Political Quotes

“the Senate is faced with a clear but complicated choice: support this expedited legislation that will pave the way for the confirmation of the next nominee to be Secretary of Defense or embroil one of the most consequential Cabinet positions--and with it the lives of thousands of men and women, as well as our national defense--in what would surely become a legal and legislative morass. The Framers of the Constitution established that the Senate should provide advice and consent in the appointment of such Cabinet nominees. Congress subsequently, in the aftermath of World War II, sought to implement limitations on who could serve as Secretary of Defense, specifically, a cooling off period for members of the military nominated to serve as Secretary of Defense. The goal? To ensure that America's military would remain under civilian control. Circumventing these limitations requires an act of Congress. It has been done just once before, ironically almost immediately after Congress first enacted those limitations. In Gen. Mattis, the President-elect--who is inexperienced in the world of military affairs and has sometimes proven rash in his public comments--has identified an able leader, who is tremendously popular and who has time and again shown himself worthy of the respect he has earned.…”