I think I'm the last Democrat left in the Senate after Russ Feingold was defeated that won't take earmarks.

Do I want Social Security to be there for my kids and my grandkids? Absolutely. Will I fight like a tiger to make sure that we protect Social Security? I absolutely will.

I think it's important that we show up. I think it's important that we communicate directly with all those working people.

The political system loves the extremes, it doesnt so much show a lot love for the moderates.

I was really shocked after all of this talk about coal miners and all of this talk about Buy America, the Republicans and the House of Representatives gutted health care and pension protections for coal miners and removed the Buy America provision that had been put in the bill in a bipartisan basis.

I've tried for years to get Republicans to help us fix some of the mistakes that we made in the Affordable Care Act. There are things we can do to shore up the exchanges, to make those pools healthier, to bring down costs. I would like to see us work together on that.

When the Tea Party comes to town, compromise goes out the door.