It is only with valid, credible, good intelligence that we are able to anticipate someone who is trying to cause harm to the American people or to strike us in our territory or to, frankly, attack our special interests around the world. Intelligence is a critical part of our national defense.

I think what all of us are trying to get to [is] just what's in his heart and what he believes and what kind of conservative he is. If he's a Sandra Day O'Connor conservative, he's going to be accepted by this committee by a strong vote. But if he's got a strong political and ideological agenda, I think he's in for a rough ride.

You know, the purpose of reconciliation is to avoid the filibuster. The filibuster is an effort to talk something to death.

Those of us who believe in God and those of us who have dedicated our lives to helping others in the name of God don't want to take a second seat to anyone who is suggesting that one word out of the platform means that the Democrats across America are godless.

It is unacceptable that disabled veterans in Illinois rank at the bottom of the list when it comes to disability pay. We owe our disabled veterans more than speeches, parades and monuments.

Would you restrict freedom in America, or would you expand it?