[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S11442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             BIPARTISANSHIP

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, after this month's historic election, 
a lot of political pundits are ardently trying to figure out what the 
results may have meant. I have been in politics for a period of time, 
so I would like to share my point of view on the matter.
  Obviously, people on our side of the aisle are pleased that the 
electorate has returned President Bush for a second term, and obviously 
we are equally pleased that the larger Republican majority in both 
Houses of Congress will be available to work with the President next 
year. The last time a reelected President returned to office with 
larger majorities of his party in both the House and the Senate was 
back in 1936 when President Roosevelt was running for reelection the 
first time. If the American people suddenly speak louder than they have 
in 70 years, I think it is clear that they would like to see some 
action.
  The voters didn't send any of us Republicans or Democrats up here 
just to sit in these chairs. They sent us here to get things 
accomplished. Republicans can't and shouldn't do that alone. We will 
need to cooperate with our colleagues across the aisle to produce 
results, which is what we were sent here, of course, to do.
  Soon Republicans will fill 55 seats in this Chamber. That is a nice 
number but it is not 60. And it often takes 60, as we all know. 
Frequently--actually most of the time--it takes 60 to get results in 
the Senate.
  So to our Democratic friends on the other side, let me say we want to 
work with you. The voters expect us to work in a bipartisan manner to 
make our country more secure, our economic opportunities more 
plentiful, and our common values more respected. To do that, we need 
your support, and we will work to earn it.
  Last week, Senator Lieberman, a good friend of mine and a good friend 
of many of us in the Senate, came to my hometown of Louisville, KY, 
where he spoke at the University of Louisville, my alma mater, where he 
gave an outstanding speech. In it he said:

       It is critically important that we put first things first, 
     and national interests ahead of our party interests.

  I commend the Senator from Connecticut for his exemplary spirit of 
goodwill. I think that is a good guidepost for all of us as we begin 
the 109th Congress in January.
  I say to my Democratic friends that we are all willing to work with 
them in that same spirit which Joe Lieberman outlined. Together, we are 
going to accomplish great things of which this body can truly be proud.
  We will have hard tasks ahead of us. The Social Security system is a 
speeding train heading for a brick wall and really must be set right 
for future generations. The tax system is burdensome and unfair and 
must be reinvented to fit our 21st century economy. We have to finish 
the job in Iraq so we can bring our troops home safely and with honor.
  We have tackled tough challenges before. Working together--
Republicans and Democrats--successfully reformed the welfare system and 
put millions of Americans on the path to self-reliance and financial 
stability. Working together--Republicans and Democrats--projected 
American power into the former Yugoslavia to halt the killing of 
innocents and provide humanitarian aid. Working together--Republicans 
and Democrats--we moved the brutal Taliban regime from Afghanistan and 
struck a fatal blow against al-Qaida.
  Now we have a chance to make history again. Republicans are not 
likely to accomplish much alone. The same is true for our Democrat 
colleagues. This Senate should heed America's call for action. The 
voters of our States didn't send us here to simply mark time. They sent 
us here to build a better America for our sons and daughters, and 
future generations yet to come.
  As we move forward, this new Congress must be prepared to get to 
work, and to get to work on a bipartisan basis.
  I yield the floor. what

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