have a meeting scheduled with the Ambassador here in 2 to 3 weeks. I will continue to work with the Democratic leader coming back and forth. These all-Senator briefings we have, which are on a classified basis, have proven to be a very useful vehicle for all Senators to participate, to be able to ask questions of various representatives, and is a very good model. I will continue to work with the Democratic leader. As he knows, Ambassador Negroponte is coming in about 2\1/2\ or 3 weeks--I don't know exactly what that date is for that particular all-Senate briefing initiated on a bipartisan basis and not on a partisan basis, which this last meeting was.”