I'd like to think I'm a serious legislator and trying to get things done.

I like to think I am a serious legislator and trying to get things done. That's my goal in life, to get things done.

I don't think anybody considers that adequate,

Now we've got someone who is really hands-on and willing to assert himself more, which I think can be really positive.

The timing of these exercises ought not to be dictated by political concerns. We do not think this is something aggressive but appropriate...The issue has become ripe.

You could have another downgrade. You could certainly have a stock market reaction that would be negative. And, I think nobody who looks at it objectively would want to happen.