The threat to change Senate rules is a raw abuse of power and will destroy the very checks and balances our founding fathers put in place to prevent absolute power by any one branch of government.

We must stop the Tea Party before the United States Senate falls into the hands of extremists and ideologues who leave no room for reason or compromise, who dont recognize common ground even when theyre standing on it.

For senators to complain that they didn't know this was happening, we had many, many meetings that have been both classified and unclassified that members have been invited to.

I mean, that is a mop of real hair. He has hair like a 15-year-old ... and so, I have to acknowledge I am a little envious of his hair.

My Republican friends are lamenting reconciliation. But I would recommend for them to go back and look at history.

They say you can never step in the same river twice. New water flows in, replacing the old and continually renewing the river. The Senate is the same.

I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words.