Political Quotes

“I simply say, with great respect to both you and Senator McCain, this does not grant the President of the United States one single bit of authority that he does not possess at this moment and that every President of the United States has possessed from the beginning of this great Republic. And, therefore, I fear that this could be a hollow message. It could be misunderstood, not only in the United States, but in the other 18 nations that are allied with us; my point being, the success thus far has been the ability--and, indeed, this President has been active, as have other heads of state--in keeping 19 nations solidly together to pursue this military action. And my concern is, if the Senate were to take a resolution like this, does that not say to the other nations, the 18, ``Well, go to your legislatures. And similarly, don't you have a responsibility comparable to what we have in the United States of America?'' And, Senator, I say this respectfully to my colleague form Delaware, that other nations of that 18 group, their legislatures might well not act favorably on such a piece of legislation, and begin to start a fracturing of the solidarity of the NATO group. That is my great concern, Mr. President. Therefore, I feel that it is just most unwise. And I shall vote against it.”